Mortality associated with cannabis used for treatment of epilepsy is not well documented. We discuss two fatalities in the setting of epilepsy and self-determined therapy with cannabis (SDTC). One patient had probable sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, the second death was due to seizure-associated drowning. Both directed SDTC over conventional anti-seizure medications. Where recreational cannabis is legal, decisions to use cannabis are often self-directed and independent of physician advice of cannabis risks, in part because physicians may not be aware of the risk of SDTC. Further study of morbidity and mortality of SDTC in patients with epilepsy is needed.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6348695PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ebcr.2018.11.007DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

patients epilepsy
8
cannabis
6
epilepsy
5
mortality risks
4
risks patients
4
epilepsy cannabis
4
cannabis treatments
4
treatments monotherapy?
4
monotherapy? mortality
4
mortality associated
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!