Laura Neiva reveals she has epilepsy and is being treated with cannabidiol

Actress Laura Neiva, 25, who is pregnant with a girl and will be on the cover of Marie Claire on October 2, revealed that she suffers from epilepsy and is treating the condition with cannabidiol. On Monday, some excerpts from the interview were published on the magazine's website:

"I found out I have epilepsy seven years ago. I was with my ex-boyfriend (presenter Felipe Solari) at home and had a seizure. He took me to the hospital and I was diagnosed with congenital epilepsy," she said.

Laura also experiences absence seizures, which are brief lapses of consciousness that can last up to 30 seconds:

"I've had them since I was little, but I couldn't explain to my mother what it was. It was only after I had the first seizure that I connected the dots. I had very few seizures during pregnancy, but absence seizures I have every week, while when not pregnant I had them once a month."

Laura has been taking the same medication since she was diagnosed. However, she recently incorporated cannabidiol (CBD) oil, derived from Cannabis sativa, the plant that gives rise to marijuana, to treat the seizures. Her first contact with the treatment was through her stepfather who, upon learning about the epilepsy, encouraged her to read articles on the subject.

"One of my dogs, Jefinho, is epileptic. He also has other neurological problems and was practically in a vegetative state. We decided to treat him with CBD and since then, he started barking, seeking affection, has more appetite, plays... It was amazing," she celebrates.

However, she has not felt much difference with the use of the oil.

"To know the real effects of CBD, I would have to stop taking my medication and I didn't. I talked to my doctor and he thought it best to keep everything the same during pregnancy."

After breastfeeding, Laura plans to try a new, more effective medication and intensify the treatment with cannabidiol.