Insomnia
Category
Sleep
REVIEWED BY
Our Biomedical Scientist
Reviewed based on
Literature Review
Last update
December 2020
What is Insomnia
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder causing difficulty falling- and staying asleep. Insomnia may interfere with health, work performance, mood, energy level, and overall quality of life. The disorder can be both acute (lasting for days or weeks) or chronic (months). Often, insomnia is caused by stress, traumatic life events, or habits that disrupt sleep. Therefore, lifestyle changes can often relieve the disorder, however, insomnia is often associated with underlying medical conditions or medications as well.1
Symptoms1
- Difficulty falling- and getting back to sleep
- Abrupted sleeping patterns e.g. Waking up during the night or waking up too early
- Increased tiredness or sleepiness during the day
- Increased irritability, depression, or anxiety
- Decreased attention span, memory, and focus
- Increased errors in everyday life
- Ongoing worry about sleep
Cause
Insomnia may be the primary problem, but it can also be caused by events which might lead to disturbed sleep:1
- Stress
Concerns regarding work, school, finance, family, friend, and love life, etc. - Poor sleep habits
Irregular bedtime schedule or certain activities before bed such as watching television - Everyday travel, work, or school schedule
Disruption of the body’s circadian rhythms (internal clock)
It is important to identify and treat any underlying problem causing insomnia which normally helps resolve insomnia though sometimes it can last for a long time (i.e. chronic condition).1
The connection between Cannabinoids & Insomnia
Studies find that CBD and THC may have great therapeutic potential and may be used to help treat Insomnia. CBD and THC are well-known cannabinoids, however, they do not have the same psychoactive effects. THC is psychoactive while CBD does not possess psychoactive effects. According to WHO guidelines, the cannabidiol CBD is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.
Preclinical data proposes that the cannabinoids THC and CBD may be therapeutic in the treatment of insomnia, as the endocannabinoid system plays a role in the sleep processes.2
In addition, recent findings have reported that CBD may be used as a potential candidate in the therapeutic treatment of insomnia, whereas THC may help reduce sleep latency.3
The literature discussion is an overview of the published results from scientific studies investigating if and how cannabinoids can be beneficial in the treatment of Insomnia. The overview will be updated regularly to ensure the newest and most accurate information.
The ECS are proposed to be involved in sleep processes
In a paper by Prieto et al. 4 reduced CB1 expression was found to be associated with sleep reduction while oleamide ameliorated sleep in adult rats.
In a study by Péres-Morales et al.5 with adult rats, sleep was shown to be restored by administration of 2AG, demonstrating that the endocannabinoid system is involved in sleep processes.
Targeting CB1 in rats improved sleep
Méndes-Diaz et al.6, discussed that sleep can be induced via activation of CB1 receptors in the endopeduncular nucleus whereas its blockage promotes insomnia-type symptoms in rats.
Using a rat model with in vivo microdialysis, Murillo-Rodriguez et al.7, found that anandamide was improved sleep through the mediation of CB1 receptors.
Several studies propose positive correlation between CBD, THC and improved sleep
Bisogno et al., Mechoulam et al.8-9, discussed that CBD may function as a suppressor of anandamide uptake through TRPV1, proposing a role in sleep.
In a study Santucci et al. 10, with rats, the CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR 141716A exhibited arousal-enhancing activities, proposing again that the endocannabinoid system is involved in sleep.
In a study by Murillo-Rodriguez et al.11, with rats, VDM 11 (inhibitor of ANA cellular uptake) was found to improve sleep and increase c-Fos expression in sleep-related brain areas.11
Cousens and DiMascio12 discussed that people with insomnia had decreased time to fall asleep upon THC administration compared to controls.
In an article by Hsiao et al.13, it has been discussed that anxiety-induced REM sleep alteration in rats may be blocked by CBD.
In a retrospective study by Cameron et al.14, Nabilone (a synthetic cannabinoid) was reported to produce positive effects in treating sleeping problems related to PTSD.
