Using cannabis gel to cure epilespy

Professor Terry O'Brien leads a team of researchers in testing out the efficacy of a cannabis gel to reduce uncontrolled seizures in adults.

Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital)'s Academic Lead Professor Terry O'Brien is leading a team of researchers in testing out the efficacy of a cannabis gel to reduce uncontrolled seizures in adults. This gel would be rubbed onto the arms of 180 patients in a world-first trial across 14 sites in Australia and New Zealand.

This gel is the first cannabis-derived drug designed to be absorbed through the skin, to be applied twice daily for 12 weeks during the trial. The advantages of this approach over oral administration are that it bypasses the liver, which metabolises the drug, reducing how much reaches the brain.

News of this trial first appeared in the following media outlets:

• Herald Sun, Page 11
• ABC 774 – 1200 & 1400 news updates
• 3AW – 0630, 0700, 1000 & 1200  
• CH7 News 1600 (National)
• ATV10 1800
• Ch7 News 1800 - Melbourne and Adelaide
• SBS TV (National)