Study: Medical cannabis improves the efficacy of fibromyalgia treatments

A new study shows that medical cannabis can enhance the effectiveness of standard pain treatments for fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, often accompanied by sleep and mood disturbances, fatigue, and memory problems. Many patients with fibromyalgia also suffer from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, anxiety, depression, tension headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome. There is currently no cure for fibromyalgia, and doctors generally prescribe pain relievers to treat the muscle stiffness and pain associated with the condition.

Recent research suggests that cannabis can help treat chronic pain, inflammation or sleep disturbances experienced by most patients with fibromyalgia. Numerous previous studies have shown that medical cannabis can be an effective alternative to traditional pain relievers, but this study suggests that cannabis may actually enhance the effectiveness of standard treatments.

Researchers from the rheumatology departments of five Italian medical centers recruited 102 patients with fibromyalgia who had not previously responded well to conventional treatments. Each of these participants received one of the following two extracts in oil form: Bedrocan, a formula containing 22% of THC but less than 1% of CBD; and Bediol, an oil containing 6.3% of THC and 8% of CBD.

Over the course of six months, patients were given a standard questionnaire to assess their symptoms, overall fatigue levels, and sleep quality. Patients were also asked to self-report their levels of depression and anxiety using standard psychological assessment scales. During the study, patients were allowed to reduce or stop using the standard pain medications they were taking to treat their symptoms.

The study, which was just published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, reports that half of the patients experienced fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety after taking cannabis oils. Only one-third of the participants reported that cannabis treatments had improved their fibromyalgia symptoms, but 44% of the patients reported an improvement in their overall sleep quality. In addition, 47% of the participants were able to reduce their use of standard painkillers or even stop using them altogether.

The study’s authors concluded that the addition of cannabis «offers a potential clinical benefit for patients with fibromyalgia, particularly those with sleep disorders … »Retention rates and changes in concomitant analgesic therapy reflect the effectiveness of medical cannabis in improving patients’ quality of life."

Given the small size of the cohort and the observational nature of the study, the researchers recommend that further clinical trials be conducted to «confirm these findings, identify subgroups of fibromyalgia patients who respond to MCT, and determine the most appropriate dosage and duration of therapy.»