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Related Concept Videos

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

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Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
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Antiepileptic Drugs: GABAergic Pathway Potentiators01:18

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γ-aminobutyric acid or GABA, plays a pivotal role as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA pathway potentiators, also known as GABAergic drugs, are a class of pharmaceutical agents designed to enhance the functioning of the GABAergic system. These medications primarily treat epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.
The key GABA pathway potentiators used in epilepsy management are as follows.
Benzodiazepines are a well-known class of drugs used for...
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers01:17

Antiepileptic Drugs: Calcium Channel Blockers

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Calcium channel blockers, a class of antiepileptic drugs, regulate the flow of calcium ions within neurons.
Calcium channel blockers exert their antiepileptic effects by targeting T-type calcium channels, which are integral to transmitting nerve signals in the central nervous system. These channels allow the passage of calcium ions, which are vital for neuronal communication. By inhibiting T-type calcium channels, calcium channel blockers effectively reduce the release of neurotransmitters and...
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Glutamate Antagonists01:14

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Glutamate is a fundamental neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, playing a vital role in neuronal communication and various cognitive processes. Glutamate stands as the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Its presence is crucial for the communication between neurons, underpinning essential processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, and plasticity. These functions are vital for higher-order cognitive processes, including learning and memory. The...
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Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids01:21

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Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a phytocannabinoid that primarily interacts with the CB1 receptor, a type of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) predominantly in and around the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) and emetic center. THC also blocks the serotonin receptor activity in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) by inhibiting serotonin release. THC exerts its anti-emetic effects through these interactions, which are beneficial for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Two synthetic agonists of THC,...
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Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers01:08

Antiepileptic Drugs: Sodium Channel Blockers

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Antiepileptic drugs are specialized medications that prevent seizures in individuals diagnosed with epilepsy. These drugs primarily function by blocking the movement of sodium ions through channels in the neuronal membrane, inhibiting the repetitive firing of action potentials often associated with seizures.
Sodium channel blockers modulate ion channels, particularly voltage-gated sodium channels. They block only sodium ion movement.
Among the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs are...
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Lipidomics and Transcriptomics in Neurological Diseases
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Phytocannabinoids and epilepsy.

R G dos Santos1, J E C Hallak, J P Leite

  • 1Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.

Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
|December 6, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Phytocannabinoids, like cannabidiol, show promise as anticonvulsant treatments for epilepsy with fewer side effects than traditional drugs. Further clinical trials are recommended, particularly for infantile epilepsy syndromes.

Keywords:
cannabidiolcannabinoidsdelta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolepilepsyseizuretreatment

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Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Neurology
  • Natural Products

Background:

  • Conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) present significant adverse effects and treatment resistance in many epilepsy patients.
  • Phytocannabinoids, compounds derived from cannabis, exhibit promising anticonvulsant properties with a potentially improved safety profile.
  • Existing research indicates phytocannabinoids may offer an alternative therapeutic avenue for epilepsy management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize existing scientific literature on the anticonvulsant effects of phytocannabinoids.
  • To evaluate the preclinical and preliminary human evidence supporting phytocannabinoids as epilepsy treatments.
  • To identify key phytocannabinoids with demonstrated anticonvulsant activity and assess their tolerability.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the PubMed database.
  • Studies focusing on the intersection of phytocannabinoids and epilepsy were identified and analyzed.
  • The review synthesized findings from preclinical research and preliminary human trials.

Main Results:

  • Preclinical studies indicate potent anticonvulsant effects for phytocannabinoids, particularly cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabidivarin (CBDV).
  • These effects are primarily mediated through the endocannabinoid system.
  • Preliminary human studies suggest CBD possesses anticonvulsant properties in both adult and infantile epilepsy, demonstrating good tolerability during prolonged use.

Conclusions:

  • Phytocannabinoids, especially CBD and CBDV, exhibit significant anticonvulsant potential via the endocannabinoid system with a favorable side effect profile.
  • Cannabidiol has shown efficacy and tolerability in preliminary human studies for epilepsy.
  • Randomized, controlled clinical trials are warranted to further investigate the therapeutic utility of phytocannabinoids, particularly CBD and CBDV, in various epilepsy syndromes, including infantile forms.