Only 12% of all cannabis users in our study reported adverse effects
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome characterized primarily by diffuse musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and mood and sleep disturbances. It affects women more frequently than men and has a genetic preponderance. It is not uncommon, as its prevalence in the general population is estimated around 7%.
INTRODUCTION
Fibromyalgia might have a tremendous physical and psychological impact on patients and may lead to disability. Currently, there is no cure for this syndrome in most patients, and the main treatment is usually pain control medication.
These medications include pregabalin and duloxetine. Some patients may benefit from benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, and other antidepressants. Many of these medications are associated with adverse effects that affect compliance.
CANNABIS USE IN ISRAEL
Cannabis is considered an illicit drug in most countries, including our country. However, it is widely used in both illegal and legal fashions. In legal forms, it is used primarily by cancer patients. Many of its users report the high potential of cannabis to suppress pain and induce sleep and calmness. Due to these favorable properties, cannabis has been legislated during the last few years, in some states in the United States and other countries for medical use.
In our country, medical cannabis (MC) is licensed by the Medical Cannabis Agency (MCA), a special committee at the Ministry of Health, for specific indications, including uncontrolled pain in cancer patients, uncontrolled gastrointestinal symptoms in Crohn’s patients, uncontrolled seizures, uncontrolled Parkinson’s disease, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), unresponsive diabetic neuropathy, and other indications such as degenerative or inflammatory musculoskeletal problems.
The application for MC licensing is sent directly to the MCA by the subspecialty physician. Fibromyalgia is not considered as one of these indications, based on the recommendation of the Rheumatology Association of our country. However, fibromyalgia patients who are followed also at other subspecialties such as pain clinic and/ or gastroenterology (GI) clinic for GI symptoms and/ or followed by psychiatric for mood disturbance might get approval for MC. While many are not approved for MC, many patients with fibromyalgia in our country have experience using medical or nonmedical cannabis.
RESEARCH
There are no studies about the prevalence of cannabis consumption by fibromyalgia patients in our country. There are very few studies in the literature about the use of cannabis by fibromyalgia patients from other parts of the world. In this study, we report on the habits of cannabis consumption of three large fibromyalgia social media groups in our country.
An Internet-based questionnaire was posted to three large fibromyalgia Facebook groups in our country. The questionnaire was anonymous and included demographic, clinical, and cannabis-related questions, including acquisition of a license for medical cannabis (MC) method and amount of cannabis consumption; need to buy cannabis beyond the medical allowance; effect of cannabis on pain, sleep, depression, and anxiety; adverse effects of cannabis; feelings of dependence on cannabis or other meds; the involvement of family members; tendency to drive after using cannabis; and employment and social disability status.
FINDINGS
Of 2,705 people, 383 (14%) responded to the questionnaire, with a mean age of 42.2±14.2 years. Of the responders, 84% reported consuming cannabis, and 44% were licensed for MC. The mean amount per month of cannabis consumed was 31.4±16.3g, and 80% of cannabis consumers (CC) smoked pure cannabis or cannabis mixed with tobacco. Pain relief was reported by 94% of CC, while 93% reported improved sleep quality, 87% reported improvement in depression, and 62% reported improvement in anxiety. Of MC-licensed CC, 55% bought cannabis beyond the medical allowance on the black market.
Adverse effects were reported by 12% of CC. Only 8% reported dependence on cannabis. Most CC (64%) worked either full- or part-time jobs, and 74% reported driving “as usual” under cannabis use. Most of MC consumers used three or more species of cannabis. This indicates that one species of cannabis cannot suffice for the different complaints of the patients, such as pain, insomnia, anxiety, or lack of energy. Different species and different concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) were needed to tackle these complaints. Unfortunately, we did not specifically document the concentration of THC or CBD in each species.
Most of the patients used unlicensed cannabis by smoking it mixed with tobacco, while those using MC smoked it without mixing it. Some used vaporization and some used oral oil drops. Vaporization appealed primarily to women who did not want to smoke, while cannabis oil drops were considered weak in terms of efficacy. Oil drops, however, had a long term effect and were usually used as a complement to smoking or vaporization. The other advantage of oil drop preparations of cannabis is the accurate measurement of both THC and CBD that patients eventually get.
As expected, a high percentage of patients (94%) reported pain relief; the impact on sleep, a major problem among fibromyalgia patients, was similar, making cannabis a versatile remedy. It also improved depression and anxiety, though in a lower percentage of patients. All these effects make cannabis very appealing to fibromyalgia patients.
Only 12% of all cannabis users in our study reported adverse effects, compared to 94% reporting adverse effects from other pain meds prior to cannabis use. Most cannabis-related adverse effects were mild and transient such as eye or throat irritation (data not shown). In addition, only 8% of cannabis users felt dependent on cannabis, as opposed to 66% feeling dependent on other pain meds. On the other hand, nearly 85% of the patients either completely stopped taking any other pain medications or reduced the dosage of other meds. This reflects the advantage of cannabis over other meds in alleviating pain in addition to its favorable effects on sleep and mood.
Eighty-one percent (81%) of the patients reported an improvement in their capacity to perform daily activities, and 64% reported going back to part- or even full-time jobs. These figures are very important to the patients personally, to their families, and to society in general. We could not find data in the literature about this issue among patients treated with cannabis for different indications. However, in a large study assessing the impact of cannabis as an illicit drug, a detrimental effect was found on employment and labor force.
Eighty-nine percent (89%) of the patients do not keep their use of cannabis a secret but share this information with their close family members. This fact probably reflects the favorable social effect of cannabis enabling patients to spend more time with their family members rather than seeking isolation and the increased general awareness of this type of treatment in the country.
CONCLUSION
Cannabis consumption among fibromyalgia patients in our country is very common and is mostly not licensed. Nearly all CC reported favorable effects on pain and sleep, and few reported adverse effects or feeling of dependence on cannabis.
The results of our study should encourage both the Rheumatology Association in our country and the MCA to reconsider their stand on cannabis and include fibromyalgia among the indications for MC under certain restrictions.
This article features extracts from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6081591/ Copyright © 2018 George Habib and Irit Avisar.
Image: Free-Photos
Originally published in Weed World Magazine Issue 137