Avoid using medical marijuana to treat sleep apnea

Medical cannabis and synthetic marijuana extracts should not be used for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep means the brain — and the rest of the body — may not get enough oxygen. In November 2017 the Minnesota Department of Health announced the decision to add obstructive sleep apnea as a new qualifying condition for the state’s medical cannabis program.

But according to American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), sleep apnea ought to be avoided from the rundown of ceaseless restorative conditions for state medicinal cannabis programs because of temperamental conveyance techniques and inadequate confirmation of treatment adequacy, mediocrity, and security.

Lead author Dr. Kannan Ramar said, “Until we have further evidence on the efficacy of medical cannabis for the treatment of sleep apnea, and until its safety profile is established, patients should discuss proven treatment options with a licensed medical provider at an accredited sleep facility.”

According to an estimate, almost 30 million adults in the U.S. have obstructive sleep apnea. After early creature considers exhibited that the manufactured cannabis extricate dronabinol enhanced respiratory solidness, late investigations in people have investigated the potential utilization of dronabinol as an elective treatment for sleep apnea.

In any case, dronabinol has not been endorsed by the U.S. Sustenance and Drug Administration for the treatment of rest apnea, and its long-haul fairness and security are as yet obscure. Besides, there have been no investigations of the security and viability of other conveyance strategies, for example, vaping or liquid formulation. Treatment with the utilization of restorative cannabis likewise has demonstrated unfriendly impacts, for example, daytime languor, which may prompt unintended results, for example, engine vehicle mischances.

AASM President Dr. Ilene Rosen said, “Until there is sufficient scientific evidence of safety and efficacy, neither marijuana nor synthetic medical cannabis should be used for the treatment of sleep apnea. Effective and safe treatments for sleep apnea are available from licensed medical providers at accredited sleep facilities.”

The position statement is published in the April 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

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