- A good quality of sleep is essential for physical, emotional and mental health, but currently only 50% of the population report having it.
- The main uses of cannabinoids that are currently reported are for the control of chronic pain, some mental health problems and sleep disorders.
- In the case of insomnia, it is frequently mentioned that medicinal cannabis would help in relaxation.
Sleep disorders are so broad that there are 88 different ones recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is estimated that at least 40 percent of the global population suffers from one. One of the most common is the insomnia and recently it has been suggested that medical cannabis could work as a treatment, but is it true?
One of the specialists who has studied this topic the most is Dr. Mafer Arboleda, who recalls that human beings have activities and rest cycles. Sleep is considered a state of rest and relaxation, the effects of which are especially important for physical and mental health.
When sleeping, the level of consciousness decreases as well as the response to external stimuli, which allows rest. Today there are several routines and positive behaviors to increase the quality of rest or significantly reduce sleep disorders. This is called sleep hygiene.
Being a physiological need of every human being, the main function of sleep is recovery, psychological and physiological rest.
The most well-known sleep disorder is called “insomnia” which is a state of hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
The Chronic insomnia occurs in 15% of the population and is defined as follows: when it occurs at least 3 times a week for at least 3 months. It is mainly caused by stress and workload, family problems, lifestyle and untreated sleep disorders.
In addition to insomnia, other sleep disorders that affect sleep habits and patterns and are worth mentioning are:
● Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
● Sleepwalking
● Nightmares and night terrors
● Restless legs syndrome
Treatments and medical cannabis as support for some sleep disorders such as insomnia
In general, there are different pharmacological and non-pharmacological options for the management of sleep disorders. In some cases, treatments for insomnia do not achieve good therapeutic adherence, generate poor tolerance or produce undesirable side effects for the patient, such as drowsiness, cognitive impairment, dependence and abuse potential. However, there are certain alternative therapies and routines that individuals can follow to help them get a good quality of sleep. One of the most notorious strategies, but one that is still under investigation, is the administration of medicinal cannabis.
It should not be ignored that the majority of patients who consume cannabinoids for insomnia report a better quality of sleep and less consumption of other conventional medications. However, the results in medical research regarding the use of some of the components of cannabis to improve the sleep cycle are mixed and divergent. Therefore, a better design and control is required, as well as better methods for data collection regarding the variables that evaluate sleep quality.
Studies with larger sample sizes (greater number of patients studied) and with reliable monitoring, administering cannabinoids for several consecutive nights, taking into account the doses administered, are still pending and in process, before issuing definitive conclusions on the effect of cannabinoids. cannabinoids on sleep quality and architecture.
The effect of THC on sleep disorders
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the most abundant components of the cannabis plant, shows no impact on the time it takes for a person to fall asleep (sleep onset latency) but does show a significant increase in the time total sleep. Likewise, a positive effect of THC has been found in insomnia secondary to chronic pain and cancer, and in night terrors and nightmares in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, with promising results.
Importantly, some studies conducted with THC-enriched products show a significant reduction in the REM sleep phase, but the very high doses of THC used (0.7-1 mg/kg) must be taken into account.
The effect of CBD on sleep disorders
Most of the clinical studies carried out, with acceptable methodologies, have been with formulations rich in THC. There are very few with balanced THC:CBD and only one study with a predominant cannabidiol (CBD) formulation.
CBD has been heavily promoted, especially on social media, for its sedative effect as a treatment for insomnia; however, scientific evidence is extremely limited in this clinical context. Clinical studies support the use of CBD in diseases such as: refractory epilepsies (eg Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome, tuberous sclerosis), social anxiety disorder, management of non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, among others .
Now, a clinical study published in the 80s, which included 15 people with insomnia, where three different doses of CBD were administered: 40 mg, 80 mg, 160 mg; showed longer sleep duration when taking 160 mg of CBD versus placebo; however, there was no difference in time to fall asleep. There was also no difference in taking 40 or 80 mg of CBD.
The individuals who participated commented that they did not remember having dreamed, which suggests a possible reduction in REM sleep time, an essential stage for fixing memories, processing acquired knowledge and achieving restful sleep.
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