Medicinal Cannabis for Insomnia

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Ailments

Tim W

6 min

According to a Sleep Health Foundation report in 2019, it was found that between 5% to 30% of Australians experience clinical insomnia, with some previous studies suggesting that 5.6% of Australians suffer from insomnia.

While insomnia can be short-lived and only occur occasionally, for some people it can be a chronic condition that lasts for months or even years. Chronic insomnia can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life, and can lead to other health problems such as fatigue, anxiety, depression, and difficulty concentrating.

As a result, it is important for individuals suffering from insomnia to find the right health care to resolve the ailment. Today, there are many treatments available to aid with insomnia - from medicinal drugs, to counselling, to the implementation of relaxation techniques. As the study of medicinal cannabis grows in Australia, it may also be possible for cannabidiol (CBD) chemicals to be involved in insomnia care.

Keep reading to find out more about the insomnia condition, how it may be caused, potential treatments, and answers to other frequently asked questions surrounding the health condition.

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. People with insomnia can feel tired during the day and may have difficulty concentrating or remembering things.

There are two types of insomnia: primary and secondary. Primary insomnia is when someone has difficulty sleeping even though there are no medical or psychological conditions causing the problem. Secondary insomnia is when sleep problems are caused by another condition, such as a medical condition, mental health disorder, or use of certain medications.

What is Primary Insomnia?

Primary insomnia is not caused by another medical or psychiatric condition. It can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic):

Acute primary insomnia: This type of primary insomnia usually lasts for less than a month. It can be caused by life events, such as a death in the family, job loss, or financial problems.
Chronic primary insomnia: Chronic primary insomnia often lasts for more than a month. It can be caused by stress, such as work stress or relationship problems.

What is Secondary Insomnia?

Secondary insomnia is when sleep problems are caused by another condition, such as a medical condition, mental health disorder, or use of certain medications.

Medical conditions that can cause secondary insomnia include:

Asthma
Arthritis
Cancer
Heartburn
Kidney disease
Menopause
Thyroid problems

Mental health disorders such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may also cause secondary insomnia. Secondary insomnia usually goes away when the underlying medical condition is treated. However, it may sometimes become a chronic problem if not treated correctly.

What are the Symptoms of Insomnia?

Insomnia can manifest in many different forms and have varying symptoms depending on each individual’s health condition.

Some common symptoms of insomnia:

Difficulty falling asleep
Waking up frequently during the night
Waking up too early in the morning
Feeling unrefreshed after a night’s sleep
Daytime fatigue or sleepiness
Difficulty concentrating during the day
Irritability or moodiness
Increased errors or accidents at work or home
Worsening symptoms of depression or anxiety

Other less common symptoms of insomnia are:

Waking up feeling anxious or panicked
Nightmares
Sweating
Heart palpitations
Body aches
Difficulty breathing

The physical symptoms of insomnia can have a serious impact on your overall health and well-being. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical help.

What are the Common Causes of Insomnia?

There are many different causes of insomnia, including stress, anxiety, depression, poor sleep habits, and jet lag. Insomnia can also be caused by medical conditions such as restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy.

When identifying the cause of insomnia, it is important to consider both the physical and psychological factors that may be contributing to the problem. Many times, it is a combination of both that leads to chronic insomnia.

Diagnosing insomnia requires a detailed sleep history and a physical exam. Your doctor may also recommend a sleep study to rule out other sleep disorders. It is after a comprehensive study of your health that medical professionals offer a proper diagnosis and potential treatment methods.

What are Treatments for Insomnia?

There are a number of different treatment options available for insomnia. Treatment usually depends on the underlying cause of the condition.

For example, if insomnia is caused by stress or anxiety, treatment may involve counseling or relaxation techniques. If poor sleep habits are the cause, treatment may involve making changes to your sleep routine, such as going to bed and waking up at the same time each day.

Medical conditions that cause insomnia may be treated with medication and sedative drugs. For example, restless legs syndrome may be treated with dopaminergic drugs, and narcolepsy may be treated with stimulants. Sleep apnea is usually treated with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine.

Treatment for insomnia generally includes lifestyle changes, such as sleep hygiene measures, and may also involve the use of medication or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I).

CBT-I is a form of therapy that helps people change their thoughts and behaviours around sleep in order to improve sleep quality and quantity. CBT-I typically involves education about sleep, relaxation techniques, stimulus control, and sleep restriction, as well as cognitive restructuring to change negative beliefs about sleep.

Medicinal Cannabis and Insomnia

Modern studies highlight the possibility of medicinal cannabis as a valid method of care for insomnia.

The leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant contain a variety of compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. These compounds interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system to produce a wide range of effects. The endocannabinoid system is known to play a role in sleep, which is why cannabis could potentially help those who struggle with sleeplessness.

Research suggests that cannabis may also help to increase the quality and duration of sleep. A 2014 study published in Sleep Medicine Reviews found that individuals with existing medical conditions impacting their ability to sleep (especially pain-related conditions) experienced an improvement in their quality of sleep after taking medicinal cannabis.

Cannabinoids are the most well-known compounds in cannabis. There are over 100 different cannabinoids in the plant, but the two most abundant are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

THC is the cannabinoid that is responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis. CBD is non-psychoactive and has been shown to have a range of therapeutic benefits, including reducing anxiety and inflammation. This means that CBD may be particularly helpful in caring for secondary insomnia that is found to be caused by anxiety.

In Australia, sourcing medicinal cannabis for insomnia can be difficult. Your doctor will need to apply for special approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) before prescribing medicinal cannabis to you.

FAQs - Medicinal Cannabinoids for Insomnia

Below, we answer some of the most commonly asked questions concerning legal medicinal cannabis products and how they may care for insomnia.

What is medicinal cannabis used for in Australia

According to Health Direct, medicinal cannabis in Australia is mainly used for chronic pain management (not cancer related). However, there are also other conditions that medicinal cannabis may be able to treat, including insomnia, anxiety, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis (MS).

There is limited evidence for the effectiveness of medicinal cannabis in health care, and hence, it is difficult to access medicinal cannabis products.

Can you get CBD legally in Australia?

Most medicinal cannabis products containing CBD are legal in Australia, however limited in accessibility for health care and treatment purposes. This is because doctors and general practitioners must apply for the appropriate medicinal cannabis product with the required authority before being able to prescribe medicinal cannabis to a patient.

A medicinal cannabis product is usually only granted under the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)‘s Special Access Scheme-B or Authorised Prescriber Scheme. However, bear in mind that medicinal cannabis laws vary from state to state (or territory).

What is the main cause of insomnia?

The most common and main cause of insomnia is stress. Stress can come from a variety of sources, including work, school, family, and personal relationships. Other causes of insomnia include medical conditions, medications, noise, light, and temperature. Some people may also experience difficulty sleeping when they travel to different time zones.

The causes of insomnia greatly vary, and hence it is important to visit a registered medical practitioner to receive a professional diagnosis of your symptoms.