100% of patients with insomnia slept longer with cannabis in study by Fiocruz and APEPI
Oil rich in CBD and THC also reduced the time to fall asleep in 87.5% of participants, who no longer responded to conventional treatments
Currently, about one in three people worldwide has difficulty sleeping, and 10% of adults meet the diagnostic criteria for insomnia. In light of this scenario, medical cannabis emerges as a promising alternative. Recent studies, such as a meta-analysis from Sleep Medicine Reviews and research from Imperial College London, have already pointed to improvements in sleep quality and reductions in anxiety with the use of cannabinoids.
In an effort to support scientific evidence, the Germano Sinval Faria School Health Center (CSEGSF/Fiocruz) and the Association for Research and Support for Medical Cannabis Patients (APEPI) joined forces to evaluate the use of cannabis oil in the treatment of refractory insomnia and anxiety.
The study, conducted by doctors Luiz Montes do Amaral, Raphael Steenhagen, and Ernesto Faria, selected patients who were already using benzodiazepines without effective results. The project adopted a holistic approach, combining treatment with integrative practices such as aromatherapy, meditation, and therapeutic listening.
"In the biweekly meetings, from the beginning, we talked about the oil, the issue of stigma and prejudice, and the difference between medicine and what is a drug, to demystify it a bit," reports Dr. Luiz Montes do Amaral in a publication by APEPI.
100% of patients slept better
The data collected at the end of the project were extremely positive. According to participant reports, the results were:
- 87.5% reported a reduction in the time to fall asleep;
- 100% indicated an increase in total sleep time;
62.5% showed overall improvement in quality of life indices.
Oil rich in THC and CBD
The oil chosen for treatment was Schanti, produced by APEPI. It is rich in cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a combination selected by the medical team due to the properties of each component.
"We understand that THC has good results for inducing sleep, and CBD has better results for anxiety. So, we understood that Schanti would be the best," emphasized Dr. Luiz.
The prescription was supervised by the team, with individual dose adjustments at each meeting. To measure efficacy, the 20 participants answered scientific questionnaires about quality of life and sleep (Pittsburgh Methodology) before and after treatment.
With information from APEPI