Are there mortality risks for patients with epilepsy who use cannabis treatments as monotherapy?

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-associate...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Devon M. Kollmyer, Kyla E. Wright, Nicole M. Warner, Michael J. Doherty
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2019-01-01
Series:Epilepsy and Behavior Case Reports
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213323218301567
_version_ 1819266147880534016
author Devon M. Kollmyer
Kyla E. Wright
Nicole M. Warner
Michael J. Doherty
author_facet Devon M. Kollmyer
Kyla E. Wright
Nicole M. Warner
Michael J. Doherty
author_sort Devon M. Kollmyer
collection DOAJ
description 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. Keywords: Marijuana, Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy, Cannabidiol, Tetrahydrocannabinol, Therapy
first_indexed 2024-12-23T20:56:39Z
format Article
id doaj.art-30044694a65143fb9eef8204d6046844
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2213-3232
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-23T20:56:39Z
publishDate 2019-01-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Epilepsy and Behavior Case Reports
spelling doaj.art-30044694a65143fb9eef8204d60468442022-12-21T17:31:29ZengElsevierEpilepsy and Behavior Case Reports2213-32322019-01-01115253Are there mortality risks for patients with epilepsy who use cannabis treatments as monotherapy?Devon M. Kollmyer0Kyla E. Wright1Nicole M. Warner2Michael J. Doherty3Swedish Epilepsy Center, 550 17th Ave suite 540, Seattle, WA 98122, USAUniversity of Washington, Department of Neurobiology, 318K Hitchcock Hall, Seattle, WA 98105, USASwedish Epilepsy Center, 550 17th Ave suite 540, Seattle, WA 98122, USASwedish Epilepsy Center, 550 17th Ave suite 540, Seattle, WA 98122, USA; Corresponding author.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. Keywords: Marijuana, Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy, Cannabidiol, Tetrahydrocannabinol, Therapyhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213323218301567
spellingShingle Devon M. Kollmyer
Kyla E. Wright
Nicole M. Warner
Michael J. Doherty
Are there mortality risks for patients with epilepsy who use cannabis treatments as monotherapy?
Epilepsy and Behavior Case Reports
title Are there mortality risks for patients with epilepsy who use cannabis treatments as monotherapy?
title_full Are there mortality risks for patients with epilepsy who use cannabis treatments as monotherapy?
title_fullStr Are there mortality risks for patients with epilepsy who use cannabis treatments as monotherapy?
title_full_unstemmed Are there mortality risks for patients with epilepsy who use cannabis treatments as monotherapy?
title_short Are there mortality risks for patients with epilepsy who use cannabis treatments as monotherapy?
title_sort are there mortality risks for patients with epilepsy who use cannabis treatments as monotherapy
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213323218301567
work_keys_str_mv AT devonmkollmyer aretheremortalityrisksforpatientswithepilepsywhousecannabistreatmentsasmonotherapy
AT kylaewright aretheremortalityrisksforpatientswithepilepsywhousecannabistreatmentsasmonotherapy
AT nicolemwarner aretheremortalityrisksforpatientswithepilepsywhousecannabistreatmentsasmonotherapy
AT michaeljdoherty aretheremortalityrisksforpatientswithepilepsywhousecannabistreatmentsasmonotherapy