Nighttime Panic Attacks and CBD: What Does the Research Say?

Waking up in the middle of the night with your heart racing and your breath short can wear you out, both in the moment and the next day. That is why many people look for a "natural" way to calm their nights and ask about CBD oil. In this article we explain in plain language what a nighttime panic attack is, how CBD has been studied for panic and anxiety, why the belief that drops "work fast" is not correct, and what you can talk about with your doctor.

What is a nighttime panic attack?

A nighttime (nocturnal) panic attack is waking suddenly from sleep in a state of intense fear and panic. It may come with a pounding heart, shortness of breath, sweating, trembling and a feeling that "something bad is going to happen." Of patients with panic disorder, 44–71% report having had at least one such attack (Craske 2005).

These attacks occur not in REM sleep, when dreams happen, but in deeper non-REM (NREM) sleep. That is why they are different from waking up from a nightmare, from the night terrors seen in children, and from sleep apnea. Doctors first rule out these possibilities; if needed, an overnight study in a sleep lab can be done (Craske 2005).

Why are people curious about CBD?

CBD (cannabidiol) is a compound found in cannabis that does not cause a high. Animal studies and experiments with healthy volunteers have shown signs that it may reduce anxiety; reviews written about panic are based on these data and stress that new studies in panic patients are needed (Soares 2017). CBD's link to the body's endocannabinoid system has also increased interest. But an effect seen in animals or in the lab does not mean it will work for a person who has panic attacks at night.

What does the research say?

The effect of a substance is best shown by controlled studies: participants are randomly assigned to groups; one group takes CBD and the other a drug that looks the same but has no active ingredient (placebo). No study has tested CBD this way for nighttime panic attacks. What we know comes from studies on panic disorder, general anxiety and sleep.

Panic disorder

• 80 patients who had not responded to treatment: In patients with panic disorder (with agoraphobia) or social anxiety disorder, CBD taken before therapy sessions did not change the outcome of therapy differently from placebo (Kwee 2022).
• Panic-like reaction test: In 61 healthy young people, in a panic-like reaction triggered by breathing air enriched with carbon dioxide, none of three different single doses of CBD reduced fear, panic symptoms or heart rate differently from placebo (Leen-Feldner 2025).

General anxiety and public speaking anxiety

In 24 patients with social anxiety, a single dose of CBD reduced anxiety during public speaking more than placebo (Bergamaschi 2011). In a controlled study comparing it with placebo and a sedative drug in healthy volunteers, only a medium dose of CBD reduced anxiety after speaking; low and high doses had no effect (Zuardi 2017). These results concern momentary anxiety that arises during the day; they cannot be carried over to nighttime panic. The details of the anxiety studies are in our article on anxiety and CBD.

A frequently cited case series

The records of 72 patients at a psychiatric clinic who used CBD in addition to their current treatments were reviewed retrospectively. In the first month, the anxiety score fell in 57 patients (79.2%); the sleep score improved in 48 patients (66.7%) but fluctuated over time (Shannon 2019). The 79.2% here is not an amount of reduction in anxiety scores but the share of patients whose anxiety score fell. The study had no comparison group; patients continued their other treatments and knew they were taking CBD. So it cannot be said how much of the improvement was due to CBD.

The sleep side

In an analysis combining six controlled studies (1,077 people), CBD-only products did not significantly improve subjective sleep quality compared with placebo; the improvement came from formulas containing THC (da Silva 2025). In a study of 30 people with insomnia, CBD taken every night for two weeks did not change insomnia severity, time to fall asleep or time spent awake at night differently from placebo (Narayan 2024). THC-containing products, however, can affect sleep in other ways: a single dose of THC+CBD shortened total sleep and dream sleep (REM) in patients with insomnia (Suraev 2026). Details are on the insomnia page.

Do drops under the tongue work faster?

A common belief is that CBD oil dropped under the tongue passes quickly into the blood through the mouth and brings fast relief during a panic attack. In a study testing this, eight healthy men took the same CBD oil once as drops under the tongue and once as a capsule. Blood CBD levels did not differ between the two routes; peak levels were reached at about 4 hours with both. The researchers think the drops are largely swallowed before they can be absorbed in the mouth (Johnson 2024). In other words, drops have not been shown to work faster than capsules.

Possible side effects and drug interactions

• Sleepiness and fatigue: The most commonly reported side effects. In healthy young adults, lapses of attention lasted slightly longer after a single dose of CBD (Rudisill 2023).
• Liver: In a 28-day study, liver enzymes rose in 4 people taking CBD, and 1 person developed a severe drug rash (Crippa 2021).
• Sedatives: The blood level of clobazam, a benzodiazepine, rose markedly with CBD (Geffrey 2015). There are no direct studies with other benzodiazepines such as alprazolam; using them together may increase sleepiness.
• Antidepressants: In people taking citalopram or escitalopram, the drug's blood level rose when CBD was added (Anderson 2021).
• THC-containing products: THC can increase anxiety in some people; "full-spectrum" products may contain small amounts of THC.

A detailed list is on our drug interactions page.

How was it used in the studies?

The following only shows how the research was done (study doses; not a personal recommendation):

• In the panic disorder study, 300 mg of CBD was given before each therapy session.
• In the panic-like reaction test, a single dose of 150, 300 or 600 mg was given 90 minutes before the test.
• In the insomnia study, 150 mg was taken under the tongue 60 minutes before bed.

There is no CBD dose or timing that has been tested for nighttime panic attacks.

What can help with nighttime panic?

For nighttime panic attacks, the approach whose effect is supported by research is cognitive behavioral therapy. This therapy targets interpreting bodily anxiety symptoms as "danger," rapid breathing, and learned fear responses to these symptoms (Craske 2005). Your doctor can also check whether your awakenings have another cause, such as sleep apnea, and discuss medication with you if needed.

If you are considering CBD

When you are having attacks at night, it is completely natural to consider every option. You can talk about the following with your doctor:

• How often your attacks happen, when they started, and whether they also happen during the day.
• The medicines you take, especially sedatives, sleep medicines and antidepressants.
• Liver disease, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• How you can get cognitive behavioral therapy.

Do not reduce or stop the medicine you take on your own. In Turkey, cannabis-derived products, including CBD, can be sold only in pharmacies (Law No. 7557, regulation of January 31, 2026). Those classed as medicines or health products are dispensed on prescription; no prescription requirement is stated for supplement products with at most 0.3% THC. As of October 2026, there is no approved CBD medicine in Turkey. Details are on our regulations page.

Conclusion

No study has tested CBD directly for nighttime panic attacks, and controlled studies in panic disorder found no difference from placebo. Drops have not been shown to work fast either. There are treatments for nighttime attacks whose effect is supported by research; talking with a doctor or psychologist is the safest step toward finding the path that suits you best.

Frequently asked questions

References