Somewhat surprisingly, given how often Cannabis products are used for pain, relatively few studies have assessed its effectiveness in the “quintessential pain condition” – fibromyalgia (FM). Daniel Clauw – a pretty conservative researcher – who is down on opioid use – has said he would love to see clinical trials on Cannabis in fibromyalgia but that the conditions in the U.S. make it difficult. (After the 2020 election fifteen states plus the Wash. D.C. now allow recreational use of Cannabis. Mississippi voters just legalized it for medical use. Oregon voters went further – they approved legalizing psilocybin – the psychoactive substance in mushrooms…)

The past few years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of medicinal marijuana FM studies.

A recent review found only 5 trials that “were deemed relevant” – four from Isreal, one from the Netherlands (not a surprise :)) and none from the U.S. The good news is that they are all from the past year or two – interest is definitely picking up.

They are a mixed bag. One was an internet survey, another a retrospective review, another a prospective review, a randomized, placebo-controlled, single dose study, and an observational cross-over study. All have positive results but the strains used (the THC/CBD ratio) were not always assessed, and several studies employed various types of ingestion (vaporization, smoking, CBD oils). The criteria used to establish an FM diagnosis was not always stated. In short, while the results were good, the study quality was mixed.

The THC / CBD Issue

Assessing the ratio of CBD to THC – the two most well-known medicinal factors in Cannabis – is important. Of the two THC – which largely affects the brain – is thought to be the greater pain reliever of the two. It appears to relieve pain by disconnecting the sensory from the emotional parts of the brain – making the pain less “hurtful” and anxiety-producing. It may also be relieving the neuroinflammation that’s leaving the pain-producing nerves twitchy and hyper-activated. Dr. Michael Moskowitz believes THC is a nervous system protectant.  It’s THC, though, that produces anxiety, when that occurs, and it’s THC that produces the high in Cannabis.

Cannabidiol or CBD, on the other hand, affects so many systems in the body that it’s been called the “promiscuous molecule”. It produces subtler effects but is aimed at key problems in FM and ME/CFS as well – and may be able to help with the tight muscles, insomnia, anxiety/depression and the fight/flight issues that often come with an hyperactive pain response.

A 1:1 ratio of CBD/THC that provides enough THC to produce medicinal effects but not enough to worry about producing a high or anxiety is often recommended for beginners.  Ratios lower than that (1:10-20 CBD/THC) – which feature higher levels of THC – are often used for pain, migraine or nausea.

The levels of CBD/THC present may also be a factor. A very short-term Netherlands study found that the greatest relief came from a balanced CBD/THC product which had high levels of each. A high THC/low CBD product also worked well, while a low CBD product did not.

New Studies

The Night/Day Study

Both studies used CBD oil (Image-by-Erin-Stone-from-Pixabay)

This year two more FM Cannabis  studies have been added to the five done over the past couple of years. One, “Adding medical cannabis to standard analgesic treatment for fibromyalgia: a prospective observational study“, involved 102 FM patients (66 who completed the study) who were already on a standard FM drug treatment plain (Pregabalin 37/66 – 25-300 mg; Duloxetine 35/66 – 30-60 mg; Gabapentin 15/66 – 300-1800 mg; Cyclobenzaprine 15/66 – 10-20 mg; Tapentadol – 10/66 – 50-200 mg; Tramadol 12/66 –  50-200 mg; Venlafaxine 5/66 – 37.5-150 mg.)

They were given very two different CBD extracts – one with a higher THC/lower CBD content (Bedrocan: (22% THC, <1% CBD) and one with less THC and more CBD (Bediol: 6.3% THC, 8% CBD). In general, THC and CBD work better when combined together.

This study featured an edible oil product with a high CBD/THC ratio (1:20) and one with a quite balanced one (@1:1). The high THC CBD oil was used at night to help with sleep, and the CBD/THC (1:1) oil was taken during the day.

High THC strains are often used for sleep while lower THC extractions – which do not interfere with functioning – are often used during the day.

The doses prescribed ranged from 10 to 30 drops of each and were slowly ramped up. The participants were assessed for six months.

Results

Of the 102 FM patients who entered the study, 66% completed it. Twenty-five were lost to follow-up and 6% stopped the trial because they experienced adverse effects (nausea, palpitations, dizziness). Almost half the participants (47%) completing the study reported that they reduced their pain medications after using cannabis.

