Jacob Bell
New Member
BY JEAN P. DAVIS, M.D., and
H.H. RAMSEY, M.D.
The demonstration of anticonvulsant activity of the tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) congeners by laboratory tests
(Loewe and Goodman, Federation Proc. 6:352, 1 9 4 7 )
prompted clinical trial in five institutionalized epileptic children.
All of them had severe symptomatic grand ma1 epilepsy
with mental retardation; three had cerebral palsy in addition.
Electroencephalographic tracings were grossly abnormal in
the entire group; three had focal seizure activity. Their
attacks had been inadequately controlled on 0.13 gm. of
phenobarbital daily, combined with 0.3 gm. of Dilantin per
day in two of the patients, and in a third, with 0.2 gm. of
Mesantoin daily.
Two isomeric 3 (1,2-dimethyl heptyl) homologs of THC
were tested, Numbers 122 and 125A, with ataxia potencies
fifty and eight times, respectively, that of natural marijuana
principles. Number 122 was given to two patients for three
weeks and to three patients for seven weeks. Three responded
at least as well as to previous therapy; the fourth became
almost completely and the fifth entirely seizure free. One
patient, transferred to 125A after three weeks, had prompt
exacerbation of seizures during the ensuing four weeks,
despite dosages up to 4 mg. daily. The second patient
transferred to 125A was adequately controlled on this
dosage, except for a brief period of paranoid behavior three
and a half weeks later; similar episodes had occurred prior to
cannabinol therapy. Other psychic disturbances or toxic reactions
were not manifested during the periods of treatment.
Blood counts were normal. The cannabinols herein reported
deserve further trial in non-institutionalized epileptics.
Reprinted from Federation Proceedings, Federation of American Society for Experimental
Biology, vol. 8, lY49, p. 284.
167
Source: Anti-Epileptic Action Of Marijuana-Active Substances
H.H. RAMSEY, M.D.
The demonstration of anticonvulsant activity of the tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) congeners by laboratory tests
(Loewe and Goodman, Federation Proc. 6:352, 1 9 4 7 )
prompted clinical trial in five institutionalized epileptic children.
All of them had severe symptomatic grand ma1 epilepsy
with mental retardation; three had cerebral palsy in addition.
Electroencephalographic tracings were grossly abnormal in
the entire group; three had focal seizure activity. Their
attacks had been inadequately controlled on 0.13 gm. of
phenobarbital daily, combined with 0.3 gm. of Dilantin per
day in two of the patients, and in a third, with 0.2 gm. of
Mesantoin daily.
Two isomeric 3 (1,2-dimethyl heptyl) homologs of THC
were tested, Numbers 122 and 125A, with ataxia potencies
fifty and eight times, respectively, that of natural marijuana
principles. Number 122 was given to two patients for three
weeks and to three patients for seven weeks. Three responded
at least as well as to previous therapy; the fourth became
almost completely and the fifth entirely seizure free. One
patient, transferred to 125A after three weeks, had prompt
exacerbation of seizures during the ensuing four weeks,
despite dosages up to 4 mg. daily. The second patient
transferred to 125A was adequately controlled on this
dosage, except for a brief period of paranoid behavior three
and a half weeks later; similar episodes had occurred prior to
cannabinol therapy. Other psychic disturbances or toxic reactions
were not manifested during the periods of treatment.
Blood counts were normal. The cannabinols herein reported
deserve further trial in non-institutionalized epileptics.
Reprinted from Federation Proceedings, Federation of American Society for Experimental
Biology, vol. 8, lY49, p. 284.
167
Source: Anti-Epileptic Action Of Marijuana-Active Substances
