Is cannabis effective for fibromyalgia?
In recent years, the use of medical cannabis for fibromyalgia has increased significantly.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder affecting up to 5% of the world's population, according to a study published in 2023. Women are typically more likely to suffer from fibromyalgia than men.
What are the symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
The main symptom of fibromyalgia is muscle pain. Other symptoms include muscle stiffness, persistent fatigue, insomnia, cognitive deficits, attention deficit disorders, and mood swings. Fibromyalgia is a clinical diagnosis based on defined criteria such as widespread pain, chronicity of symptoms, and the absence of an alternative explanation for the symptoms.
Although the disease has been recognised for a long time, there is still no truly effective treatment. Treatments primarily involve antidepressants, antiepileptic drugs, and opioids. Healthy people find it difficult to imagine the constant pain because the symptoms are not based on a specific disease, injury, or inflammation. Those affected report that they perceive pain more intensely.
The disease is usually diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 60. It rarely occurs in children and adolescents. Diagnosis is difficult because laboratory tests or other testing procedures cannot confirm the diagnosis, and symptoms can vary greatly from patient to patient.
In recent years, the use of medical cannabis for fibromyalgia has increased significantly. Several studies have been conducted on this topic. For example, if you have severe pain and are normally treated with opiates, the addition of cannabinoids can enhance the pain-relieving effects of the opiates. These can then be reduced to where side effects no longer occur.
With Fibromyalgia, not much is known about the pain condition, and there aren't many effective treatment options. Terpenes, the compounds that give plants their aroma and flavour, offer an alternative way to relieve pain without the unwanted psychoactive side effects of THC. However, the use of cannabis with a balanced THC/CBD ratio is also recommended. It can be taken orally as an oil or as flowers that are vaporized. Both can also be used in combination.
In general, it has been observed that people with fibromyalgia tolerate cannabis well. And in most cases, medical cannabis is more beneficial than conventional therapies., because a single preparation can alleviate multiple symptoms.
And medical cannabis is becoming increasingly easier to obtain. While there are still far too many doctors who want nothing to do with cannabis, no matter how beneficial it may be, the options for patients are constantly expanding.
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Liz Filmer
