Medical marijuana for sleep disorders?

@mazeppabob Never thought to have a chance to use my off track knowledge. For years I used marijuana to not use pain pills so I could work and think. Rather than smoke I suggest THC and or CBD. It comes in many forms oil tincture gummies or sweets. It also has various strengths. It is a good idea to go to a doctor with ability to monitor your need. I don't know what state You live in but many now have medical marijuana. The products are also available online to states that don't. Unless you are diabetic or have another health problem that makes it contraindicated try it. After you read up on it literature is widely available. Go on the internet and request an evaluation of suppliers or go to High Times website online. It's not like self medicating with a handful of pills looking for relief. I'm free from it all now but that's another story. Be well

Hi @mazeppabob, you are wise to do your research on how to evaluate medical marijuana. There are a lot of sellers out there making many promises about their product. This article by healthline talks about the science behind cannabis and sleep, the evidence that's out there and things for you to consider.

- Can You Use Cannabis to Restore Your Natural Sleep Cycle? https://www.healthline.com/health/medical-marijuana/cannabis-for-sleeping

In addition to the info @lolaemma provided, I'm tagging @artscaping @donfeld @marjou and @wilcy, a few members who may also be able to talk about using medical marijuana to help improve sleep.

Bob, you mentioned in another discussion that you have intense vivid dreams. That is something to consider with any sleep aid because they could be intensified. Do you have sleep apnea, but the CPAP is not helping?

I did read the articles thank you for the feedback.
The only reason that I went through sleep medicine in the first place is, no regular doctor will do anything. They send you to sleep med. You fill out questionnaires which nobody reads beforehand. They then schedule the sleep lab which costs thousands. If you show any symptoms of apnea you will get a CPAP machine with the assurance that all your issues will be solved. If not you next see a shrink who prescribes antidepressants.
I have explained over and over in great detail to every specialist that I see why I am there. The first thing they say is how can I help you. I should record my response to save time. I do not have insomnia. I can fall asleep in 5 min. Apnea is not a problem. My sleep chart data looks pretty normal, etc.
My complaint is I seem to have long vivid intense dreams that go on and on all night. I get up, go back to bed, and repeat. Every single night year after year.
I am exhausted when I finally drag my butt out.
One of the last Dr's I saw I basically had to grab his tie and say look this is why I am here. Without hesitation, he said you have epic (non-rem) dreaming.
It is rare, little is known about it and there is no known treatment. Well at least someone finally put a name on it. I asked if cannabis might help and he would not even consider that since there hadn't been any study. Here is your chance! Hence my inquiry here.
I live in Minnesota 15 miles from the Mayo clinic. Medical marijuana is legal, but not recreational.

First I want to make clear. THC IS A HIGH. CBD IS FROM HEMP PLANT NO HIGH. I strongly suggest you find out the requirement for a medical marijuana prescription. The dispensaries are licenced then you can try the type of product that you have already researched online. I didn't like the affect of the THC I bought chocolates cupcakes etc. I gained weight and fell sleep faster and for a longer time before I woke up and stumbled to get to the bathroom. Finally I tried CBD gummies and capsules. Just didn't Work long enough I'd wake mind racing and take hours to go back to sleep. Now I use an OTC melatonin based product with GABA and an amino acid added. It's called Sleep3 by nature's bounty. I sleep for 2 or 3 hours before I wake up and go to the bathroom back to sleep for between one and a half and one more hours before waking up again. I go back to sleep easily and repeat. The difference is that my dreams are usually calm or funny rarely exciting. No more running lost scared or attacked. I wake up more rested although it still takes 9'hrs attemping to be rested enough not to fall asleep or need to nap. I do know some people who nap so they can stay up late. I need to keep a strict schedule if any deviance of more than an hour it's days to get back on. Many people use CBD oils or lotions for joint pain. I don't grab something unless it's severe disabling pain so I found Tiger balm and Lidocaine ( different labels) warm up the joint and let me sleep. I stay away from Tylenol or such to protect my liver. I already put it through so much for so many years. I hope this is clarifying.

@mazeppabob It sounds like you have a rare disorder and providers have so far have been unable to treat it effectively. Sleep is such an important part of wellbeing. I'm wondering if any of your providers have suggested alternative treatments such as therapy, meditation, yoga, or acupuncture?

Erica, I have tried all of the things you mentioned. It gets very expensive trying any of these things several times a week for a month or two just to see if they offer any relief. Medicare and insurance will not cover any of it. I do not think I have ever had a provider suggest alternative treatments. Only if I suggest something will they ever say it might be worth trying?

@mazeppabob You're right. Massage, yoga, acupuncture and some other options are not covered by Medicare. This is unfortunate.

Psychotherapy is covered by insurance however. A therapist may be able to help assess your sleep hygiene and help you explore interventions such as mindfulness as a way to reduce and/or cope with the dreams.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/medicare/
Have you ever seen a therapist who specializes in sleep disorders?

I had a referral from my sleep clinic to Rochester Mayo clinic sleep medicine and the first Dr. I saw was a shrink. I hope that sleep was his specialty. However he had nothing to offer and concluded that I had already done what they usually suggest. I mentioned that I had read an article published years ago by a Mayo studying related to hypnosis and sleep disorders. Short version, they did have a Dr. who has done some hypnosis. I had a session. I do not think that I was under. It seemed more like meditation. I do the routine every night and I think I do fall asleep quicker but it didn't help the dreaming. Yes, it was covered by insurance.

About a month ago I started Indica in gummie form to help my sleep along with 3 mg of Melatonin. Since I'm highly sensitive to meds and the gummie dosage is 10 mg that I cut each gummie into quarters. I also spray my pillows with lavender.
Hope this is helpful.

As each state has different laws regarding medical marijuana, my suggestion is to do a search for medical marijuana prescription. Providers will be listed. You can call the provider closest to you and they can give you a list of physicians who can prescribe medical marijuana for you. My prescription is not like the sleeping pills I have been taking for too many years, but it seems to help me relax and seems to help relieve some of the depression I've endured since my son died.