What is insomnia?
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. The average adult needs about seven to eight hours of sleep every night, but insomnia can make it difficult to sleep more than a few hours at a time, or at all. Symptoms of insomnia can include:
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Waking up during the night
- Feeling like you need more rest, even after a night’s sleep
- Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Irritability, depression, and anxiety
- Difficulty paying attention, focusing on tasks, remembering details
- Increased errors or accidents
- Poor job performance
- Ongoing worries about sleep
Insomnia may also make it difficult to fall back asleep once you wake up in the middle of the night. This can cause you to feel exhausted or drained throughout the day and make it difficult to enjoy your daily life.
What are the traditional treatments for insomnia?
Traditionally, insomnia is treated with medication and behavioral therapy. Some of the most common home remedies for insomnia include:
- Getting plenty of exercise
- Keeping a consistent sleep schedule
- Avoiding naps
- Avoiding caffeine throughout the day, especially before bedtime
- Avoiding screens or large meals right before bed
For people with severe insomnia, there is a range of sleep medications, both over-the-counter and prescription, that can be effective in treating insomnia.
However, many people find that traditional prescription medication is often accompanied by unwelcome side effects, including lethargy, grogginess, poor balance, and difficulty waking up in the morning. It’s also not a long-term solution, as taking sleep medication for long periods can lead to dependence.
How can medical cannabis help people with insomnia?
Cannabis is helpful for treating insomnia in both its psychoactive and non-psychoactive forms. For people who want to avoid the psychoactive effects of cannabis, cannabidiol products (CBD) are a great option. For people experiencing more severe insomnia, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can help induce sleep and keep you asleep.
If you’re interested in learning how cannabis can help you with your insomnia, call the office of Matthew Mintz, MD, LLC today or use the scheduling tool to book online.
