REM Sleep
Rapid Eye Movement sleep — the sleep stage characterized by vivid dreaming, memory consolidation, and emotional processing. THC suppresses REM sleep.
In Depth
REM sleep constitutes approximately 20–25% of total sleep time in adults and is essential for emotional memory processing and learning consolidation. THC's suppression of REM sleep is dose-dependent and well-documented. This effect is the basis for using nabilone (synthetic THC) for PTSD-related nightmares — reducing REM sleep reduces nightmare frequency. However, chronic REM suppression may impair emotional processing and memory consolidation, and REM rebound upon cannabis cessation causes vivid, disturbing dreams.
Related Terms
Further Reading
More in Clinical
Dravet Syndrome
A severe, treatment-resistant form of childhood epilepsy characterized by prolonged seizures, often triggered by fever, beginning in the first year of life.
Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS)
A severe form of childhood-onset epilepsy characterized by multiple seizure types, slow spike-wave EEG pattern, and cognitive impairment.
Epidiolex
The FDA-approved pharmaceutical formulation of purified cannabidiol (CBD), manufactured by GW Pharmaceuticals (now Jazz Pharmaceuticals). Approved in 2018 for Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Dronabinol (Marinol)
A synthetic form of THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) approved by the FDA for chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting and AIDS-related anorexia.
Nabilone (Cesamet)
A synthetic cannabinoid analogue of THC approved for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. More potent than dronabinol.