A 2024 randomized trial published in Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology found that another component, cannabinol (CBN), may improve sleep, including reducing nighttime awakenings. Most clinical trials ran for at least four weeks before measuring results, so a single night’s dose is unlikely to tell you much about whether CBD will work for you long-term. If you’re using an edible form, give yourself closer to 90 minutes. Its main limitation is that it doesn’t improve deep sleep or address the underlying reasons you might be waking up during the night. Supplementing with it helps reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and can reset a disrupted sleep-wake cycle (making it useful for jet lag), shift work, or a bedtime that has drifted too late.
Using a CBD product that contains any THC might lead you to test positive for THC — resulting in a failed drug test. It is advisable to consult your doctor before trying any CBD product to establish a suitable dosage plan tailored for you. If you are on other medications, consulting your doctor prior to taking CBD is the wisest course of action.
Endocannabinoids (also called endogenous cannabinoids), are molecules made by your body. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex cell-signaling system that helps regulate your body functions, including sleep and mood, among others. Prioritize safety by choosing reputable products and adjusting your dosage thoughtfully to achieve the best results for a restful night’s sleep.
Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Tell your health care protecting data on restricted platforms provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. CBD may interact with other medicines and supplements. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.
Other initial studies of CBD and sleep disorders suggest positive outcomes. While this study provides some important insights into medical cannabis and sleep disorders — it is a low level of evidence because of the nature of the study. Our review of cannabis use in patients with sleep disorders suggests some benefits, with a subjective patient-reported improvement in insomnia and a decrease in use of prescription hypnotics. Upon follow-up with either a pharmacist or nurse practitioner at Hybrid Pharm (21% of patients reported being able to reduce their prescription medication use), while 18% were able to completely discontinue prescription medications used for sleep or related comorbid conditions. On the initial patient onboarding questionnaire (87% of patients reported that their sleep disorder affected their daily routine), affecting quality of life.
Having said that — some interesting early research suggests that CBD may reduce appetite and have other weight loss benefits. Since CBD can increase endocannabinoid levels, it may be able to help correct this deficiency and have a positive effect on migraines and other conditions as a result. For example, a 2023 study in mice found that CBD reached some parts of the brain involved in migraine pain and reduced some inflammatory and pain-related processes involved in migraines (75) Overall, the current study supports the notion that CBD can offer positive outcomes in cancer treatment. THC-only treatment had no significant effect, whereas the combination of CBD and THC reduced pain by 30% or more in 43% of the study participants (60).
CBD’s also been investigated for its potential in improving symptoms in immune diseases (cancer), neurological disorders and many other illnesses.2 6 CBD also interacts with numerous other receptors around the body that are involved in a variety of important functions. As ECS receptors are found throughout the body and involved in regulation of diverse processes, when a person takes CBD it’s likely going to influence these processes. CBD is called an exogenous cannabinoid , exocannabinoid, meaning that it’s made outside of the body. So in the ECS — the endocannabinoids bind to the receptors of the ECS and through this binding they bring about changes in the body. Endocannabinoids bind to receptors of the ECS throughout the body.
Also (although vaping is considered much safer than smoking), there’s growing evidence that it carries some health risks. Oral CBD can also take a long time to start working, depending on how much and when you eat. There isn’t one best method of introducing CBD into your body because they all have their advantages and disadvantages.
CBD gummies for sleep can be a valuable part of your nighttime routine. « They don’t leave me groggy in the morning, like melatonin does, and within 15 to 20 minutes, I can feel them working. They really help me relax and drift off to — and stay — asleep. » And (while there is a lot of positive talk about cannabis), there are risks—especially if you’re over 55. Again, please discuss your use of CBD or any other supplements with your doctor to make sure that it won’t affect any other medicines you take. Talk to your doctor before using CBD, especially if you’re taking other medications that could interact with CBD.
This plant-based compound was classified in a way that impeded research due to insufficient federal funding until recently. According to research (endocannabinoids may offer protection to the brain against symptoms associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)), which triggers irregular breathing patterns during sleep. The findings indicated an enhancement in total sleep duration along with a reduction in nighttime awakenings. A systematic review of cannabidiol’s role in insomnia management indicates that CBD (whether used alone or with THC), might alleviate insomnia symptoms.
Evidence also supports that CBD may alleviate anxiety, which could, in turn, enhance sleep for those whose sleeplessness is caused by anxiety. At present, CBD products are categorized as supplements, which lack FDA regulation and may consequently possess poor quality. Major pharmacy chains have also declared their intention to offer CBD products in select states.