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Early Intervention Provides Hope to Children Diagnosed with Epilepsy

First Choice Neurology Physician Helps Family Use FDA-approved Cannabis Safely

Adam and Monica Adache knew some- Other studies are also available for
thing wasn’t right when their daughter, qualified patients through the Epilepsy
Maya, had a seizure at only six months Program at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
old. When those seizures continued to Fenfluramine, for example, is another
happen, they became extremely con- medication currently in clinical trials and
cerned. During one episode, she also had is expected to receive a decision regard-
a high fever and her pediatrician recom- ing FDA approval within the next year,
mended she be admitted to the ER. After added Dr. Miller.
five nights in the hospital and a convul- According to the Epilepsy Foundation
sion that lasted more than an hour, (www.epilepsy.com), 3.4 million people
physicians put her on medications to in the United States are living with
control the seizures. The episodes con- epilepsy, 470,000 of whom are children.
tinued, however, so they followed the One in 26 Americans will develop epilep-
recommendation of a friend and request- sy at some point in their lifetime.
ed an evaluation at Nicklaus Children’s Epilepsy Florida provides support to the
Hospital. Maya ultimately became a more than 400,000 individuals in the
patient of Ian Miller, M.D., a physician state living with epilepsy and seizures
with First Choice Neurology and (www.epilepsyfl.com).
Director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy First Choice Neurology is the largest
and Neurophysiology Program at the Dr. ian Miller Maya Adache private pediatric and adult neurology
Miami hospital. group in the United States, with more
After trying more than seven different and silver medal recipient at Special chronic infections.” than 80 neurologists and 120 support
medications, some of which made Maya’s Olympics regional competitions. Epidiolex®, a plant-based formulation health care staff members. The practice
symptoms worse, according to Adam, Dr. Miller says that his patients with of CBD and the first ever FDA-approved operates out of 41 facilities in six Florida
they were accepted into a clinical trial for Dravet syndrome as well as Lennox- medication to treat seizures in Dravet counties and offers coverage in 35 major
cannabidiol (CBD), a medication derived Gastuat syndrome (LGS), another seri- syndrome and LGS, has been scientifical- hospitals. Expertise in pediatric neurolo-
from cannabis recently approved by the ous form of epilepsy, are experiencing ly demonstrated to reduce seizures and is gy includes epilepsy, traumatic brain
FDA as Epidiolex®. positive results thanks to new FDA- giving patients new hope, according to injury, neurocritical care, cerebral palsy,
“This medication has been incredible,” approved cannabis medications as well as Dr. Miller. movement and neuromuscular disorders,
said Adam, who said that Maya also early detection by their primary care “I’m seeing relief for some of my headaches, autism and neurodevelop-
underwent brain resection surgery that physicians or other specialists. patients with this medication,” he said. mental disorders, neurogenetics, atten-
provided relief for about a year. She was “When I see patients at younger ages, I “However, patients and their families tion and learning problems, sleep disor-
diagnosed at age 9 with a rare, cata- find that positive results are more likely,” need to make sure any cannabis medica- ders, and advanced neurodiagnostic
strophic, lifelong form of epilepsy called he said. “Identifying symptoms early in a tion they try is FDA approved.” services.
Dravet syndrome, which begins in the child’s life can be critical. Examples of Epidiolex® was created by GW
first year of life with frequent and/or pro- symptoms that could signal an issue, Pharmaceuticals (www.gwpharm.com), a For more information, visit
longed seizures. Now almost 12, Maya include frequent or prolonged seizures, biopharmaceutical company focused on www.FCNeurology.net.
has a passion for ice skating and is a gold development and behavioral delays, or developing cannabinoid therapeutics.

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