INSOMNIA patients experienced better quality sleep after using medical cannabis within an 18-month period, a new medical report has found.
The research by scientists at Imperial College, London, now published in the Public Library of Science (PLOS), revealed participants also reported improvements in anxiety and depression as well as pain levels.
People with insomnia range from 10 per cent to as high as 30%, according to the report, with poor sleep quality leading to cognitive and psychiatric difficulties as well as cardiovascular risks.
The study authors said:
“Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder, characterised by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, early-morning waking, and significant distress or impairment in daily functioning. Insomnia disorder’s diagnostic criteria, require these sleep difficulties to occur at least three nights per week over a period of more than three months, despite sufficient opportunities for sleep, and without attribution to another sleep-wake disorder or health condition.”
“One in three individuals are affected by insomnia symptoms and an estimated 10% of adults meet the diagnostic criteria for insomnia disorder globally. Chronic insomnia has been linked to negative health outcomes, including psychiatric disorders, cardiovascular disease and a reduction in health-related quality of life (HRQoL).”
It also highlighted how insomnia can have significant negative effects on people’s daily lives and thereby needing further research for medical assistance, adding:
“Patients with insomnia are also more likely to be absent from work, retire on health grounds and experience a loss of productivity across multiple settings. The increasing prevalence of insomnia is a significant public health concern, emphasising the need for effective interventions.”
Effective medical treatments are available but come with side effects and at a risk of developing dependence – the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are now being investigated as a positive alternative.
For the research undertaken by Imperial College, 124 patients took part, all aged over 18, with each being given the same controlled dose of medical cannabis each day.
After an 18-month trial, the patients reported that it was continuing to help them to sleep better, but with the most significant improvements reported after a month, with effects reported in waning over time.
Around 9 per cent of the patients – who had all been diagnosed with primary insomnia and were registered with the UK Medical Cannabis Registry – reported adverse effects including dry mouth and fatigue.
The report added:
“Fewer than 1 in 10 participants reported an adverse event, most of which were categorised as mild or moderate, with no disabling or life-threatening events.”
Additional, positive side effects of medical cannabis included patients reporting their levels of anxiety and depression had reduced during the trial, with some also experiencing less pain.
The authors concluded that cannabis-based medical products could improve sleep quality and that randomised controlled trials would need to continue to prove products are “safe and effective.”
To learn more about conditions which can be treated by medical cannabis and your eligibility please find more information on the Lyphe clinic website.
Read the full report on PLOS Mental Health:
If you enjoyed reading this article on Insomnia, you can read more related articles such as:
Understanding Insomnia and the role of Medical Cannabis
Insomnia Treatment: Natural Options and How Medical Cannabis May Help
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