What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is an idiopathic disease whose etiology remains unknown, characterized by affecting the human body with
generalized musculoskeletal pain, hyperalgesia and allodynia.
The diagnosis of Fibromyalgia syndrome
is quite long and complicated , since the presence of generalized and chronic pain is usually investigated at first, excluding the presence of other diseases and subsequently carrying out an examination of the presence of pain followed by digital pressure applied to specific anatomical points. (1)
Fibromyalgia
affects on average 2.1% of the world population , 2.31% of the European population and 2.4% of the Spanish population (which represents more than one million people),
with a clear prevalence in the female sex and a peak age between 40 and 49 years (1)(4) In 2006
the Spanish Society of Rheumatology already characterized Fibromyalgia as a public health problem.
Today
the situation has not improved much and although the hypotheses about its causes have shown a multifactorial origin that leads to a "Central Sensitization Syndrome", its etiology remains unknown and consequently
conventional pharmacological treatments based on analgesics and antidepressants do not end up giving positive or stable results , in addition to entailing a whole series of side effects. (10) (11)
Many professionals question whether fibromyalgia
is a
truly diagnosable medical condition, identifying it rather as a psychosomatic disorder, both due to the frequent presence of mood disorders and the good response to psychological treatments. (3)(10)
Cannabis, CBD and fibromyalgia
Next, we delve into understanding the scientific studies that speak about
the benefits of CBD and cannabis for fibromyalgia.
Effects of CBD to relieve fibromyalgia
Recent observational studies in patients have shown promising results with the use of Cannabis, which has been shown to be safe and well tolerated. In particular, significant symptomatic improvements have been observed in pain relief, sleep problems and mood . (5)(6)(9)(11)
The Endocannabinoid System and Fibromyalgia
According to some professionals, such as
Dr. Ethan Russo ,
the cause of Fibromyalgia
would originate in a Clinical Deficiency of the Endocannabinoid System (CECD) and that
for this reason there is a good response to treatments with cannabinoids , in addition to a poor response to conventional pharmacological treatments.
According to this theory,
the activity of the Endocannabinoid System (regulatory system for maintaining the physiological balance of our body) in certain conditions
is reduced to the point of causing a “Central Sensitization Syndrome” characterized by generalized hypersensitivity and in particular hyperalgesia, in addition to other symptoms that vary greatly between people.
This syndrome would originate both
Fibromyalgia and
irritable bowel syndrome and
migraines , diseases that present high comorbidity between them. (8)(11)
Even today,
it is difficult to have precise and formal studies due to the complexity of the physiological mechanisms involved in both
the functioning of the ECS and the pathogenesis of Fibromyalgia. In addition,
its symptoms are very variable in quantitative and qualitative terms, relating to the biography of each person. (8)
What do scientific studies say?
Until a couple of years ago, there were no relevant studies with products derived from the plant, both because of the inhaled form of use and the difficulty of having a standardized product. (5)(6) Some studies that had used synthetic cannabinoids had not shown consistent results, but they did show low tolerance to the products and some side effects (7)(11).
In 2020, a broad observational study was carried out using standardized products such as CBD drops and through the ingested form, through which significant symptomatic improvements were observed through the use of Cannabis, in addition to being able to investigate more precisely the necessary amount. (9)
Recommendations for using CBD oil for fibromyalgia
Although
there are still no specific studies on the use of CBD,
in clinical experience symptomatic improvements can be observed using CBD oil both externally and internally (the latter method is not regulated in Spain), following recommendations similar to those for other types of diseases that involve different forms of pain.
The external route would represent the most appropriate way to obtain
local symptomatic
relief without implying more generalized effects
and without producing interactions with medications.
For the same reason,
although the internal route would be the most suitable to obtain relief and a more generalized and continuous effect,
it is always better to contact a Medicinal Cannabis program or a specialist before trying through this way.
How to take CBD oil for fibromyalgia (tips, schedules, dosage, administration routes, etc.)
Many customers ask us how many drops to use , how to use CBD. Although
you already know that our products can only be used externally , in other countries CBD is used internally with different types of dosage.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
|
EXTERNAL ROUTE
|
INTERNAL ROUTE (sublingual)
|
| Instructions for use
|
Apply the product directly to the area to be treated and massage gently until absorbed.
|
Apply the drops under the tongue and hold for one minute.
|
| Dose
|
Use 2-3 times a day
|
Use 2-3 times a day
|
| Duration of effect
|
2-3 hours
|
6-8 hours |
| Beemine
|
Yeah
|
No
|
What type of CBD oil is best for fibromyalgia?
