Introduction: Sleepless Nights and the Search for Something Better
It’s 2 AM or maybe 4 AM and your mind won’t stop running. You’ve tried cutting back on coffee, dimming the lights, listening to calming music. Still, your sleep feels shallow, interrupted, restless. You wake up more tired than when you went to bed.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Millions worldwide struggle with sleep—and many also with anxiety, which often grip together. What if there was something more natural than prescription pills? Something backed by actual human experience and real clinical data?
Enter CBD (cannabidiol). A growing body of research is looking at how CBD can help with anxiety and sleep—and one of the strongest pieces is a large case-series published in 2019 by Shannon et al., “Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series”. In that study, over 100 psychiatric outpatient clients used CBD (in addition to their other treatments) to see if it could improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through what that study found, the nuances (because it isn’t magic), how to use CBD safely, and how Renact.com’s products aim to align with what the research suggests—so you can make choices with confidence.
What the Shannon et al. Study Found: Real People, Real Outcomes
Here are the highlights:
- Population studied: 103 adult patients from a psychiatric outpatient clinic, all dealing with anxiety, sleep issues, or both
- Measured via validated tools: Anxiety was assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A); sleep quality was evaluated with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
- Results:
- Out of 72 people who completed enough follow-ups, 79.2% (57/72) had improved anxiety scores within the first month.
- 66.7% (48/72) reported improved sleep during the first month.
- Over time, anxiety improvements were more stable than sleep improvements, which “fluctuated.” Some nights better, some nights less so.
- Dosage ranges: Patients used CBD doses ranging roughly from 25 mg/day up to about 175 mg/day. These are moderate, not super high doses.
- Safety & tolerability: Most patients tolerated CBD well. A few had mild side effects (fatigue, sedation early on), and a very small number withdrew from use due to issues. But severe adverse events were rare.
So here’s what it suggests: for many people, adding CBD to their existing regimen helped with anxiety quickly. Sleep also improved, but less uniformly. It’s promising, especially since many of the patients had ongoing psychiatric conditions and were already using other treatments.
Interpreting the Findings: What It Does and Doesn’t Tell Us
This study gives hopeful signals, but it isn’t definitive. Here are caveats:
What we learn | What we don’t yet know |
CBD can help reduce anxiety pretty fast (within a month) in many people. | Which specific doses are optimal for you, especially for consistent, long-term sleep improvement. |
Some people saw improvements in sleep quality. | Exactly how consistent those improvements are over several months, because sleep improvements tended to fluctuate. |
Moderate doses (25-175 mg) were used, and CBD was generally well tolerated. | Whether higher or lower doses would work better, or what formulations deliver best results (oil, vape, oral, etc.). |
Side effects were mild for most. | Long-term safety in larger populations, especially in conjunction with other medications. |
Also important: this was a retrospective case series. That means it wasn’t a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. There was no “control group.” Other improvements some patients experienced might have come from their other treatments, lifestyle changes, placebo effects, or even just natural fluctuations in their condition.
Mechanisms: What Science Thinks Might Be Going on
To understand how CBD might be helping sleep and anxiety, researchers look at several biological pathways:
- Serotonin and 5-HT₁A receptors: CBD acts on serotonin pathways which are involved in mood and anxiety regulation. By calming anxiety, people may find it easier to fall asleep. PMC+1
- Stress hormone modulation: Some studies (including cited in Shannon et al.) found that CBD can reduce cortisol or other stress markers. Elevated stress is a known disruptor of sleep. PMC
- Sedative effects at higher doses: In Shannon et al., higher end of doses correlated with mild sedation (fatigue) early on, which may help initiate sleep for some users. PMC+1
But again, the body is complex. Sleep is not just about falling asleep—it’s about sleep architecture (how deeply you sleep, how often you wake, cycles of REM vs non-REM), consistency, and restoration. We don’t yet have enough data (from this study or others) to map exactly how CBD affects those fine-tuned sleep parameters.
Putting It Into Practice: How You Might Use CBD for Better Sleep + Less Anxiety
Based on this study and similar ones, here are practical and safe guidelines to try:
- Start with a moderate dose
Shannon et al. used doses starting around 25 mg up to ~175 mg/day in the clinic setting. If new to CBD, begin at the lower end (maybe 25-50 mg) and see how your body responds. - Give it at least a month
In the study, many improvements were seen in the first month. But sleep improvements fluctuated over time—so consistency matters. Try daily use for several weeks. - Track both anxiety & sleep
Because anxiety often interferes with sleep, improvements in anxiety may lead to better sleep. Use tools or journals to note both: how anxious you felt, how quickly you fell asleep, how many times you woke up, how rested you felt in the morning. - Watch for tolerability
Some side effects (like mild sedation) might show up initially. If you feel overly sleepy during the day, reduce the dose or change timing (take it earlier). Always monitor and adjust. - Choose high-quality products
Purity, accurate labeling, third-party lab testing—these are crucial. Products that don’t deliver what they claim could under-dose or include unwanted substances. - Pair with good sleep hygiene
CBD is not a magic pill. The study participants were already in psychiatric care, using other treatments, perhaps doing therapy or lifestyle changes. Good sleep environment, consistent sleep schedule, reducing caffeine, minimizing screen use—all help amplify CBD’s effect.
