Most people know by now that cutting out caffeine, using lavender and even the occasional download of a sleep app all promise to aid sleep. However, if you’re reading this at 3am for the umpteenth time, having already tried all of the above, you’ll probably be interested to read about the growing number of people in the UK exploring the use of medical cannabis to aid sleep.
Many people are shocked to find out that medical cannabis is not what they can buy off the shelf from head shops and coffee shops across the land. Once a illegal substance, in 2018 cannabis was rescheduled in the UK and can now be prescribed by licensed doctors in licensed clinics. This is not a free for all situation and should be approached with caution and an understanding of the situation and what you are getting yourself into. With long-standing insomnia sufferers unable to get any relief from their chronic symptoms with other treatments, they are turning to cannabis in the hope it can help them with their sleep.
Why Sleep Is So Difficult to Treat
Another point worth noting is the vicious cycle that exists when it comes to sleep. Often, anxiety can cause someone to suffer from insomnia. And as previously mentioned, the sufferer of insomnia can, in turn, cause increased amounts of anxiety. This is a highly unpleasant cycle which can be difficult to break. Standardly prescribed insomnia tablets (known as sleeping tablets) such as the benzodiazepines and the Z-drugs can be very effective in the short term. However, due to a high risk of dependence, most doctors will not prescribe these for more than a few weeks at a time. As a result, people suffer from long term insomnia and have few other options to consider.
CBT for insomnia (CBT-I) is typically considered to be the best treatment for people with insomnia. As a form of talking therapy it requires consistent commitment and for many people it does work well, but it can take time and, although it is offered on the NHS, there is a wait for it and some people report that their insomnia hasn’t gone away after going through it.
What the Research Actually Says
At present there is limited evidence to support the use of cannabis for the treatment of sleep disorders. There is, however, some evidence to suggest that the use of cannabis could be of benefit in reducing symptoms of anxiety which, in turn, could have a positive impact on sufferers of insomnia. The current evidence does suggest that cannabis may have a role to play in the treatment of some sleep-related disorders but more research is required to fully understand the effects of the main cannabinoids, THC and CBD, on sleep patterns in humans.
The type of product, the proportion of active cannabinoids in the mix, and method of consumption all significantly affect the effects of cannabis upon the individual. Oil consumed under the tongue is significantly different from vaporized cannabis and people can, and do, experience vastly different effects depending on type of product and proportions of active cannabinoids. None of these factors can be prescribed within without thorough explanation to patient and this is something that any reputable clinic will make clear.
Getting a Prescription in the UK
Currently medical cannabis is not prescribed by the NHS for insomnia or sleep problems. People are able to access sleep treatments, including medical cannabis, through private health clinics. One such clinic is Medicann in Scotland. They have been treating patients with chronic insomnia and related sleep problems for several years, in most cases where patients have already failed to gain relief from other treatments for their sleep problems.
The cost of an initial consultation to discuss treatment can range from £100-£200 plus the cost of the subsequent prescribed cannabis treatment. This needs to be carefully researched before entering into any treatment and it’s wise to first read the site’s condition information pages, speak with your GP and understand full treatment details before committing to anything.
Chronic sleep deprivation is incredibly debilitating and there are now more legal, medical options for treating it than ever before. Whether or not using medical cannabis for sleep problems is suitable for an individual is a complicated combination of circumstances, but it’s now possible to have a completely informed discussion about the use of cannabis for sleep in the UK with qualified healthcare professionals.
