Does CBD help fibromyalgia?

Lately I have notice many people talking about the benefits of CBD for fibro. Most of it is from a personal perspective and it is difficult to know if what works for one person with fibromyalgia will work for you to reduce symptoms.  I was pleased to find a large survey of cannabidiol (CBD) use among 2701 participants with fibromyalgia. Here I have summarised the results.

CBD, or cannabidiol, has been shown to reduce fibromyalgia symptoms by 30 to 40 percent in this 2020 University of Michigan survey of over 2,700 people with the condition.  

IMPORTANT SURVEY POINTS

• Around 32% of participants currently used CBD, mostly for pain, anxiety, and sleep.
• Around 30 to 40% reported relief across symptom domains:

30.5% for pain. 

40.1% for insomnia/sleep problems. 

40.0% for anxiety. 

20.0% for fatigue. 

32.3% for depression.

21.9% for memory/mental clarity. 

43.2% for other symptoms.

• Participants typically tried CBD due to inadequate relief from other medications.
• Two-thirds of participants disclosed CBD use to their doctor.
• Only 33% asked for doctor advice on using CBD.
• Around half of participants reported side effects, which were typically minor.

This article indicates that CBD use is common among people with fibromyalgia.

The results suggest that many people with fibromyalgia get benefits from using CBD across multiple symptoms domains. 

The survey researchers recommend that doctors should discuss CBD use with their fibromyalgia patients.

SOURCE: Cannabidiol Use for Fibromyalgia: Prevalence of Use and Perceptions of Effectiveness in a Large Online Survey

• Kevin F. Boehnke
• Joel J. Gagnier
• Lynne Matallana
• David A. Williams Published:January 02, 2021DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2020.12.001
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