How Renact.com Products Align with Research
At Renact.com, we’ve designed our offerings with these insights in mind. Here’s how our products and philosophy map to what the Shannon et al. study and others suggest:
- Dose flexibility: We have products in several strength levels. If you prefer starting low (like 25-50 mg), or need higher doses after evaluation, you have room to adjust.
- Various formats: Oils/tinctures for sustained effect, fast-acting vapes when you need quicker onset. This helps match your own sleep pattern (difficulty falling asleep vs staying asleep).
- Rigorous testing: Every batch is third-party lab-tested. You can check COAs (Certificates of Analysis) to verify content, purity, and safety.
- Supporting formulations for rest: Our “Sleep Support” line includes blends designed to ease anxiety + promote relaxation, leaning toward formulations that are more calming and with lower or no THC where mindfulness is higher.
- Customer guidance & transparency: We believe in helping you use CBD smartly. We provide usage guides, highlight possible side effects, suggest starting low, tracking responses. No overselling or promises beyond what science shows.
Sample Routine & Example Product Use (Hypothetical)
Below is a sample plan someone might try, inspired by Shannon et al. and Renact.com’s offerings. Tailor it based on your personal response and preferences.
Time | What to Do | Example Renact Product & Dosage |
Evening wind-down (~1-2 hours before bed) | Dim lights, minimal screen exposure, relaxing activity (reading, stretching) | Use Renact Sleep Oil (e.g. 50 mg CBD per ml) starting with a low dose (25-50 mg) sublingually 30-45 minutes before bed. |
If falling asleep is difficult | Use a fast onset format or an additional drop | Try Renact Relax Vape Cartridge (lower strength) early (e.g. 15-20 min before bed) for quicker onset. |
Maintain consistency | Use same product & dose nightly; track sleep over first 4-6 weeks | Keep a sleep & anxiety journal—note times you took CBD, how you felt before sleep, how night went, morning restfulness. |
Adjust if needed | If sleep quality still inconsistent or awakenings common | Consider slowly increasing the dose (if product allows), switching to mixed formulation, or taking half dose earlier + half closer to sleep. Also review other lifestyle factors. |
Safety, Side Effects & Questions to Ask
While the Shannon et al. case series showed good tolerability, there are things to watch out for:
- Possible side effects: Mild sedation, fatigue, maybe dry mouth or changes in alertness. Usually early on. PMC+1
- Medication interactions: If you take other psychiatric meds or sleep medications, check with a healthcare professional. CBD can interact with other drugs.
- Avoid over-reliance: As with many interventions, sometimes the effect lessens with time or becomes variable. Maintaining healthy sleep habits is key.
- Regulation & label accuracy: Products must clearly state their CBD content, be free of contaminants. Renact.com ensures third-party testing so you can trust what you're getting.
Why Choose Renact.com for Anxiety + Sleep Support
Over the years, customers have told us what they want: real relief, clarity about what they’re using, safety, and no fluff. That’s what we aim to deliver. Here are our core commitments:
- Evidence-aligned product formulations: Designed around what human studies like Shannon et al. suggest—moderate doses, calming blends, lower THC when possible.
- Full transparency: You get lab reports, clear labeling, easy access to potency information. We want your trust.
- Flexible options: Tinctures, oils, vapes—so you can find what works best for you.
- Support & guidance: We provide usage guides, safety info, tips to track progress. We believe a good sleep + anxiety solution is more than just a product—it’s education + experience.
Final Thoughts: Science, Sleep, and Empowered Choice
Shannon et al.'s case series does not claim that CBD is a cure for insomnia or anxiety—but it offers something valuable: real people reporting real improvements, especially in anxiety, and meaningful improvements in sleep for many. And perhaps most importantly, it shows that even moderate doses under clinical supervision or conscientious self-use can be beneficial and well tolerated.
If you struggle with anxiety or restless nights, CBD might be one tool in your toolbox—not the only one. When used wisely, with good products, with consistency, and with healthy sleep practices, it has the potential to shift things for the better.
Your Next Step with Renact.com
- Curious to try? Browse our Sleep Support line—oils, tinctures, vapes—choose a format and strength that suits your comfort level.
- Get started with a starter pack (or small dose) so you can test how your body responds.
- Sign up for our newsletter to receive tips, usage guides, and 10% off your first order—good way to try without big commitment.
Sleep well, rest deeply, and remember: your journey matters, your body deserves care, and science is steadily showing us what many are already discovering.
References
- Shannon S, Lewis N, Lee H, Hughes S. Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. Perm J. 2019;23:18-041. PMCID: PMC6326553. PMC+1
- Other related studies (e.g. Kesner et al. on cannabinoids & sleep) for mechanisms.