In a recently-published study that focused on cannabis for fibromyalgia has revealed that the plant could be a safer alternative for the disease, which – according to the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFS) – impacts 3-6 percent of the global population.

An investigation into the plant’s medical potential took place at the Luigi Sacco University Hospital in Milan, Italy. The researchers who carried out this study on cannabis for fibromyalgia say that the plant could provide symptomatic relief.

Published in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2020, the study on cannabis for fibromyalgia saw 102 patients receive two potent blends of cannabis oil; one was high in THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content, while the other had a balanced ratio of THC and CBD (cannabidiol).

THC is a psychoactive constituent of the cannabis plant, whereas CBD is a non-psychotropic cannabinoid found most abundantly in cannabis’ hemp strain. Since hemp-derived CBD is legal in all 50 U.S. states, the researchers were interested to find out whether or not patients could use a CBD-rich type of cannabis for fibromyalgia, as opposed to just THC-dominant oils.

Extending over a six-month period, the study monitored patient progress utilizing self-reported data submitted in the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire Revised (FIQR). Patients were asked to measure the intensity of their symptoms; generally, the disease leaves an individual feeling tired, depressed, anxious and/or enduring ongoing pain.

Major symptom improvements experienced by patients who used cannabis for fibromyalgia

The majority of patients who participated in this study on cannabis for fibromyalgia were females; reflective of the gender that’s most susceptible to being diagnosed with the medical condition. Of the patients that partook in the study, symptomatic relief was recorded as follows:

• 33 percent claimed that their FIQR scores advanced after using cannabis for fibromyalgia
• 42.4 percent noticed a significant reduction in anxiety caused by fibromyalgia
• 44 percent said they experienced a major improvement in sleep quality
• 47 percent of patients used less or completely stopped using alternative analgesic treatments during the study period
• 50 percent felt less depressed after using cannabis for fibromyalgia

Although cannabis did successfully reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia among a large portion of study subjects, 54.5 percent reported experiencing more fatigue after treatment.

“This observational study shows that adjunctive MCT [Medical Cannabis Treatment] offers a possible clinical advantage in FM [Fibromyalgia] patients, especially in those with sleep dysfunctions. The clinical improvement inversely correlated with BMI. The retention rate and changes in concomitant analgesic therapy reflect MCT efficacy of the improved quality of life of patients,” the researchers wrote.

An earlier study carried out in 2011 revealed similar findings, with participants reporting a drastic improvement in stiffness, perception of wellbeing, relaxation and pain relief after using cannabis for fibromyalgia.

Cannabis for fibromyalgia: Existing treatment options aren’t always effective

Unfortunately, at the current time, a cure for fibromyalgia has not been discovered. However, since the disease produces a range of symptoms that can be relieved using over-the-counter painkillers, patients do have options for improving their quality of life. Musculoskeletal pain, cognitive impairments, chronic fatigue and insomnia are some examples of the symptoms that fibromyalgia patients can relieve using OTC meds.

Most fibromyalgia patients will be prescribed antidepressants, sleep tablets, pain relievers and muscle relaxants to relieve their symptoms. In some cases, the patient may also undergo physiotherapy to ease contracted muscles. Although these treatments can offer positive outcomes for the user, they aren’t necessarily safe. For example, many sleep tablets and painkillers fall under the “opiate” category — a group of pharmaceutical drugs that killed 47,600 people in the U.S. in 2017.

Thankfully, cannabis is emerging as a future alternative to opioids, minus the dependency and fatalities that have been linked to opioid medications. Moreover, the results of the study on cannabis for fibromyalgia suggest that the green plant could be harboring more medical potential than initially anticipated and, in the near future, potentially be prescribed to patients who suffer from the debilitating disease.