Cannabis Users Wake Up With High Stress Hormone

Frequent cannabis users may wake up with unusually high levels of the stress hormone cortisol, suggesting their daily stress rhythms could be disrupted. This finding raises questions about whether using cannabis for stress relief might, over time, interfere with the very system that helps the body handle stress.

A recent study found that a prescription form of THC, known as dronabinol, helped many people with PTSD escape recurring trauma-related nightmares. More than one-third of participants in the study reported that their nightmares disappeared completely after ten weeks of taking dronabinol. Additionally, 58 per cent of the dronabinol group experienced at least a 50 per cent reduction in their nightmare frequency.

The study, which recruited 171 people with PTSD who experienced frequent, intense nightmares, also found that nightmare severity decreased by about 3.7 points in the dronabinol group. Dronabinol is currently approved to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer drugs, and loss of appetite in people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

## Why it matters PTSD is a significant concern, affecting about 4 per cent of the global population at some point in their lives. The condition causes people to repeatedly recollect a traumatic event, often through nightmares. While treatments like trauma therapy can help PTSD, these aren't always easily accessible, and no interventions specifically focus on relieving nightmares. The study's findings could point toward a long-awaited treatment for one of PTSD's most distressing and stubborn symptoms.

The potential benefits of dronabinol for PTSD patients are substantial, and further research is needed to fully understand its effects. However, the finding that frequent cannabis users may have disrupted daily stress rhythms highlights the need for caution when using cannabis for stress relief. As researchers continue to explore the relationship between cannabis and stress, it is essential to consider the potential long-term consequences of frequent use.