The OAD Clinic
Medicinal Cannabis for Sleep Disorders
Human experimental data suggests cannabis and THC have a dose-dependent effect on sleep. Low doses appear to decrease sleep onset latency and increase slow-wave sleep and total sleep time, while high doses appear to cause sleep disturbances [1].
Limited evidence from clinical studies also suggests that certain cannabinoids (cannabis, nabilone, dronabinol, nabiximols) may improve sleep in patients with disturbances in sleep associated with certain chronic disease states.
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A number of clinical studies point to a potential beneficial role for smoked cannabis or prescription cannabinoids (dronabinol, nabilone, nabiximols) in the treatment of sleep difficulties or disturbances associated with chronic pain (cancer pain, chronic non-cancer pain, diabetic peripheral neuropathy), HIV-associated anorexia-cachexia, MS, ALS, SCI, RA, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), MS-associated bladder dysfunction, PTSD, chemosensory alterations and anorexia-cachexia associated with advanced cancer [2] - [3] - [4].
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References
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[1] Whiting PF, Wolff RF, Deshpande S, Di Nisio M, Duffy S, Hernandez AV, Keurentjes JC, Lang S, Misso K, Ryder S, et al. Cannabinoids for medical use: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA 2015 Jun 23-30;313(24):2456-73.
[2] iz J, Duran M, Capella D, Carbonell J, Farre M. Cannabis use in patients with fibromyalgia: Effect on symptoms relief and health-related quality of life. PLoS.One. 2011;6(1932-6203; 1932-6203; 4):e18440.
[3] Haney M, Gunderson EW, Rabkin J, Hart CL, Vosburg SK, Comer SD, Foltin RW. Dronabinol and marijuana in HIV-positive marijuana smokers. caloric intake, mood, and sleep. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2007 08/15;45(1525-4135; 1525-4135; 5):545-54.
[4] Page SA, Verhoef MJ, Stebbins RA, Metz LM, Levy JC. Cannabis use as described by people with multiple sclerosis. Can J Neurol Sci 2003 08;30(0317-1671; 0317-1671; 3):201-5.