Cannabis Oil Matched Lorazepam for Treating Chronic Insomnia in Head-to-Head Trial
Cannabis sativa oil improved sleep quality as effectively as lorazepam over four weeks, with a favorable safety profile and better quality-of-life improvements.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
In a randomized controlled trial, cannabis sativa oil reduced PSQI scores from 13.6 to 3.68 over four weeks, comparable to lorazepam (14.4 to 5.8) and a traditional Thai herbal remedy (12.3 to 6.6). All groups improved significantly (p < 0.001) with no significant differences between groups. Only mild adverse events were reported.
Key Numbers
PSQI improvements: cannabis oil 13.6 to 3.68, lorazepam 14.4 to 5.8, herbal remedy 12.3 to 6.6 (all p < 0.001). Cannabis oil group showed the largest absolute improvement (9.92 points). Quality-of-life scores improved more in the integrative therapy groups.
How They Did This
Randomized controlled parallel-group trial with 60 adults with chronic insomnia divided into three groups: Thai herbal remedy (Suk-Sai-Yat), cannabis sativa oil (Deja formula), and lorazepam, treated for four weeks. Sleep quality measured by PSQI; quality of life by EQ-5D-5L.
Why This Research Matters
Benzodiazepines like lorazepam carry risks of dependence and cognitive impairment with long-term use. Finding that cannabis oil performs comparably with a better safety profile supports the search for non-benzodiazepine insomnia treatments.
The Bigger Picture
This is one of relatively few RCTs directly comparing cannabis preparations to established pharmaceuticals for insomnia. While the sample is small, the comparable efficacy and favorable safety profile add to the case for cannabis-based sleep aids.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample (20 per group). Four-week treatment period does not address long-term efficacy or safety. Single-center study in Thailand. The specific cannabis oil formulation (Deja formula) may not generalize to other cannabis products. No placebo control group.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would these results hold over longer treatment periods?
- ?What specific cannabinoid ratios in the Deja formula drove the sleep benefits?
- ?How would this compare to CBD-only formulations?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Cannabis oil: PSQI dropped from 13.6 to 3.68 in 4 weeks
- Evidence Grade:
- Randomized controlled trial but small sample size (60 total), single center, and no placebo control.
- Study Age:
- 2026 RCT.
- Original Title:
- Integrative therapies for chronic insomnia: A randomized controlled trial of a traditional Thai Herbal Remedy and Cannabis sativa oil.
- Published In:
- Sleep medicine: X, 11, 100173 (2026)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08535
Evidence Hierarchy
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or placebo groups to test cause and effect.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Did cannabis oil work better than the prescription sleep medication?
Cannabis oil showed the largest absolute improvement in sleep scores, but the difference between groups was not statistically significant. Both worked well.
What kind of cannabis oil was used?
The study used the Deja formula, a specific Thai cannabis sativa oil preparation. Results may not apply to other cannabis oil products with different cannabinoid profiles.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08535APA
Pakdee, Naruwat; Sribunrieng, Nitcha; Poowanna, Ronnachai. (2026). Integrative therapies for chronic insomnia: A randomized controlled trial of a traditional Thai Herbal Remedy and Cannabis sativa oil.. Sleep medicine: X, 11, 100173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleepx.2026.100173
MLA
Pakdee, Naruwat, et al. "Integrative therapies for chronic insomnia: A randomized controlled trial of a traditional Thai Herbal Remedy and Cannabis sativa oil.." Sleep medicine: X, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleepx.2026.100173
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Integrative therapies for chronic insomnia: A randomized con..." RTHC-08535. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/pakdee-2026-integrative-therapies-for-chronic
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.