Temporal lobe epilepsy and smoking

Posted by avaaaaaaaaa @avaaaaaaaaa, Mar 1 9:56pm

Hi guys. Do you know if it is bad to smoke marijuana if I have temporal lobe seizures? I’m a pretty heavy smoker and have been for about 5 years and I’m wondering if maybe smoking triggers my seizures

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cathyaycock | @cathyaycock | Apr 8 9:54pm

In reply to @santosha "Hi @avaaaaaaaaa Here is Chris again. The problem of smoking marijuana is the THC. Today, marijuana..." + (show)

@santosha

Hi @avaaaaaaaaa
Here is Chris again. The problem of smoking marijuana is the THC. Today, marijuana contains high levels of THC and this can be quite dangerous. Please also note that marijuana might be leveraging the dosage of your AEDs. Medical cannabis can even double the dosage of an AED, as I have learned and experienced myself. Perhaps you are having such a hard time on your current AED because the dosage you take has been leveraged by marijuana you smoke.
I have been taking medical cannabis since 2020. I started with full-spectrum medical cannabis with low THC. The problem is that the quality of those products is doubtful and might vary from bath to bath, which I have experienced myself. In one of the medications I bought and received, I became very high and had a very unpleasant experience. The THC was not low as promised! The doctor who first introduced medical cannabis in my treatment, did a safe process of increasing my medical cannabis and decreasing my AED little by little. Every time, the dosage of medical cannabis was increased, the side-effects of the AED I was taking became stronger. This happened because of the interactions of both drugs.
As I mentioned in another post, I was then finally recommended to an epileptologist who has switched to pure CBD produced by a pharma company, which is safe.
I send you here a presentation on Medicinal Cannabis and Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Epilepsy mentioning in more details the dangers of marijuana and treatment of epilepsy with CBD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ5yaaIB8fM&list=PLjjNLpxtjihMuEy0geqIqkBGTKTkFxIr4&index=55&t=365s
During 2021 up to the end of 2024, CBD was the only medication I was taking. Together with it, I was also on an anti-inflammatory diet, managing my triggers based on the Andrews-Reiter approach, practicing many exercises and doing traditional yoga. I could well control my seizures and had a good quality of life. But then in December 2024 my seizures threshold changed due to high levels of stress (my father was diagnosed with cancer and my mother's Alzheimer's progressed) and I had to be put on additional medication.
I hope this information helps you.
Have a nice Sunday!
Chris (@santosha)

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So helpful. This confirms my suspicions about my sons cannibis use. He stopped 5 months ago and now I'm thinking he's on to much medication and his weird absence seizures are back.

Chris Gautier | @santosha | Apr 10 6:50pm

In reply to @santosha "Hi @avaaaaaaaaa Here is Chris again. The problem of smoking marijuana is the THC. Today, marijuana..." + (show)

@santosha

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One correction, I meant batch (and not bath) when I said that the product quality might vary from batch to batch.
Sorry!
Chris (@santosha)

cathy5161 | @cathy5161 | Apr 26 2:35pm

Any comments on vaping?

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Apr 27 9:47pm

@cathy5161
I wouldn't think vaping/smoking would do your body any good. Vaping is known to to lower the seizure threshold which increases the chance of having seizures especially if you already have epilepsy. Nicotine affects brain cell excitability. However vaping is not fully understood and I don't believe large studies have been done yet. Vaping can cause a number of health issues even if it doesn't directly cause a seizure it may well increase the severity of any seizures you might have. It is safer than smoking cigarettes however that doesn't mean its safe. Strokes, heart attacks, lung issues and cancer are still possible from vaping. Benefits definitely don't outweigh the risks, in fact I don't know of any benefits other than vaping seems to be safer than cigarettes which isn't saying much, in my opinion.