Study: More Patients Using Cannabinoids for Fibromyalgia Pain

Use of cannabinoids for pain relief is popular among patients with fibromyalgia, who either smoke marijuana or take synthetic prescription formulations, according to a study reported in MedPage Today.

Of 457 patients referred to a fibromyalgia clinic, 13 percent self-reported using cannabinoids, according to researcher Mary-Ann Fitzcharles of McGill University. A total of 80 percent were marijuana smokers, while 24 percent used prescription formulations and 3 percent used both, researchers reported in Arthritis Care & Research.

"The cannabinoid system has known modulatory effects on pain, inflammation, immune function and even joint damage," said Ms. Fitzcharles. "It is therefore reasonable to question whether the effects of cannabinoid agonists, either natural or synthetic, may have relevance to the management of patients with pain conditions such as [fibromyalgia]."

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