AASM: Do Not Treat OSA With Medical Marijuana
Neither medical cannabis nor its synthetic extracts should be used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to unreliable delivery methods and insufficient evidence of its effectiveness, safety, and tolerability, according a position statement issued by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).1
The statement was issued after the Minnesota Department of Health announced in November 2017 that it would add OSA as a new qualifying condition for the state’s medical cannabis program.2
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In its statement, the AASM pointed out that dronabinol is currently not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of OSA, and synthetic extracts other than dronabinol have not been studied in this patient population.
Furthermore, although limited evidence citing small pilot or proof of concept studies have suggested that dronabinol may improve respiratory stability in OSA patients, treatment-associated side effects such as somnolence were reported in most patients who used the drug.
The long-term effects of dronabinol on other sleep quality measures, tolerability, and safety also remain unknown.
The AASM emphasized that, although other treatment options continue to be explored, positive airway pressure therapy remains the most effective treatment option for OSA.
—Christina Vogt
Reference:
1. Medical cannabis and the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement. J Clin Sleep Med. 2018;14(4). http://dx.doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.7070
2. Position statement: avoid using medical marijuana to treat sleep apnea. American Academy of Sleep Medicine. April 15, 2018. https://aasm.org/medical-marijuana-position-statement/ Accessed on April 17, 2018.
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