Overall, predominant indica and indica hybrid strains were the most commonly used strains for insomnia, whereas predominant sativa and sativa hybrid strains were used least for the management of insomnia symptoms. Descriptive statistics examining the percentage of each strain category (ie, predominant sativa, sativa hybrid, predominant indica, indica hybrid, balanced hybrid, or cannabidiol CBD) used for the management of insomnia symptoms across 24,189 tracked sessions are presented in Table 1. For inferential analyses, our primary analysis focused on the perceived efficacy of cannabis for the management of insomnia symptoms. First, we completed a descriptive analysis of the data set by generating information on the specific cannabis use profile for the management of insomnia symptoms. The sample comprised 42.6% (422/991) self-identified male participants and 56.1% (556/991) self-identified female participants (13/991, 1.3% of users did not report gender), ranging in age from 18 to 74 years (mean 36.32, SD 11.65). In this study, we examined the data of individuals who used medicinal cannabis to manage the severity of insomnia symptoms for the condition of insomnia.
RCTs are limited in cannabis research, so we are stuck with mostly observational studies. This figure highlights the percentage of individuals diagnosed with various psychiatric disorders within the past year, comparing cannabis users and non-users. Cases like this have been increasingly seen, raising relevant questions about the true effects of cannabis on depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health outcomes. The authors declare no conflicts of interest and have no financial relationships with any pharmaceutical or cannabis companies. Oct. 27, 2021 — Researchers tested the effectiveness of affordable, interactive robotic pet cats to improve mood, behavior and cognition in older adults with mild to moderate dementia. Mar. 18, 2022 — A new study shows that using cannabis products to treat pain, anxiety and depression failed to improve these symptoms while doubling the risk of developing the addictive symptoms of cannabis use …
Functional connectivity in brain networks underlying cognitive control in chronic cannabis users. A review of cannabis legalization explained the effects of acute and chronic cannabinoid exposure on the stress response. Confirmation that the AKT1 (rs ) genotype influences the risk of psychosis in cannabis users. A naturalistic examination of the perceived effects of cannabis on negative affect.
Is cannabis effective for insomnia, restless legs syndrome, or sleep apnea?
There were 11 (39%) experimental clinical trial studies (Table 3A) and 17 (61%) observational investigations (Table 3B) evaluating the effects of cannabis on overall sleep, with most employing self-reported questionnaires (surveys). The initial search dated from January 1946 to December 2020 using 2 databases (MEDLINE and EMBASE) identified 389 articles. The parameters for sleep analysis included reduced or increased sleep latency, decreased time spent awake after falling asleep, increased or decreased total sleep time, and changes in stage 3 or reported time in rapid eye movement sleep. Studies varied in their use of either objective polysomnographic findings or patient-reported outcomes. A trial flow diagram shows the number of identified, screened, and included studies.
The findings revealed that OEA administration led to a reduction in overall sleep duration, particularly affecting REM sleep, regardless of the route of administration. Apart from their well-known benefits in alleviating chemotherapy-related symptoms, cannabinoids are increasingly used to treat medical conditions including chronic pain, cancer, anxiety, insomnia, and epilepsy . For instance, Δ9-THC, the mind-altering element of Cannabis, functions as a partial agonist of the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, whereas CBD, the second most prevalent phytocannabinoid, shows a limited affinity for CB1 or CB2 receptors, despite having the same molecular formula as Δ9-THC. The term cannabinoids, or phytocannabinoids, commonly refers to approximately 120 or more compounds identified in the trichomes of Cannabis sativa.
Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is present in the body between smoking sessions in occasional non-daily cannabis users. Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife. Current addiction reports, 9(4), 473–485.
The impact of cannabinoids on sleep patterns and architecture.
Interest has been piqued by the influence of CBD on sleep regulation, as low doses encourage sleep while high doses lead to sedation.
Notably, studies have revealed heightened levels of 2-AG in sleep-deprived healthy young adults . The authors thank the assistance provided by Ana Paula Fernandes. Subsequently, the AASM issued a new response article cautioning against the use of cannabis for OSA, stating that the current evidence is not yet sufficient to treat this disease. However, as pointed out by French authors,71,72 the self-reported evaluation of the benefit of cannabis use could have been distorted by the psychoactive properties of cannabis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Substitution of medical cannabis for pharmaceutical agents for pain, anxiety, and sleep. Nighttime insomnia symptoms and perceived health in the America Insomnia Survey (AIS). Liu Y, Wheaton AG, Chapman DP, Cunningham TJ, Lu H, Croft B. Prevalence of healthy sleep duration among adults—United States, 2014. Similarly, most participants reported using cannabis for sleep for over one year so the extent to which the findings would generalize to less experienced users is unclear.
Effect of Mixed Cannabinoid Formulations on Insomnia
The other authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Forty mild, nonserious, adverse events were reported (36 during ZTL-101) with all but one resolving overnight or soon after waking. No serious adverse events were reported. Adjusted mean differences between placebo and ZTL-101 were calculated. Summary of effect of cannabis and THC on sleep architecture (short term, long term and effects of withdrawal of cannabis)
The findings from this study do not demonstrate a convincing beneficial effect of CBD on RBD; rather, they highlight the waxing and waning natural history of RBD. Enactment of these dreams can result in punching, kicking, vocalisation and falling out of bed.56 RBD frequently causes injury to the individual or their bed partner.57 Although based on small randomised trials, recommended treatments for RBD include clonazepam and melatonin.58 However, the success of these medications is limited, with benefits often waning over time. The most frequent adverse events reported were sleepiness, headache, nausea/vomiting and dizziness, and the majority of the events were rated as mild (73%), with only 2% rated as severe.50 No serious adverse events were reported in the proof of concept trial,49 and one possibly treatment related (diarrhea and vomiting requiring hospitalization) was reported in the randomized control trial.50 On balance, it is apparent from the limited data in healthy, predominantly cannabis naïve participants, that the evidence in relation to the effect of cannabinoids on sleep quality is mixed and more well-controlled studies of individual and combined cannabinoids in broad and refined populations are required. As the review was focused on the utility of cannabis for clinical use, the search was limited to clinical research, except in the cases of obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia where some preclinical data is discussed.
New discoveries.
The criteria for inclusion encompassed articles of any kind published in English, focusing on cannabis users, with data provided on the effects of cannabis on sleep and sleep disorders. It is important to highlight that this review concentrated solely on clinical studies that examined sleep or symptoms of sleep disorders.
In contrast, clinical trials on humans using the synthetic cannabinoid dronabinol have reported limited success. A mixture of THC and CBD reduced total sleep time and REM sleep duration and delayed REM sleep onset without changing subjective sleep quality. We found that, despite its widespread use, there’s not enough research yet to support the use of medical cannabis to treat sleep disorders.
When compared to non-cannabis users, cannabis users reported significantly healthier scores on the overall Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and in specific areas such as subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and sleep disturbances. A total of 173 participants took part in our study, including 42 cannabis users and 131 non-cannabis users, who filled out the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the most frequently used self-reported assessment of sleep quality. Preferences for cannabis species and cannabinoid concentrations were observed among medicinal cannabis users experiencing sleep disturbances. The effects of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on nocturnal sleep patterns and early-morning behaviors in young adults. The therapeutic applications of cannabis for sleep disorders and associated conditions.