Summary: A new study suggests cannabis-based medical products may help people with insomnia sleep better over the long term. Across 124 patients followed for up to 18 months, participants consistently reported improved sleep quality, less anxiety and depression, and a better overall quality of life.
Some patients also noted reduced pain, while side effects remained mild and manageable. Though randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm safety and effectiveness, the findings point to medical cannabis as a possible option when conventional therapies fall short.
Key Facts
- Sustained Benefits: Sleep quality improved and lasted for 18 months of treatment.
- Broader Impact: Patients also reported lower anxiety, depression, and pain.
- Mild Side Effects: Only 9% experienced fatigue, dry mouth, or insomnia, with no serious events.
Source: PLOS
Insomnia patients taking cannabis-based medical products reported better quality sleep after up to 18 months of treatment, according to a study published August 27 in the open-access journal PLOS Mental Health by Arushika Aggarwal from Imperial College London, U.K., and colleagues.
About one out of every three people has some trouble getting a good night’s rest, and 10 percent of adults meet the criteria for an insomnia disorder. But current treatments can be difficult to obtain, and the drugs approved for insomnia run the risk of dependence.
To understand how cannabis-based medical products might affect insomnia symptoms, the authors of this study analyzed a set of 124 insomnia patients taking medical cannabis products.
They examined the patient’s reports of their sleep quality, anxiety/depression, and quality of life changes between one and 18 months of treatment.
The patients reported improved sleep quality that lasted over the 18 months of treatment. They also showed significant improvements in anxiety/depression as well as reporting less pain.
About nine percent of the patients reported adverse effects such as fatigue, insomnia, or dry mouth, but none of the side effects were life-threatening.
While randomized controlled trials will be needed to prove that the products are safe and effective, the authors suggest that cannabis-based medical products could improve sleep quality in insomnia patients.
Co-author Dr. Simon Erridge, Research Director at Curaleaf Clinic, summarizes: “Over an 18-month period, our study showed that treatment for insomnia with cannabis-based medicinal products was associated with sustained improvements in subjective sleep quality and anxiety symptoms.
“These findings support the potential role of medical cannabis as a medical option where conventional treatments have proven ineffective, though further randomised trials are needed to confirm long-term efficacy.”
He adds: “Conducting this long-term study provided valuable real-world evidence on patient outcomes that go beyond what we typically see in short-term trials. It was particularly interesting to observe signs of potential tolerance over time, which highlights the importance of continued monitoring and individualised treatment plans.”
About this psychopharmacology and insomnia research news
Author: Charlotte Bhaskar
Source: PLOS
Contact: Charlotte Bhaskar – PLOS
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“UK Medical Cannabis Registry: A clinical outcomes analysis for insomnia” by Arushika Aggarwal et al. PLOs Mental Health
Abstract
UK Medical Cannabis Registry: A clinical outcomes analysis for insomnia
Insomnia affects approximately 10% of adults globally. Current treatments have their limitations, and there is growing evidence on the therapeutic potential of cannabis-based medicinal products for insomnia.
This study aimed to assess changes in sleep-specific and general patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in individuals prescribed cannabis-based medicinal products for insomnia and to assess the incidence of adverse events. A case series was analysed with patients diagnosed with primary insomnia from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry (UKMCR).
The primary outcome examined changes in the Single-Item Sleep Quality Scale (SQS), Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and EuroQol-5 Dimension-5 Level (EQ-5D-5L). Changes in PROMs were assessed from baseline to 1-, 3-, 6-, 12- and 18-months. Adverse events were classified according to the CTCAE version 4.0.
The inclusion criteria were met by 124 participants. SQS scores showed improvement from baseline (2.66 ± 2.41) to 1- (5.67 ± 2.65; p < 0.001), 3- (5.41 ± 2.69; p < 0.001), 6- (4.80 ± 2.89; p < 0.001), 12- (4.24 ± 3.01; p < 0.001) and 18-months (3.81 ± 2.90; p < 0.001). GAD-7 scores improved from baseline to 1-, 3-, 6-, 12- and 18-months (p < 0.050).
There were also improvements in EQ-5D-5L dimensions of usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression, and index values (p < 0.001). Eleven (8.87%) participants reported a total of 112 (90.32%) adverse events, but none were disabling or life-threatening.
The study demonstrated improvements in subjective sleep quality and other captured PROMs in insomnia patients treated with cannabis-based medicinal products.
Although the treatment was generally well-tolerated, randomised controlled trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness and safety of cannabis-based medicinal products.
