EPIDIOLEX - Friend or Foe

Epidolex CBD - Friend or Foe? You Decide.

Written By Mike Robinson ~ Cannabis Heals

Cancer Survivor ~ International Cannabinoid Cancer Research Institutes/Domestic Animal Research Ctr. Co-Founder/Director

We all knew the pharmaceutical industry would step into the world of Medicinal Cannabis and take over with a bang, but we did not expect it to happen with a whirlwind of professionals voicing concerns globally. Questions are looming about dosing, increased seizures in patients, a death in the trials to seizures, and even other epilepsy drugs that combined with this one can be life-threatening. Even the likes of Professor Raphael Mechoulam, the Israeli organic chemist and professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel who first isolated and identified THC in the 1960's and discovered the Endocannabinoid System 3 decades later, created panels and meeting from across the Atlantic to here in California this coming week, and will address this at the huge CannX conference he hosts every year in his country. Dr. David Bearman of the American Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine has been invited to give his input there.

Liz Minda, cannabis advocate and nurse, the mother of Jadyn with Severe Intractable Epilepsy stated, "Epidiolex was the last pharmaceutical we tried and it failed for seizure cessation. Full spectrum cannabis oil stopped seizures and gave her a brighter cognitive and physical ability every day. The best Leap of Faith I have ever taken. Currently, for the last 12 months Jadyn is on CBD only, not Epidiolex!" I was part of her compassion crew that helped wean Jadyn from GW's CBD to the plant - and it's nowhere near the same. It seems that many are quite upset at the fact that Pharmaceutical CBD will be compared to Hemp derived and Cannabis Flower derived CBD products that do not cause the problems nor carry side effect warnings such as GW Pharmaceuticals has been forced to put on it's product by the F.D.A., take a look - you decide. Would you take this drug as a replacement for pharmaceuticals? Would you consider it a 'good representation' of the 'dangers' of Cannabis products? How many of us want these type of warnings blasted out on TV advertisements for the drug creating a new "Reefer Madness 2019" in which people that are considering cannabis as medicine will then change their mind. Approval of a drug, or a way to scare consumers away?

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (From FDA Website) Hepatocellular Injury: EPIDIOLEX can cause transaminase elevations. (LIVER DAMAGE) Concomitant use of valproate and higher doses of EPIDIOLEX increase the risk of transaminase elevations. See Full Prescribing Information for serum transaminase and bilirubin monitoring recommendations. (5.1)  Somnolence and Sedation: Monitor for somnolence and sedation and advise patients not to drive or operate machinery until they have gained sufficient experience on EPIDIOLEX. (5.2) Suicidal Behavior and Ideation: Monitor patients for suicidal behavior and thoughts. (5.3) Hypersenstivity Reactions: Advise patients to seek immediate medical care.(5.4) Withdrawal of Antiepileptic Drugs: EPIDIOLEX should be gradually withdrawn to minimize the risk of increased seizure frequency and status epilepticus.

LET ME INTERRUPT: Status epilepticus (which kills nearly 50,000 people per year, Olympian "FloJo" died of seizures/status in her sleep) is caused by discontinuing a cannabis product? Since when does stopping a cannabis created product CAUSE the problem you're treating? Since when is CBD addictive? Never... but when does a