Cochrane finds weak evidence on cannabis for insomnia — SkimNews
Get the Health newsletter
Daily health & science — research, biotech, public health, the studies worth knowing. Free.
- Cochrane reviewed nine clinical studies involving 537 adults aged 18 to 76: eight compared medical cannabis with placebo, while one compared it with amitriptyline.
- Medical cannabis produced little or no clinically meaningful improvement in sleep quality, sleep satisfaction, total hours slept or daytime functioning across the placebo comparisons.
- Medical cannabis recipients were substantially more likely to experience mild side effects such as dizziness and dry mouth than placebo recipients, although relatively few studies informed that finding.
- Quality-of-life outcomes were potentially favorable but highly uncertain, ranging from a slight decline to a substantial improvement when the findings were combined.
- Evidence confidence was rated low or very low because of small study populations, conflicting findings and potential bias in the trials.
- Clinical trials tested different medical cannabis products, and the longest follow-up was 12 weeks, limiting direct comparisons and information about longer-term effects.
- Women accounted for 72.66% of participants, and the sample was weighted toward younger adults, leaving applicability uncertain for men, older adults and people whose insomnia accompanied other conditions.
Why it matters: For patients with insomnia and clinicians considering cannabis, the review's practical consequence is clear: across eight placebo comparisons, medical cannabis showed little or no clinically meaningful benefit, while dizziness and dry mouth were more frequent. It does not establish ineffectiveness, but nine studies involving 537 adults cannot support a confident recommendation.
Ask SkimNews