The study had positive but mixed results. Greater than 30% of the patients achieved a ≥30% clinical improvement in their PSQI (sleep scores) and their Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) scores and 50% showed a moderate improvement in their anxiety and depression scales. Neither their Fibromyalgia Assessment Status (FAS) (a combination of fatigue, sleep, and pain scores) nor their Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) Fatigue Scale scores, though, were significantly affected.

The authors noted that neither addiction nor side effects hamper the use of CBD oils but that some people can become tolerant. They recommended ramping up the dose very slowly to combat this.  The study also suggested that people with higher body mass indexes (i.e. who are more overweight) may require high doses to receive benefits.

The “Pack-a-THC-Punch” Day Study

The Brazilian study used small amounts of a very THC-rich oil

The Brazilian study, “Ingestion of a THC-Rich Cannabis Oil in People with Fibromyalgia, a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial”, was much smaller (n=17) and shorter (8 weeks), but was double-blinded and placebo-controlled; i.e. neither the doctors nor the patients knew who was getting what. The study took place in a stressful place – a low-income neighborhood in Brazil with high levels of violence.

The average age was 51. The CBD oil (called White Widow) was very THC-rich (CBD/THC 1/48). The women with FM started out with 1 drop a day and increased by 1 drop a week up to 6 drops over the 8 weeks.

Results

The cannabis recipients reported a dramatic reduction in their fibromyalgia impact scores (FIQR) (from 70-30.5). (The placebo group reported a statistically insignificant decline (70-61).)  An analysis indicated that the FM patients receiving Cannabis particularly improved their “feel good,” “pain,” and “fatigue” scores.

They did pay with some side effects, most notably somnolence or drowsiness (87.5%), dizziness (25%), mouth dryness (25%). Given the high THC dose, it was not surprising to see drowsiness show up. Several also reported improved mood (25%), and libido (12.5%) (!) – which, ironically, were listed as “side-effects”.

Conclusions

These studies improved on some past studies by providing CBD/THC ratios – and had some good news for at least some FM patients. One that employed a high THC extract at night and a low THC extract during the day for six months found that more than 30% of the FM patients had significant reductions in their fibromyalgia Impact and sleep scores. (They did not, however, significantly improve their fibromyalgia assessment status (FAS) scores or their fatigue scores.) Few side effects were seen.

The second study which used very high THC content oil (CBD/THC – 48:1) had more dramatic results. High-THC products are often used at night to assist with sleep, but the Brazilian study suggested that using small amounts of a very high-THC, low-dose oil during the day might work. Drowsiness was a very common side effect (87%), but the cannabis group also reported dramatic reductions in their fibromyalgia impact scores with particular improvements in their “feel good”, “pain” and “fatigue” scores.

The studies were positive but not bulletproof. One was placebo-controlled, but very small. The other was larger, but not placebo-controlled.

Thus far most studies suggest that Cannabis may be able to help some people with fibromyalgia improve pain, sleep, and perhaps mood and fatigue.   Give the large variety of Cannabis strains with their different chemical makeups (see the Linalool blog), and the middling quality of most studies, though, larger studies are clearly needed to elucidate which kinds of products (CBD: THC ratio’s, terpenes, etc.)  work best for people with FM. A big uptick in FM Cannabis studies over the past couple of years hopefully suggests that many more studies are coming.

Tried a Cannabis Product? Please Tell Us How it Went in Health Rising’s Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Cannabis Review Program

when you get it right
you pass it on… Gary Snyder

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Check the interesting experiences people are having. Adam recently reported that a high THC product enables him to exercise without PEM. (I have had the same experience). What is going on here?  Could we selectively use high THC products to improve our conditioning?

Health Rising’s Marijuana as Medicine for ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia Series

• Pt I: Marijuana as Medicine for ME/CFS and/or Fibromyalgia: The Science Behind Cannabis – Amber Ella
• Pt. II: Getting Started with Cannabis – Amber Ella
• Pt. III: Cannabis – More Than Just THC and CBD – Cort Johnson
• Pt. IV: The Doctor Speaks: Cannabis Treatment Protocol – Treatment Regimens for pain, sleep, etc. / How to quickly stop a high / What to do when CBD stops working / Finding Safe CBD Oil and more – coming up
• Pt V: Wrapup – coming