This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-50874089

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Cannabis-based medicine for epilepsy available on NHS from January Cannabis-based medicine for epilepsy available on NHS from January
(about 13 hours later)
People with severe epilepsy will be able to access a cannabis-based medicine on the NHS from early next year after it was fast-tracked for use.People with severe epilepsy will be able to access a cannabis-based medicine on the NHS from early next year after it was fast-tracked for use.
NHS England said doctors would be able to prescribe Epidyolex - which was approved in November - from 6 January. NHS England said doctors would be able to prescribe Epidyolex from 6 January.
It will be available for children from the age of two, as well as adults. It will be for children from age two, as well as adults, but some campaigners warn it is "too little too late".
Clinical trials have shown the oral solution, which contains cannabidiol (CBD), could reduce the number of seizures by up to 40% in some children.Clinical trials have shown the oral solution, which contains cannabidiol (CBD), could reduce the number of seizures by up to 40% in some children.
The medicine will be used to treat two rare, but severe, forms of childhood epilepsy - Lennox Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome - which can cause multiple seizures a day.The medicine will be used to treat two rare, but severe, forms of childhood epilepsy - Lennox Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome - which can cause multiple seizures a day.
Epilepsy Action's chief executive Philip Lee welcomed the announcement, saying it "brings much-needed hope and could be life-changing for some".Epilepsy Action's chief executive Philip Lee welcomed the announcement, saying it "brings much-needed hope and could be life-changing for some".
However, he added that Epidyolex was not "a silver bullet" and there was more work to be done to "collect robust high-quality evidence of the effectiveness of other cannabis-based medicines".However, he added that Epidyolex was not "a silver bullet" and there was more work to be done to "collect robust high-quality evidence of the effectiveness of other cannabis-based medicines".
An official NHS review earlier this year found that a "lack of evidence" was holding back cannabis medicines, which specialist doctors have been allowed to prescribe in the UK since a law change in November 2018. Medical cannabis campaigner Peter Carroll said it was "too little, too late" as he urged action towards making medicinal cannabis with CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) available for families in need.
THC is the psycho-active component of cannabis.
Speaking to BBC News, he said: "What's shown to have a transforming effect for children in desperate need is a CBD medicine with a little bit of THC, but those are unlicensed in the UK at the moment."
Mr Carroll added: "The law was changed in November 2018 so that specialist doctors could write a prescription for medical cannabis with the CBD and THC, even though they are unlicensed.
"Shockingly, to our knowledge, not a single prescription for the medicine with those two parts was issued on the NHS since the law was changed."
An official NHS review earlier this year found that a "lack of evidence" was holding back cannabis medicines, which specialist doctors have been allowed to prescribe in the UK since the law change last year.
Decisions on drug availability are devolved around the UK.Decisions on drug availability are devolved around the UK.
It is estimated there are 3,000 people with Dravet and 5,000 with Lennox Gastaut syndrome in England.It is estimated there are 3,000 people with Dravet and 5,000 with Lennox Gastaut syndrome in England.
NHS chief executive Simon Stevens said that thousands of people would now have access to the treatment "which has the potential to make a real difference".NHS chief executive Simon Stevens said that thousands of people would now have access to the treatment "which has the potential to make a real difference".