Medellin, Colombia: The use of cannabis-based preparations, including flower, is associated with symptomatic improvements in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), according to a systematic review of clinical trials published in the journal Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy.
An international team of investigators reviewed safety and efficacy data from 14 clinical studies and five review papers. They reported that cannabis-based products reduced pain and other symptoms in fibromyalgia patients and did not possess serious side effects.
The study’s authors concluded: “Cannabis-based products for medicinal use … can improve musculoskeletal, somatic, and psychiatric symptoms in patients with FMS, mainly pain, fatigue, and depression; also, these products could be considered as safe. … There is a need to conduct more comprehensive studies and clinical trials to establish the real efficacy/effectiveness in terms of pain management, quality of life, and improvement of associated symptoms, as well as the effect on the use of other medications for managing chronic pain and safety concerns.”
Surveys report that fibromyalgia patients frequently consume whole-plant cannabis and CBD products to manage their disease symptoms.
Full text of the study, “Effectiveness of cannabis-based products for medical use in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: A systematic review,” appears in Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy. Additional information on cannabis and FMS is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.