A recent online survey of fibromyalgia patients who use CBD products found that most were able to reduce or eliminate medication use while experiencing less pain and other symptoms and fewer side effects. The survey results, published in May 2021 in The Journal of Pain, included 878 individuals with fibromyalgia. The survey looked at which types of CBD products were most effective and what medications were being replaced. Respondents were 93.6% female and 91.5% Caucasian with an average age of 55.5 years.

The survey looked at the various CBD-containing products used, divided into three categories: CBD isolate, full spectrum hemp and products containing both CBD and THC (CBD-cannabis). 72% of the fibromyalgia patients reported substituting CBD products for medications, including NSAIDs (59%), opioids (53.3%), gabapentinoids (35%) and benzodiazepines (23.1%). Fibromyalgia patients who substituted CBD products for medications reported decreasing or stopping use of these medications.

Those who substituted were more likely to use full spectrum hemp (74.7%) or CBD-cannabis (79.3%) than CBD isolate. This supports the concept of the “entourage effect” – the combination of naturally co-occurring ingredients is more effective than one isolated ingredient.

Over half of the participants stopped using each medication type other than NSAIDs as a result of using CBD products. Less than 3% reported they had increased use of any of the medications after starting CBD use.  The most common reasons for substituting CBD for medication were fewer adverse side effects and better management of symptoms.

The most common routes of administration were tinctures (65%), topicals (49%) and edibles (33.6%). Those in the CBD-cannabis group used inhalation (smoking, vaping) far more often than in the other subgroups.

Overall, across all groups, participants used CBD products an average of 5.4 times per week and 2.0 times per day. Those in the CBD-cannabis and hemp subgroups used CBD products more days per week than those in the isolate group. Those in the CBD-cannabis group used CBD products more times per day than individuals in the other two groups. Fibromyalgia patients who were substituting for medications were using CBD more frequently, both in days per week and times per day.

Those who substituted CBD products for other pain medications reported significantly greater improvement for overall health and pain than those who did not. They also reported greater improvements in other associated symptoms such as sleep and anxiety.

Conclusion

Many fibromyalgia patients are finding that they can get better pain management with fewer adverse effects by replacing pharmaceutical pain treatment with CBD or marijuana products.

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Cindy Perlin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, certified biofeedback practitioner, chronic pain survivor, the author of The Truth About Chronic Pain Treatments: The Best and Worst Strategies for Becoming Pain Free and the founder and CEO of the Alternative Pain Treatment Directory. She has been helping her clients in the Albany, NY area reach their health and wellness goals for over 27 years. She also provides virtual pain consults. See her provider profile HERE.