Temporal lobe epilepsy and smoking

Yes it possibly could because if you take any anti epileptic meds this could alter its effectiveness. Possibly this could alter the brain wave pattern contributing to seizure activity. Has anyone given you a list of seizure precipitants aka triggers?

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)

@avaaaaaaaaa
Smoking either cigarettes or marijuana especially if high in THC and being a heavy user can lower the seizure threshold increasing the chance of seizures especially if you are already prone to seizures. The tar in regular cigarettes can also lower the seizure threshold increasing the probability of seizures. Although marijuana does have some antiseizure properties and helps some people lower their seizures, I’d think a correct mixture of THC and how much is smoked would be challenging at best. Like cigarettes marijuana has many potentially serious health effects.
Take care,
Jake

Hi @jakedduck1
Thank you for letting me know that tar has the potential to reduce seizures, I did not know that. I am a smoker (a light one) and every time I feel some seizure sensibility (prodrome) I will try now to smoke a cigarette.
If you have some articles to share with us, this would be fantastic.
Thanks in advance and have a nice day!
Chris (@santosha)

@santosha
Hi Chris,
I believe I said tar lowers seizure risk thereby increasing the risk of having seizures.
Take care,
Jake

Hi, @avaaaaaaaaa

So glad you could connect with @santosha and @jakedduck1 about smoking and epilepsy. I'm tagging a few additional Mayo Clinic Connect Epilepsy & Seizures support group members who've talked about epilepsy and, in some cases, smoking with epilepsy. They may have input on your query about smoking marijuana in particular. Please meet @laneyh @hoochinmama @dorisena @artificialsugar @nadolski @nicole4success @abcla1315.

Many research articles on things that lower your seizure threshold aka upping seizure risk. There are supplements other prescription meds etc. Check out ILAE CURE BMJ Medvirx Biovirx

@jakedduck1
Hi Jake,
Sorry, I could not understand well this last message you sent me, mentioning that tar can lower and also increase the risk of having seizures. Did I understand that correctly?
Thank you!
Chris

Good morning Chris,
I think it’s morning there.
From Science Digest,
A "seizure threshold" is essentially the point at which your brain is likely to have a seizure, meaning it's the level of stimulation or stress needed to trigger abnormal electrical activity in your brain, and people with epilepsy generally have a lower seizure threshold, making them more prone to seizures compared to others.
Does that help?
Take care,
Jake

@jakedduck1
Thank you Jake, now I believe I understood your message. Tar can lower a person's seizure threshold, which can result in the increase of seizures.
Chris