Epidiolex – Cannabis Approved Drug To Change The Scope of Medical Treatment
The year 2018 has witnessed number of momentous innovations in medical industry that changed the entire medical science. From revolutionary surgical procedures to the latest medicinal scientific expertise, 2018 became the most important year in shaping the pathway for the health sciences.
From displaying data on the skin with the help of electronic skin to achieving an outstanding result in pioneering bug-resistant medicines – The researchers, doctors and scientists are expanding the medical science into a new direction.
And, one of the approved innovations which opened the new gateways in the medicinal industry is the first cannabis derived drug, approved by the FDA – EPIDIOLEX.
MOMENTEOUS PAGE IN MEDICAL HISTORY
Cannabis is one of the two chemical compounds found in the Marijuana which helps in easing the pain and treating many illnesses. Epidiolex – the first non-synthetic cannabis drug approved by FDA contains cannabidiol (also called CBD) which has an excellent ability to deliver relief from maladies such as anxiety, joint pain, insomnia and nausea.
This fruit-flavored liquid from GM Pharmaceuticals became the first cannabis derived drug approved by the FDA and is available in the market. This medicine plays a crucial role in treating two forms of severe childhood epilepsy – Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome. The difficult and painful seizures that patients with these two syndromes experience greatly affect patient’s quality of life. For such patients the first approved cannabis drug – Epidiolex is a ray of hope as the study on 516 with either Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome or Dravet Syndrome showed effective results in reduction of the seizures frequency.
Some cases show that CBD has helped parents and patients in stopping seizures completely.
WHY WAS EPIDIOLEX APPROVED?
FDA had already approved two synthetic THC-made drugs before but what makes Epidiolex different other than the natural compound to get the legal approval?
- Epidiolex is created with the existing drug approval process and is pure-extracted drug to treat seizures.
- Epidiolex contains cannabidiol (CBD) as the main component, which is not psychoactive like the other chemical compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in Marijuana.
- In Epidiolex, THC is absent. THC is a major compound in marijuana which makes you feel high and is accountable for its addictiveness as well as most of its other effects on the brain.
WHY MEDICINAL MARIJUANA IS PIVOTAL?
Despite all the positive properties and treatments, marijuana is still under a strict radar.
Marijuana contains two different compounds – Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which are responsible for positive and excellent treatments. While THC is the chemical that makes people happy high and forget pain, CBD helps in elevating the mental illness and cure diseases.
Until 2018 – market already had two cannabis drugs but the chemical used in them were synthetic. The subtle natural extract of medicinal marijuana helps in treating seizures, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and have the power to kill cancer cells.
Accepting Epidiolex is a major milestone accomplished by doctors and researchers. The challenge of creating a safe and effective medication by medical marijuana will soon change the medical history only if we are ready to accept it.
Medical Marijuana has the power to offer a new ray of hope to the patients suffering from shattering neurological illnesses. We need to adopt medicinal marijuana for the benefits it offers.