Iowa Bill Would Allow Form Of Marijuana For Epilepsy Treatment Iowa lawmakers on Thursday approved a bill that would legalize possession of a liquid, non-intoxicating form of marijuana as a treatment for severe epilepsy,... By: WochitGeneralNews … Continue reading →

Posted on: 10:20 pm, May 1, 2014, by Rebecca Roberts, updated on: 04:14am, May 2, 2014 For State Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale), who has a son with severe epilepsy, the day this bill is signed into law cant come soon enough. Schmitt, along with his wife and three children, spent Thursday in Jefferson City, speaking before a senate committee on what this new epilepsy treatment would mean for them. Schmitt explains, Stephens been through a lot. Obviously its affected his development, hes non-verbal, but I was proud, and I know Jaime was right there with me, to be a voice for Stephen and kids like Stephen, and to see that this can actually happen in our state. Nine year-old Stephen Schmitt had his first seizure at 11 months. Now, he suffers from 5 to 12 seizures per day. His mother, Jaime Schmitt, says, Usually it just starts with him staring, and we go over and make sure its not going to get worse. If it gets to 15 minutes or so, then we call 911. Stephens father adds, All we can really do is love him, and do the best we can. Weve tried all the meds and they just … Continue reading →

ARDSLEY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACOR) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Complete Response Letter (CRL) for the New Drug Application (NDA) for PLUMIAZTM (diazepam) Nasal Spray for the treatment of people with epilepsy who experience cluster seizures. A CRL is a communication from the FDA that informs a company that their review of the NDA is complete and the application cannot be approved in its present form. The Company is currently developing a response to address the items outlined in the letter. There is an urgent need for new treatments for people with epilepsy who experience cluster seizures. We are committed to the development and commercialization of PLUMIAZ, a potential therapeutic option for these individuals, said Ron Cohen, M.D., Acordas President and CEO. We are evaluating the Complete Response Letter and expect to work closely with the FDA to address the items outlined in the letter and refile the NDA for PLUMIAZ. We expect to provide further detail as our discussions with the FDA progress. Based on the requirements for approval outlined in the letter, the Company does not expect PLUMIAZ to receive FDA approval in 2014. Of the approximately 2.8 million … Continue reading →

Kentucky is part of the nation's "stroke belt," a region of southeastern U.S. states that rank above the national average in occurrence of stroke. In order to improve that statistic, it is vital for all Kentuckians to understand the signs and symptoms of a stroke, and to act quickly when any of those signs are present. FAST is a public awareness educational tool, adopted by the American Heart Association, that reminds people to recognize many early signs of stroke and encourages people to take action fast when the first signs of a stroke occur. FAST stands for: Face drooping, weakness or numbness; Arm weakness or numbness; Speech difficulty or alteration and Time to call 9-1-1. In past years, many patients felt that there was very little that could be done to treat a stroke. Consequently, many patients remained at home before seeking help they waited and watched to see if stroke symptoms would recover. Fortunately, we now have acute stroke treatment that can minimize the damage of a stroke. The key for success is time; in the acute treatment of stroke, minutes matter. For every minute that we shorten the time between the onset of symptoms and the start of … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise NEW YORK (May 2, 2014) Every year, almost 800,000 people in the United States experience a stroke, which occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a blocked or ruptured blood vessel. Stroke causes more serious long-term disability than any other disease, but a greater chance of recovery can occur if signs of a stroke are recognized and victims get to a hospital quickly. This May, during National Stroke Awareness Month, the Stern Stroke Center at Montefiore Medical Center is ramping up education efforts about how immediate recognition and treatment of stroke can minimize associated side effects and even prevent death. When it comes to stroke, every minute counts, said Daniel L. Labovitz, M.D., director, Stern Stroke Center, Montefiore and assistant professor of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. Ischemic stroke, which represents 85 percent of all stroke cases, occurs when a clot blocks blood supply to part of the brain. If these patients are seen within a three hour window, we can use a clot buster called tPA to restore blood flow and improve chances of good recovery. That is why if you think it might … Continue reading →