Benefits of CBD for insomnia: improving the quality of your sleep
Insomnia is one of the most common conditions affecting adults today. Cannabidiol or CBD, one of the non-psychoactive compounds in the cannabis plant, appears to be an alternative to this problem as research suggests that CBD can help improve sleep quality.
In today's Cannactiva post, we look at how CBD can relieve insomnia according to current studies, and in what form and at what dose it is effective.
Please remember that this is an informational article and is not intended to prevent, diagnose or treat any disease. Its content may complement, but never replace, the diagnosis or treatment of any disease or symptom. We recommend that you consult your doctor before using CBD.
Sleep disorders and the endocannabinoid system
What is insomnia?
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder characterised by difficulty staying asleep, falling asleep or sleeping without a sense of well-being the next morning.
Insomnia can be acute, intermittent or chronic (1) and is the result of one or more factors, such as anxiety, depression, pain, stress, chronic illness and other conditions.
The consequences of insomnia are daytime fatigue, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, poor memory and irritability. In the long term, it can trigger problems such as anxiety and depression, which perpetuate the sleep disorder cycle, making insomnia a never-ending story.
Endocannabinoid system and sleep
The endocannabinoid system in our body is responsible for maintaining internal balance and plays an important role in regulating processes such as sleep. This system can modulate the activity of certain neurotransmitters and hormones that regulate the sleep-wake cycle, through the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, which are widely distributed throughout the nervous system.
CBD influences the release of dopamine, serotonin and GABA, neurotransmitters involved in sleep regulation.
Mechanism of sleep regulation through the endocannabinoid system
When phytocannabinoids (cannabinoids from cannabis) or endocannabinoids (those produced inside the body) bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors, they can modulate the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and GABA, which are involved in sleep regulation (2).
CBD and insomnia treatment
Ideally, insomnia should be treated by a specialist. Bear in mind that some organic conditions can present with symptoms of insomnia, so a visit to the doctor will help to rule out that the sleep problems stem from other diagnoses, and to approach treatment in the most appropriate and effective way.
CBD or cannabidiol is a phytocannabinoid known for its many therapeutic properties. It is extracted from hemp plants, a variety of the cannabis plant with low or no levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Unlike THC, CBD doesn't get you high.
Some research has suggested that CBD may help improve sleep quality and reduce insomnia symptoms by reducing anxiety, promoting relaxation and relieving pain (3-6).
Because CBD interacts with serotonin receptors, it has the ability to produce that feeling of well-being that is characteristic of serotonin (7, 8), promoting the decrease of any discomfort that could also interfere with sleep.
In preclinical models, CBD has been shown to reduce anxiety-related insomnia (9), and acute administration of CBD appears to increase total sleep time (10). Interestingly, in humans, although good results have been obtained using CBD for sleep, they depend largely on the dose of CBD used.
How to use CBD for insomnia
In general, CBD can be taken orally in the form of oils, tinctures, capsules or edibles. Bear in mind that, depending on each country's regulations, there may be restrictions on the oral use of cannabidiol: check before you use it. In the EU and in Spain, CBD is not authorised as a food or as a food supplement (it has been a novel food since 2019).
CBD dosage for insomnia according to studies
The dose that has proven effective in published clinical studies, although highly variable, appears to be linked to the amount of CBD used. Some publications have suggested that high doses of CBD are more effective at inducing sleep and reducing the frequency of night-time awakenings (11, 12). Conversely, low doses seem to be more closely associated with increased wakefulness (13, 14).
One study used a daily dose of 25 mg CBD, taken in the evening after dinner, to induce and maintain sleep (6), but they had to gradually raise the dose to 50, 75 and 175 mg CBD to induce the same effect successfully in some patients. Here it is important to note that the highest dose of 175 mg was for a patient with a traumatic history and schizoaffective disorder.
Likewise, another study successfully used 75 mg of CBD a day to treat a sleep disorder (15). Although this supports the theory that high doses of CBD to treat insomnia are more effective than low doses, studies are still under way. One of them is evaluating doses of 200 mg of CBD a day (16), and there are surely others that we do not have access to which will give us more precise results on CBD dosing for insomnia in the future.
