More drugs needed to control epileptic seizures, expert says
Friday 15th April 2011
More epilepsy drugs are needed to control the seizures characteristic of the condition, one expert has commented, following promising research into cannabis compounds.
Researchers at the University of Reading have found that three non-psychoactive compounds from the cannabis plant, could be used to control epileptic seizures after they were found to significantly reduce the number and severity of seizures in rats.
They are soon to complete pre-clinical work, which could lead to the start of human trials.
Approximately 30 per cent of individuals with the condition experience seizures which cannot be kept under control by the anticonvulsant drugs currently available.
Delphine van der Pauw from Epilepsy Research UK said that although it is early days for the research, the results look "very promising".
"There is a great need for new epilepsy drugs with different modes of action, and if any one of these compounds is successful it could make an enormous difference to the treatment of epilepsy," she continued.
Written by Mathew Horton
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