In a paper by Belendiuk et al.15, the authors discussed that 81 and 14 participants reported that they use cannabis to treat insomnia and reduce nightmares, respectively.
Vigil et al.16, used a mobile software application (app) to assess the effect of cannabis consumption in 409 people suffering from insomnia to assess the effect of cannabis consumption via an app. It was shown that there is a connection between medical cannabis consumption and improvements in perceived insomnia.
Clinical trials are research studies that examine new treatments and evaluate their effects on human health outcomes.
Patients using CBD reported better sleeping quality
In a large retrospective case series by Shannon et al., aimed to assess the effect of CBD on sleep and/or anxiety in a clinical population. It was found that 48 patients (out of the 72) experienced better sleep in the first weeks but it varied over time. 57 (out of the 72) patients experienced reduced anxiety in the first weeks and it remained reduced during the study time.17
As described by Carlini and Cunha, patients reported significantly more sleep upon treatment with CBD (160 mg) compared to placebo.18
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355167
- https://ghmedical.com/endocannabinoid-system/diseases/insomnia
- Babson, A.K., Et al., (2017).” Cannabis, Cannabinoids, and Sleep: a Review of the Literature”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28349316/
- Reyes Prieto, N.M., Et al., (2012). “Oleamide restores sleep in adult rats that were subjected to maternal separation”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22975223/
- Pérez-Morales, M., Et al., (2014). ” 2-Arachidonoylglycerol into the lateral hypothalamus improves reduced sleep in adult rats subjected to maternal separation”. https://europepmc.org/article/med/25356522
- Méndez-Díaz, M., Et al., (2013). ” Entopeduncular nucleus endocannabinoid system modulates sleep-waking cycle and mood in rats”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23584096/
- Murillo-Rodríguez, E., Et al., (2003). ” Anandamide enhances extracellular levels of adenosine and induces sleep: an in vivo microdialysis study”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14746372/
- Bisogno, T., Et al., (2001). ” Molecular targets for cannabidiol and its synthetic analogues: effect on vanilloid VR1 receptors and on the cellular uptake and enzymatic hydrolysis of anandamide”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11606325/
- Mechoulam, R., Et al., (1997). ”Anandamide may mediate sleep induction”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9288961/
- Santucci, V., Et al., (1996). ”Arousal-enhancing properties of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR 141716A in rats as assessed by electroencephalographic spectral and sleep-waking cycle analysis”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8569415/
- Murillo-Rodríguez, E., Et al., (2008). ” The anandamide membrane transporter inhibitor, VDM-11, modulates sleep and c-Fos expression in the rat brain”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18822353/
- Cousens, K., DiMasio, A., (1973). “(−)δ9 THC as an hypnotic”. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00437513
- Hsioa, Yi-Tse., Et al., (2012). ” Effect of cannabidiol on sleep disruption induced by the repeated combination tests consisting of open field and elevated plus-maze in rats”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21867717/
- Cameron, C., Et al., (2014). “Use of a synthetic cannabinoid in a correctional population for posttraumatic stress disorder-related insomnia and nightmares, chronic pain, harm reduction, and other indications: a retrospective evaluation”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24987795/
- Belendiuk, K.A., Et al., (2015). ” Cannabis species and cannabinoid concentration preference among sleep-disturbed medicinal cannabis users”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26151582/
- Vigil, J. M., Et al. “Effectiveness of raw, natural medical cannabis flower for treating insomnia under naturalistic conditions.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29997343/
- Shannon, S., Et al., (2019). “Cannabidiol in anxiety and sleep: a large case series.”. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326553/
- Carlini, E.A., Cunha, J.M., (1981). ” Hypnotic and antiepileptic effects of cannabidiol”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7028792/
CANNABINOIDS & RECEPTORS
Below you find the plant cannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and endocannabinoids that are associated with the potential therapy.
If you have any further information relevant to the connection between Insomnia and cannabinoids or find any of the information inaccurate, outdated or incomplete please contact us here.
