Cannabis Shows Long-Term Benefit for Chronic Insomnia

Over 100 chronic insomnia patients taking cannabis products reported symptoms improvement throughout the entire duration of the study, claims new research published in the scientific journal PLOS Mental Health. The study was led by Arushika Aggarwal and her team at the Imperial College London, United Kingdom.

There’s an Epidemic of Sleep Disorders 

Because of their widespread and increasing prevalence, poor sleep and sleep-related disorders are currently considered a global public health epidemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Stress from modern lifestyle, difficult economic situations, but also factors such as increased screen time and digital overwhelm, all add up to the rise in issues like insomnia or sleep deprivation across different age groups. Roughly speaking, every one in three individuals, and about 10 percent of adults are suffering from insomnia disorder, according to the American Medical Association. 

Conventional sleep medications can offer relief with short-term use, helping to restore disrupted sleep cycles following trauma or stress. However, these medicines may not always entirely cure insomnia, and often produce unwanted side effects, such as drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, memory problems, confusion, and even dependence in some cases. Cannabis products are increasingly considered in medical therapy to help treat patients struggling with poor sleep and insomnia. 

Cannabis Medicines Can Have Prolonged Benefit to Insomnia Patients 

The Imperial College London researchers assessed the effects of dispensing medicinal cannabis to 124 registered insomnia patients. All participants were above 18 years old, diagnosed with primary insomnia, and were therefore initiated on cannabis-based medicinal product therapies for their condition. Additional information were gathered on age, gender, body mass index (BMI), occupation, and whether patients have history on alcohol, tobacco and/or cannabis use. 

Researchers observed positive changes in reported sleep quality, as well as a drop in anxiety and depression levels. The overall quality of life improved across one to 18 months of treatment. Side effects were mild and short-lived in most cases, suggesting that cannabis has a huge potential to substitute conventional sleep medicines where those meds do not deliver successful results. 

Here are the study results summed up: 

• Patients consistently reported improved sleep during the 18-month study period.
• Patients further reported reduced anxiety and less depression, as well as lower levels of pain.
• Around nine percent of patients experienced usual side effects seen with cannabis, such as slight fatigue and dry mouth. 

Overall, the results suggest that cannabis-based medical products may work as a viable treatment option for people with sleep disorders such as chronic insomnia. While the study scientifically supports the therapeutic potential of cannabis for insomnia, researchers further say that more randomized trials are needed to establish there is long-term efficacy. They also emphasize the need for extended monitoring of patients who undergo cannabis therapies for sleep problems. 

“Conducting this long-term study provided valuable real-world evidence on patient outcomes that go beyond what we typically see in short-term trials,” says study co-author Dr. Simon Erridge, Research Director at Curaleaf Clinic. “It was particularly interesting to observe signs of potential tolerance over time, which highlights the importance of continued monitoring and individualized treatment plans,” he adds.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cannabis Use and Its Effects on Sleep 

Cannabis may have a huge potential as an alternative to traditional sleep medicines. However, the use of cannabis may also interfere with sleep. It is also true that not all cannabis products perform well when trying to medicate a sleep disorder. Let’s take a look at some of the most commonly asked questions about cannabis in relation to sleep, which basically show us why more research is indeed needed here. 

• Can Cannabis Prevent You from Sleeping? 

Yes, marijuana or THC-rich products, can backfire and disrupt sleep patterns leading to poor rest at night. This happens even though many users prescribe sleep benefits, such as falling asleep faster, to using cannabis products. Frequent and heavy use of stronger cannabis strains can worsen sleep and increase the chances of insomnia. Sleeping difficulties may also occur during withdrawal periods, when habitual cannabis users decide to pause and stop use. 

• What Happens to Your Brain When You Sleep High?

THC is known to suppress REM sleep, causing disruption in the regular sleep cycles. Which might actually comfort PTSD patients or anyone who suffers from nightmares during stressful periods in their life. As THC lowers the amount of REM sleep, it’s less likely for the person to experience bad dreams. However, continued exposure to cannabis may begin interrupting sleep in the second part of the night, when the brain calibrates its cognitive capacity. In which case, cannabis users may experience memory lapses and a range of other similar issues. We write more HERE how marijuana might lead to poorer sleep and memory function. 

• What Are the Best Cannabis Product for Insomnia?

It is obviously important what kind of cannabis product you should use when you want to achieve better sleep at night. When it comes to sleep, relaxing and pain management, cannabis users appear to choose indica strains more often than other strains. Indica cannabis is well-recognized for its sedative properties, which include facilitating deeper and longer sleep. CBD products are another popular option for taking the sleep benefit from cannabis. CBD is great for those who do not want to encounter any psychoactivity associated with THC-rich cannabis products. 

NOTE: When addressing serious sleep problems that may affect your quality of life, it is important to consult a medical professional instead of self-medicating with cannabis. 

More on this topic from Soft Secrets:

• CBD Is Effective for Anxiety, Depression, and Poor Sleep
• Weed Before Bedtime Doesn’t Cause Next Day Impairment
• 8 Best Strains That Can Help You Get Good Night’s Sleep