Choosing and using CBD products for insomnia
- First, make sure you find CBD products derived from high-quality hemp plants. Bear in mind that CBD oil comes in various strengths and concentrations.
- The ideal is to start with a low dose and increase it gradually until you find the optimal dose.
- CBD can be found in forms such as oils, tinctures, capsules, edibles and topical creams. The choice of the form of administration depends entirely on the individual's preference and/or convenience. Don't forget to check the legal status of CBD in your country to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
Possible side effects and precautions
The possible side effects of taking CBD have been observed in studies at very high doses in purely experimental settings. In reality, CBD has a wide safety margin, except when it is taken while already on a specific treatment. As a result of possible interactions between CBD and other medicines, changes in liver chemistry (only visible in blood tests), vomiting and diarrhoea may occur (17).
CBD interactions are mostly seen with medicines that are metabolised in the liver, as both CBD and the medicine compete for the enzymes they both use to be metabolised. To learn more about this topic, read our post on interactions between CBD and medicines.
In conclusion…
Overall, research suggests that CBD may help in the treatment of insomnia. When CBD is taken at night it can be beneficial in promoting sleep and improving sleep quality. A good sleep hygiene routine can also be helpful in reducing the symptoms of insomnia.
Insomnia can affect your quality of life and may be a symptom of an organic disease. If you are concerned about your insomnia, it is advisable to consult your doctor. It is important to consult your doctor before using CBD, especially if you are taking any treatment.
Note: This is an informational article and is not intended to prevent, diagnose or treat any disease. Its content may complement, but should never replace, any diagnosis or treatment of any disease or symptom. Cannactiva products are not medicines and are intended for external use. Cannactiva is not responsible for any misuse of this information. Please bear in mind that new scientific evidence may have emerged since the date of publication. For all these reasons, consult your doctor before using CBD.
References
- Sutton E. L. (2021). Insomnia. Annals of internal medicine, 174(3), ITC33–ITC48. https://doi.org/10.7326/AITC202103160
- Monti, J. M., & Jantos, H. (2008). The roles of dopamine and serotonin, and of their receptors, in regulating sleep and waking. Progress in brain research, 172, 625–646. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-6123(08)00929-1
- Kesner, A. J., & Lovinger, D. M. (2020). Cannabinoids, Endocannabinoids and Sleep. Frontiers in molecular neuroscience, 13, 125. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2020.00125
- de Mello Schier, A. R., de Oliveira Ribeiro, N. P., Coutinho, D. S., Machado, S., Arias-Carrión, O., Crippa, J. A., Zuardi, A. W., Nardi, A. E., & Silva, A. C. (2014). Antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects of cannabidiol: a chemical compound of Cannabis sativa. CNS & neurological disorders drug targets, 13(6), 953–960. https://doi.org/10.2174/1871527313666140612114838
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- Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H., & Hughes, S. (2019). Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. The Permanente journal, 23, 18–041. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18-041
- De Gregorio, D., McLaughlin, R. J., Posa, L., Ochoa-Sanchez, R., Enns, J., Lopez-Canul, M., Aboud, M., Maione, S., Comai, S., & Gobbi, G. (2019). Cannabidiol modulates serotonergic transmission and reverses both allodynia and anxiety-like behavior in a model of neuropathic pain. Pain, 160(1), 136–150. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001386
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- Hsiao, Y. T., Yi, P. L., Li, C. L., & Chang, F. C. (2012). Effect of cannabidiol on sleep disruption induced by the repeated combination tests consisting of open field and elevated plus-maze in rats. Neuropharmacology, 62(1), 373–384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.08.013
- Chagas, M. H., Crippa, J. A., Zuardi, A. W., Hallak, J. E., Machado-de-Sousa, J. P., Hirotsu, C., Maia, L., Tufik, S., & Andersen, M. L. (2013). Effects of acute systemic administration of cannabidiol on sleep-wake cycle in rats. Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England), 27(3), 312–316. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881112474524
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