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Sleep Disorders – Research on cannabinoids

Sleep disorders are interruptions in normal sleep patterns. Among the most common forms of the problem is insomnia, which is the difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep. Apnea is characterized by breathing stops during sleep. Restless legs syndrome is the tingling sensation in the lower limbs while lying at rest. Narcolepsy presents with sudden, irresistible attacks of sleep during the day. Parasomnia includes nightmares, somnambulism, somniloquy (talking in sleep), enuresis (bed wetting) and bruxism (teeth grinding).

Problems during this rest period can affect an individual’s health and safety. Sleep deprivation decreases physical performance, impairs alertness, memory and cognitive abilities, and may increase the risk of occupational injuries, car accidents and make it impossible to participate in activities that require continuous attention. Additionally, sleep deprivation and nighttime disruption can lead to relationship problems.

The ways to treat these sleep disorders depend largely on how they manifest themselves. For some of them, simply adopting regular habits can be effective. Making lifestyle changes helps in many cases, such as adjusting the time of exposure to daylight, taking strategic naps, as well as maintaining a routine, establishing a bedtime.

For sleep disorders caused by disruption of the circadian rhythm, a common treatment method is the use of bright lights, which helps synchronize the body clock by exposing the eyes to safe levels of bright light for a short time during the day. Melatonin treatments and other medications can encourage good quality sleep, helping to maintain a healthy cycle.

Effects of cannabis on sleep disorders

Studies have shown that cannabis can improve sleep quality and duration and help treat a variety of related disorders. One of the cannabinoids most commonly found in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), effectively reduces the time it takes for a person with insomnia to fall asleep 4. One study found that habitual users of oral THC fall asleep faster and without difficulty when compared to non-users 9. Another study found that cannabis, when administered in chronic cases, facilitates the process of falling asleep and increases the duration of stage 4 sleep 24.

THC has also been shown to decrease the number of times an individual wakes up during the night 4. An animal study found that a synthetic cannabinoid similar to THC was effective in alleviating serotonin-induced apnea by relaxing a muscle in the chin and tongue that has been implicated in causing the disorder 2. Studies have also found cannabinoids to be effective in treating nightmares in military personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder 6, 10.

A cannabis-based medication containing THC and another important cannabinoid found in the plant, CBD or cannabidiol, has been shown to have positive effects on sleep in several studies 22. One of them found that treatment with CBD is effective in increasing total sleep time 3.

Most studies, however, demonstrate that CBD has properties that help maintain alertness 13, 15, 17. Another study found that CBD, when consumed while the lights were on, effectively improved wakefulness 11. In this way, high-CBD cannabis could help regulate sleep deprivation and excessive daytime drowsiness.

Patients who use medicinal cannabis commonly use the plant to treat sleep disorders. In one study, it was found that nearly half of adults who purchased medical cannabis from dispensaries were seeking to alleviate problems with insomnia. The majority of these individuals reported preferring cannabis strains with higher concentrations of CBD 1.

Recent studies on cannabis in sleep disorders

References:

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  2. Calik, M.W., Radulovacki, M., and Carley, D.W. (2014, January 1). Intranodose ganglion injections of dronabinol attenuate serotonin-induced apnea in Sprague-Dawley rat. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, 190, 20-24. Retrieved from
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