Could Medical Cannabis Be The Answer For Fibromyalgia? Here's What New Study Found

New research has shown that medical cannabis may effectively manage fibromyalgia and associated symptoms of depression and anxiety.

MediPharm Labs Corp. LABS MEDIF MLZ said the study was conducted by its subsidiary Harvest Medicine.

Titled "Self-Reported Effects of Illness Severity, Depression and Anxiety in Fibromyalgia Patients: A Large Retrospective Case Series," the study was published in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine.

The Study And Key Findings

• The research included data from 805 patients who indicated fibromyalgia, a pain disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain, non-restorative sleep, fatigue, and impaired cognition, as a primary reason for seeking medical cannabis and had a minimum of one follow-up assessment.
• The majority of patients (76.1%) reported using CBD oil.
• 75% of patients saw a decrease in their self-reported illness severity, which may include chronic pain, insomnia, and fatigue.
• Anxiety scores were improved in 22% of those patients reporting mild-moderate severity and in 48% of patients reporting severe anxiety.
• 27% of patients reporting mild-medium depression noted a reduction in symptoms, while 48% of patients reporting severe depression showed a decrease in PHQ-9 score.

"Since 2017, Harvest Medicine's primary objective is to improve the quality of patients' lives by providing access to medical cannabis and offering the highest standard of medical care with a scientifically informed approach," Barbara Vermeulen, director of Harvest Medicine said. "We will continue to advocate for patients to maintain access to physician-guided consultations and education, to reduce stigma among health care professionals and advance patient outcomes."

Previous Research

Meanwhile, the new findings build on the growing body of research that has been conducted over the past few years.

A study published in Pain Practice last year found that marijuana has a short-term beneficial effect on the quality of life in women with treatment-resistant fibromyalgia.

Another study done in Israel showed that fibromyalgia patients who use cannabis experience reduced pain as a result.

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Photo: Courtesy of Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash