DEAR DR. ROACH: What is your opinion on taking gummies that contain 8 mg each of CBD, CBN and THC before bedtime for sleeping assistance? I am an 81-year-old male and have been taking them for several months, and they seem to help me. Could you comment on gummies for elderly people to assist with sleeping issues and any downsides of taking them? -- D.R. ANSWER: Based on limited published data, there seems to be some benefit to a combined cannabinoid preparation to help people sleep. However, the studies show several interesting other points. One is that a placebo preparation, such as a gummy with no medication, was also effective.
Although I could not find a direct head-to-head comparison, CBD (cannabidiol, which does not have euphoric psychoactive properties -- meaning it doesn’t get you “high”) alone appears to be as effective as CBD with THC (tetracannibinol, which is the most important psychoactive chemical in cannabis). CBN (cannabinol) is less psychoactive than THC. (CBN is not made by the plant; it’s a breakdown product of THC.)
The doses of THC and CBN you are taking are not considered high doses for people who use cannabis recreationally, but they are enough for many people to feel the effects, especially if they aren’t used to them. If any feeling of intoxication you get doesn’t bother you, you can keep taking the current preparation you are using. If you don’t like how you feel, you could switch to an all-CBD preparation, which is likely to be as effective for sleep without intoxicating properties.
I have received several letters recommending melatonin for sleep. It does work well for some people, and although it doesn’t work for everybody, it is pretty safe. I recommend a lower dosage, about 1-3 mg.
A nurse practitioner colleague recommended 200- to 400-mg magnesium supplements, which is also effective for sleep for many. It may also help with constipation, which is common in older people. (Of course, if a person already has loose stools or diarrhea, magnesium will make things worse.)
