A study published in PLoS Mental Health indicated that cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) enhanced sleep quality for patients diagnosed with insomnia. A United Kingdom-based research team examined the effects of medical cannabis. The UK legalized medical cannabis use in 2018, and this law allows British healthcare providers to prescribe CBMPs to patients unresponsive to traditional pharmaceutical treatments.
The researchers assessed the adjunctive use of CBMPs in a cohort of 124 patients enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. The research team ensured all CBMP prescriptions and consumption complied with UK regulations. The goal was to assess changes in sleep-specific and general patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).
The participants had to meet the following criteria: diagnosed with primary insomnia, 18 years or older, and initiated on CBMP therapy for insomnia. The participants consumed either cannabis flower or oil extracts with standardized concentrations of THC and CBD.
The research team evaluated patient outcomes at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Most participants reported improved sleep quality. They also reported improvements in depression, anxiety, and health-related quality of life. A few participants reported an adverse event (dry mouthor ) that the researchers categorized as mild or moderate, but most participants described their CBMP use as safe and well-tolerated.
The researchers noted that participants’ improvements stabilized or declined over time, which may suggest that some patients may become more tolerant to the sedative effects of CBMPs.
Insomnia can be caused by many different factors, including stress, pain, poor sleep hygiene, and mental health issues. People who experience consistent sleep loss are at greater risk for cardiac disease and psychiatric disorders. The findings suggest the need for conducting randomized clinical trials to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of CBMPs in managing insomnia.
Sources: NORML PLoS Mental Health, UK Medical Cannabis Registry