Experts recommend
starting with medium concentration oils of 5-10%
You can access
The Beemine Lab's oils for external use in their
online CBD products store.
Fibromyalgia cases that can be treated with CBD
The use of CBD is particularly interesting due to
its lack of psychoactivity , in addition to its specific properties and effects:
-
analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect , especially in the presence of neurological pain
-
relaxing and sedative effect , to facilitate rest and sleep
-
anxiolytic and antidepressant effect , helping to regulate mood and improve cognitive state
Furthermore, its beneficial action on muscles and joints
facilitates movement and physical activity , helping to
reduce the feeling of fatigue.
Fibromyalgia cases that CANNOT be treated with CBD
Before stopping your treatment, you should
consult with your specialist to verify whether your symptoms and medication are compatible with CBD , ruling out its use in risk situations such as: cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases, etc.
Precautions if you are going to use CBD for fibromyalgia
If you are taking medication, it is always best to contact a specialist to
check for possible drug interactions , and, as we mentioned above,
take special care when there are heart or liver problems.
Its use is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
CBD Side Effects
CBD in general is
a safe substance, well tolerated and with very few side effects , as we explain in our.
> Read our full article on CBD and Side Effects.
However,
if you are taking medication, it is always best
to consult a specialist before taking CBD internally.
> Read our full article on CBD and drug interactions .
Conclusions: Does it work or not?
Simply put,
CBD can help relieve the symptoms of Fibromyalgia.
Both from scientific evidence, although limited, and from clinical evidence
, a beneficial effect of cannabinoid treatments can be observed.
The use of CBD is particularly interesting because
it does not generate psychotropic or addictive effects, in addition to being well tolerated in large doses, offering different benefits:
- Pain and inflammation relief
- Relaxing effect
- Stress reduction and increased concentration
There is still much to learn about fibromyalgia and what cannabis can do for people who suffer from it. For now, we hope that studies, personal experiences and the advancement of regulation will offer a way out of this disease.
Literature:
1 - Spanish Society of Rheumatology. EPISER Study.
Prevalence and impact of rheumatic diseases in the Spanish adult population. Madrid 2001.
2 - Cabo-Meseguer, Asensi, Cerdá-Olmedo, Germán, & Trillo-Mata, José Luis. (2019).
Epidemiology and sociodemographic characterization of fibromyalgia in the Valencian Community . Spanish Journal of Public Health, 93, e201912099. Epub September 07, 2020. Retrieved May 06, 2021.
3 - Uclés-Juárez, Rubén, Fernández-Carreño, David, Fernández-Miranda López, Sergio, & Cangas-Díaz, Adolfo J. (2020).
Conceptualization of fibromyalgia: consensus or discrepancy among clinical professionals in Spain? . Spanish Journal of Public Health, 94, 202001006. Epub November 02, 2020. Retrieved May 06, 2021.
4 - Cabo-Meseguer, A., Cerdá-Olmedo, G., & Trillo-Mata, JL (2017). Fibromyalgia: Prevalence, epidemiologic profiles
and economic costs. Clinical Medicine, 149(10), 441–448.
5 - Habib, G., & Artul, S. (2018).
Medical Cannabis for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia. Journal of clinical rheumatology: practical reports on rheumatic & musculoskeletal diseases , 24(5), 255–258.
6 - Fiz, J., Durán, M., Capellà, D., Carbonell, J., & Farré, M. (2011).
Cannabis use in patients with fibromyalgia: effect on symptoms relief and health-related quality of life. PloS one, 6(4), e18440.
7 - Walitt, B., Klose, P., Fitzcharles, MA, Phillips, T., & Häuser, W. (2016).
Cannabinoids for fibromyalgia. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews , 7(7), CD011694.
8 - Russo EB. Clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD): can this concept explain therapeutic benefits of cannabis in migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and other treatment-resistant conditions? Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2008 Apr;29(2):192-200. PMID: 18404144.
9 - Giorgi, V., Bongiovanni, S., Atzeni, F., Marotto, D., Salaffi, F., & Sarzi-Puttini, P. (2020). Adding medical cannabis to standard analgesic treatment for fibromyalgia: a prospective observational study. Clinical and experimental rheumatology, 38 Suppl 123(1), 53–59.
10 - Berger, AA, Keefe, J., Winnick, A., Gilbert, E., Eskander, JP, Yazdi, C., Kaye, AD, Viswanath, O., & Urits, I. (2020).
Cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Best practice & research. Clinical anesthesiology , 34(3), 617–631.
11 - Kurlyandchik, I., Tiralongo, E., & Schloss, J. (2021).
Safety and Efficacy of Medicinal Cannabis in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, NY) , 27(3), 198–213.
