Does CBD Oil Make You sleepy?

person Oksana Ostrovsky
calendar_today May 13, 2019

Can you take cannabidiol (CBD) without feeling sleepy? With the use of CBD, can sleep patterns and quality improve significantly?

The answer, quite confusingly, to both of these contradictory questions is definitely: “Yep, CBD can.”

It can be taken during the day without causing somnolence or feelings of sleepiness, as millions can attest. Yet at a higher dose, it can also modulate sleeping patterns that can help assure a sound, healthy night’s sleep.

Let’s take a look at the evidence that supports these notions, as well as a few pointers to choose the best CBD product for yourself.

With the use of CBD, can sleep patterns and quality improve significantly?

What Do People Say About CBD Sleep Benefits?

As mentioned, anecdotal accounts of CBD’s efficacy to help people sleep well are not in short supply.

As expressed by one participant on the forum of the ADD-support site, ADDitude:

“I have been taking (CBD) for a month or so for help with sleeping. I also have add (sic). I haven’t tried it during the day yet but plan to. It’s really helping me sleep through the night! No racing mind if I wake up, which I don’t wake up in the wee hours anymore.” [1]

Reporter Kameron Virk wrote for The Irish News about his experience taking CBD every day for three months:

“Issues with sleep is one of the main reasons I first looked into using CBD and it immediately seemed to have the desired effect. Falling asleep was easier, while waking up in the middle of the night became a rarity. On top of that, my dreams would often feel more lucid, and remembering them in the morning was less of a problem.” [2]

These are encouraging, and many CBD seller sites have long comment sections extolling the virtues of CBD sleep benefits.

Yet this is not everyone’s experience. Some say it doesn’t work for them at all, which could be due to a number of reasons. Read on for more on these.

But What About CBD For Other Conditions? Won’t It Make Me Fall Asleep During the Day?

CBD benefits a long list of other conditions, and this is not new. Across the world, the oil is taken daily to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, pain, inflammation, and a whole lot more. Often, the effects seem to be immediate, and many swear by its use. Users are also not bothered by side effects such as somnolence or excessive drowsiness.

But What about CBD for Other Conditions? Won’t it Make Me Fall Asleep During the Day?

So, to answer the questions—CBD won’t make you fall asleep during the day.

What’s more—CBD seems to induce wakefulness in some cases. This was illustrated in an animal model, where the researchers concluded:

“In summary, administration of CBD to rats produced waking in association with activation of hypothalamic and DRD, two brain regions implicated in the control of alertness.” [3]

Also, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study demonstrated that CBD supplements had no effect on healthy volunteers’ sleep cycles. This is a significant finding:

“Different from anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs such as benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, acute administration of an anxiolytic dose of CBD does not seem to interfere with the sleep cycle of healthy volunteers. The present findings support the proposal that CBD do not alter normal sleep architecture.” [4]

The reason for this difference in effect on sleep cycle appears to be rather simple, as taking the cannabinoid for conditions other than sleep disturbances would involve using a lower dosage.

The research is ongoing, though, as its mechanism of action in this regard is far from completely understood.

What does medical science say about CBD, sleep, and what can be officially claimed?

What Science Says About CBD Sleep Benefits

First, a reminder that no official medical claims can be made about CBD for any other use than intractable epilepsy. The first drug for this purpose was approved by the FDA only last year, and regulations stipulate that no manufacturer can make any medical claims regarding CBD.

Yet scientific investigation increasingly echoes the success stories of many users.

A fairly recent review of the literature summarized the state of research on cannabis and sleep. Their research confirmed the evident ability of both to attenuate numerous sleep disorders.

What Science Says about CBD Sleep Benefits

They make another very salient observation, which pertains to the earlier-mentioned differentials in user outcomes and experience. What seems to work for one won’t necessarily work for another.

“Future research is needed to continue to examine the impact of specific cannabinoids on sleep, including objective measures of sleep. Within these studies, it is critical to examine the impact of cannabinoid ratios, dose, the timing of the dose, and route of administration as the current work combines to indicate these factors result in differential outcomes.” [5]

For these and other reasons, they could only reasonably conclude that research on cannabis (including CBD) and sleep is in its infancy and has yielded mixed results. Additional controlled and longitudinal research is critical to advance our understanding of research and clinical implications. [5]

How Will I Know Which CBD Will Work Well?

Well, since the industry is still largely unregulated, relying on your own devices and experimenting with brands and dosages is probably the best course of action.

How Will I Know Which CBD Will Work Well?

Yet buyers can look out for the following to avoid getting a cat in the bag:

Make sure the manufacturer is science-based. This will be evident in their marketing literature. Look especially for indications that they have an exact understanding of the composition of their products. This would mean that a certificate of analysis or a lab report is readily available to the public.
Is the oil sourced from globally certified hemp seeds that are authentic food-fiber-type hemp?
Does the company comply with current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs)? This would include lawful, regulation-compliant marketing as stipulated by the FDA.
If the manufacturer and supplier are U.S. based, they are bound by law to have a post-market adverse-event surveillance program. This means that they are legally required to report any adverse events and serious side effects to the FDA. [6]

Taking CBD, sleep can be improved, and since this cannabinoid is generally considered safe, experimentation will not be harmful. Always consult with your doctor before changing any medical or supplemental regimen.

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