UAB Study Finds CBD Oil Helps Epilepsy Patients

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2018/08/IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-e1535567171989.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:769;s:6:"height";i:433;s:4:"file";s:58:"2018/08/IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-e1535567171989.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:58:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-e1535567171989-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:58:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-e1535567171989-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:56:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-e1535567171989-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:58:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-e1535567171989-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:58:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-e1535567171989-600x433.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:433;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:58:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-e1535567171989-552x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:552;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:58:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-e1535567171989-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:58:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-e1535567171989-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:58:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-e1535567171989-600x433.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:433;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:58:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-e1535567171989-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Source: Amy Sedlis
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_wp_attachment_backup_sizes] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:10:{s:9:"full-orig";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:488;s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488.jpg";}s:14:"thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:43:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:11:"medium-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:43:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-336x213.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:213;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:10:"large-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:43:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-771x488.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:488;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"wbhm-icon-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:41:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:43:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"wbhm-featured-square-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:43:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-300x300.jpg";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:23:"wbhm-featured-home-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:43:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-491x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:491;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:27:"wbhm-featured-carousel-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:43:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-419x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:419;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:19:"post-thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:43:"IMG_6287-e1437424024491-771x488-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:28:"The file could not be saved.";}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => error
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

)
1666647665 
1535547458

Researchers at UAB published a study this month that offers hope to those dealing with severe epilepsy. It found cannabidiol, or CBD oil, helps curb seizures. The substance is derived from marijuana, minus the hallucinogenic properties. The study was conducted under a 2014 Alabama law known as “Carly’s Law,” which authorized UAB to research CBD oil.

The study found CBD oil reduced the frequency of seizures by about two-thirds. It also reduced the severity of seizures. Study participants had fewer side effects when looking at their medications overall.

“We don’t know whether this is an effect of cannabidiol or whether this is the effect of slightly decreasing other medications or if there is something else, but it’s a very significant finding,” said Dr. Jerzy Szaflarski, director of UAB’s Epilepsy Center.

Advocates, particularly parents of children with severe epilepsy, have contended CBD oil helps with seizures. Szaflarski says a growing body of research like the UAB study backs that up.

The drug used in the study is called Epidiolex and in July the Food and Drug Administration approved it for two rare types of epilepsy. It’s the first CBD-based drug approved by federal regulators. Robert Speth, pharmaceutical sciences professor at Nova Southeastern University in Florida, says that represents a slight softening in attitude by the feds toward marijuana, although  there are still tight restrictions on medical research of marijuana.

“You have to keep it in a locked safe. You have to have two layers of security,” Speth says. “It makes it very cumbersome.”

Epidiolex could hit the market next year and with a big price tag – $32,500 a year. Patients won’t necessarily pay that amount as insurers could shoulder some of that cost. A spokeswoman for Alabama’s largest insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, says they’ll review the drug’s effectiveness and safety before deciding whether to cover it.

 

Pakistan bans hard-line Islamist party known for its fierce anti-blasphemy stance

Pakistan banned a hard-line Islamist party on Thursday, more than a week after heated clashes with police that left at least five people dead.

U.S. imposes sanctions on Colombia’s president and family over drug trade allegations

The sanctions sharply escalate tensions with the leftist leader of a country that has traditionally been one of the closest U.S. allies in South America.

Rosa Parks and Helen Keller statues unveiled at the Alabama Capitol

The monuments honoring the Alabama natives, whose advocacy helped dismantle racial segregation and promoted the rights of people with disabilities, are the first statues of women to be installed on the lawn of the Alabama Capitol.

Some viruses can play a deadly game of hide and seek inside the human body

Ebola is one of the nasty viruses that can hide in the body even after a patient recovers and tests negative. It can reemerge and trigger a new outbreak years later. How do they survive? And how can they be kayoed?

Argentina’s President Milei faces a political reckoning in midterm elections

Argentina's libertarian president, Javier Milei, faces midterms amid economic chaos and a $20 billion lifeline offer from President Trump.

What killed Napoleon’s army? Scientists find clues in DNA from fallen soldiers’ teeth

In 1812, hundreds of thousands of men in Napoleon's army perished during their retreat from Russia. Researchers now believe a couple of unexpected pathogens may have helped hasten the soldiers' demise.

More Front Page Coverage