Max Robertson A 12-year-old British epileptic who will be treated with the marijuana-derived drug Epidiolex Country: Great Britain

1. Max Robertson: A Young Boy Battling Epilepsy
2. Discovering a Potential Solution
3. Introducing Epidiolex
4. Trials and Hope for the Future
5. Max Robertson's Unique Case

Max Robertson: A Young Boy Battling Epilepsy

12-year-old Max Robertson, a British boy suffering from epilepsy, is set to become one of the first patients in the UK to undergo experimental treatment for his condition using a medication derived from marijuana. Max's mother, 41-year-old Lorraine Haddington, explains that Max started experiencing tonic-clonic seizures after his fifth birthday. About four to five years ago, he was diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a form of epilepsy that primarily affects children between the ages of 2 and 8. Lorraine says, "Sometimes I feel like he is suffering but unable to communicate it to us because he cannot speak. He lives in his own world, and our connection with him is quite weak at the moment."

Discovering a Potential Solution

Last year, Haddington heard about a girl from Colorado whose seizures stopped after she was given cannabidiol (CBD), a compound found in marijuana. Max's parents sought answers from Dr. Richard Chin, who agreed to offer his assistance. However, they faced complications initially as the medication had not yet been approved in the UK.

Introducing Epidiolex

Pharmaceutical company GW Pharmaceuticals developed a medication called Epidiolex, which is derived from CBD and does not have psychoactive effects. Haddington explains, "We did not have the time to wait for the results of clinical trials that would determine how the medication affects people. I do not know if it will be effective, but we really want to try. I have lost count of the medications Max has already tried over the years." Dr. Richard Chin, a specialist at the Muir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre at the University of Edinburgh, states, "Many children with severe forms of epilepsy do not respond to the medications currently available. We need new treatment options for these conditions so that we can give these children and their families a full life."

Trials and Hope for the Future

The trials for Epidiolex will take place at the Muir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre, the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, and Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. Currently, medications derived from marijuana are already being used in the US, UK, and European countries to alleviate pain caused by cancer and multiple sclerosis. One such medication is Sativex, a spray. However, it is worth mentioning that there are reports online suggesting that the effectiveness of such sprays is no better than a placebo. Two other medications, Cesamet and Marinol, which contain natural components of cannabis, are used in Canada and the US to combat nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and AIDS-related anorexia.

Max Robertson's Unique Case

The testing of Epidiolex will pay special attention to children with Dravet syndrome, a rare and challenging form of epilepsy to treat. Max Robertson has been included in the trial because he not only suffers from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome but also does not respond to currently available and legalized medications that are supposed to alleviate his condition.