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Using Cannabis and CBD to Sleep: An Updated Review
Isobel Lavender1,2, Grace Garden1,3,4,5,6, Ronald R Grunstein1,3,4,5,6
1Centre for Sleep and Chronobiology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Current Psychiatry Reports
|November 29, 2024
Summary
Cannabis-based treatments are popular for sleep disorders, but current research shows limited high-quality evidence for their effectiveness and safety. More rigorous clinical trials are needed to support their use.
Area of Science:
- Sleep Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Cannabinoid Research
Background:
- Cannabis sativa and its cannabinoids are widely used by patients seeking pharmacotherapy for sleep disorders.
- Existing reviews indicate a scarcity of high-quality evidence regarding the efficacy and long-term safety of cannabinoids for various conditions.
- This review focuses on recent research evaluating cannabinoid therapeutics specifically for sleep disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated review of recent original research on cannabinoid-based therapeutics for sleep disorders.
- To assess the current evidence base for the use of cannabinoids in treating conditions like insomnia and sleep apnea.
- To identify emerging trends in cannabinoid research for sleep.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a systematic search to identify recent original research studies on cannabinoids and sleep disorders.
- Included studies evaluating insomnia, subjective sleep impairment, obstructive sleep apnea, REM sleep behavior disorder, and restless legs syndrome.
- Analyzed trends in cannabinoid research, including the use of minor cannabinoids, decentralized study approaches, and objective outcome measures.
Main Results:
- Identified twenty-one recent studies evaluating cannabinoids for a range of sleep disorders.
- Observed trends towards the investigation of minor cannabinoids and the adoption of decentralized research methodologies.
- Noted an increased utilization of objective measures in recent clinical trials assessing cannabinoid efficacy for sleep.
- The current evidence base for cannabinoid use in sleep disorders does not align with their widespread application.
Conclusions:
- The evidence supporting the widespread use of cannabinoids for sleep disorders remains insufficient.
- There is a significant and growing need for well-designed, adequately funded clinical trials with sufficient sample sizes and longer durations.
- Future research should focus on generating robust data to guide clinicians and patients in the therapeutic use of cannabinoids for sleep conditions.
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