By Patients suffering from symptoms characterized by pain and fatigue may find relief in the form of oral THC treatment. According to a newly published study.
The study was published in the German medical journal Schmerz The study, conducted by German researchers, “shows that THC can be considered as a medical alternative in addition to substances previously recommended in various guidelines” for fibromyalgia patients. .
Fibromyalgia is “a condition that causes generalized pain (also called widespread pain), sleep disturbance, fatigue, and often emotional and mental distress.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“People with fibromyalgia may be more sensitive to pain than those without fibromyalgia. Approximately 4 million American adults, or 2%, are affected,” he added, adding, “The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but it can be treated effectively.” and managed. “
German researchers studied 120 fibromyalgia patients, 62 of whom were treated with THC.
“In this study, during the period 2017-2018, all patients in the clinic’s pain ward suffering from: [fibromyalgia] Patients treated in diverse multidisciplinary settings were selected based on inclusion criteria,” the researchers explained. “Patients were examined separately for pain intensity, various psychometric parameters, and analgesic consumption during their stay, according to THC and non-THC groups.”
“Significant improvements were seen across groups during the stay (p < 0.001) in pain intensity, depression and quality of life parameters, which were significantly improved with THC use." In five of the seven analgesic groups, patients treated with THC were significantly more likely to have their dose reduced or their medication discontinued," the researchers conclude. .
The researchers said that since Germany legalized cannabis for medical purposes in 2017, “a number of qualitatively different studies have been conducted on the efficacy of cannabis.” [medical cannabis] For fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). “
“The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of THC on pain and several psychometric variables during the course of interdisciplinary multidisciplinary pain therapy (IMPT),” they explained.
This isn’t the first finding to suggest that THC could be an effective treatment for fibromyalgia patients.
In 2020, Brazilian researchers published a study showing that THC oil works for such patients.
“To our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled trial demonstrating the benefits of cannabis oil, a THC-rich whole plant extract, on symptoms and quality of life in fibromyalgia patients,” the study said. wrote at the time. “We conclude that phytocannabinoids could be a low-cost, well-tolerated therapy for symptom relief and improved quality of life in these patients, and we have used this therapy for the treatment of this condition. We propose that it can be included as a herbal medicine option in the Brazilian public health system. “
They continued: [fibromyalgia] Given the impact on individuals, their families, communities, and the public health system, there appears to be a need to research low-cost, well-tolerated alternative therapies that can help patients regain their well-being and quality of life. increase. This study aims to evaluate the effects of cannabis oil, a THC-rich whole plant extract, on symptoms and quality of life in individuals suffering from cannabis. [fibromyalgia]”
A 2019 study in Israel similarly found cannabis to be an effective pain management option for fibromyalgia sufferers, based on a six-month trial.
