Pharmaceutical "Industry"

[lestadan]

I c ppl are discussing pharmaceutical drugs and am surprised ppl are still taking them! I thought by now everyone was aware that all they do is make u more suicidal than the epilepsy itself and rarely effects the seizure rate and/or severity! The only thing which will reduce not just either but both is cbd oil!!!! I started taking it a matter of months and it reduced my seizures by at least 3 quarters! Unfortunately it hasn't stopped them entirely and epilepsy continues to sabotage my existence...

[UnwelcomeVisitor]

Children who have Dravet syndrome can in certain cases be treated by giving them Cannabinoids in the UK.

[Watchthebirdy]

Surely even cbds have side effects, but any changes in medication or withdrawal of drug treatment MUST be discussed with one's doctor or specialist as the consequences of changing or stopping meds could be catastrophic. Traditional medications have been through rigorous testing and trials so at least the side effects are known, can we say the same about these substances?

[AmyBadd]

This is utter nonsense. Yes, not all AEDs work for everyone and yes, they do all have side effects but most people do see an improvement when they find the right drug.

Without epilim chrono I would be having regular seizures and wouldn't be able to live the life I do. I wouldn't be able to work 4 days a week or look after my young son alone. I probably wouldn't have a PhD (which I do have, and incidentally I have worked in the pharmaceutical industry). I haven't had even had a seizure since October.

Don't make claims without evidence to back them up.

[Santanaj83 in reply to AmyBadd]

Charlotte (Charlotte's Web) that moved to Colorado and had medical marijuana help with her dravet syndrome whereas none of the opiates could do so. Please read up about it before you go pro-pharmaceutical. Big pharma is why research on medical marijuana isn't happening near as much or as often as it should because they would screwed out of a lot of money so they wanna get their fingers in it before it takes off.

[AmyBadd in reply to Santanaj83]

I don't think the way the pharmaceutical industry works is ideal. As it happens now I work in medical research in the university sector which is a bit different again.

The point is the claims that AEDs help hardly anyone and that cannabidoids don't have side effects are nonsense. I would welcome any new treatments for epilepsy so long as they were fully tested and proved to be safe and effective.

[Santanaj83]

I'm sure that some AED's do in fact help some people but it seems that there is more of a negative feeling about it because of the usual laundry list of "possible" side effects actually taking place. Regarding medical marijuana, it has maybe 4 or 5 side effects total with the worst being possible diarrhea. I'll take that over a possible fatal rash, or possible failing organs.

[Angiebaby0121]

I take AED's and have been seizure for 5 years now and I know 100% that my epilepsy would be controlled without theses8and would not have a fulltime job or lead a full life without them. So please be careful when thinking about coming off medication.