Medical cannabis is still a controversial issue in many countries. It has been used by various people for different purposes. It is not a miracle drug but it can help some people who are suffering from chronic pain or other types of pain. Medicinal cannabis is a highly complex issue in terms of scientific research and clinical practice. However, we cannot deny the fact that it has helped a lot of people in many countries. Many people with fibromyalgia also use medicinal cannabis and it is considered as one of the effective ways of treating chronic pain.
This article will cover the medical use of cannabis as it concerns people with fibromyalgia. It will cover the medical effects of cannabis, the usage of medical cannabis against fibromyalgia, and finally the production of the medical cannabis by the use of the Cannabis Sativa plant.
As a doctor and someone who has been using medical cannabis for years, I know that it may seem like a pipe dream to some, especially because of all the misinformation and misunderstanding of how it is used. I am always amazed at how many patients have discovered the many benefits of medical marijuana during their investigations into fibromyalgia, after all, it is a condition that affects millions.
Canopy Growth Corporation’s Chief Medicinal Officer, Dr. Mark Ware, addresses medical cannabis as a therapy for fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia, commonly known as fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), is a chronic pain disease that affects the whole body. While there are therapies that may help with fibromyalgia symptoms, there is presently no cure. Some of the most frequently recommended therapies for the illness are painkillers and antidepressants. These, on the other hand, may have severe adverse effects.
In April of this year, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) revised its recommendations to advise against prescribing opioid medicines for long-term usage in England. With this in mind, the quest for alternative fibromyalgia therapies becomes even more important.
Canopy Growth is a globally recognized cannabis and cannabinoid-based consumer goods business that was founded with the goal of bettering people’s lives and communities. The company’s Spectrum Therapeutics brand seeks to enhance the lives of patients all over the globe by providing them with a range of cannabis products to meet their medicinal requirements.
Dr Mark Ware, Chief Medical Officer of Canopy Growth Corporation, was interviewed by Health Europa to learn more about the business and its work with fibromyalgia patients.
Can you provide an overview of your research and experience dealing with fibromyalgia sufferers throughout the years?
Prior to joining Canopy Growth as Chief Medical Officer, I focused on studying the safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of cannabis and cannabinoids in the treatment of pain and symptom management. In addition to my studies, I spent over 20 years treating chronic pain patients and saw firsthand how terrible these diseases can be for individuals.
When it comes to fibromyalgia, we describe it as a chronic disease affecting the central nerve system that results in widespread discomfort. It is believed that 1 in every 20 individuals in the UK is affected. These numbers are likely to be higher since the disease is difficult to identify.
Unfortunately, fibromyalgia is incurable, and women are affected at a far greater rate than males. Patients often report poor sleep quality, mental problems, and a general sense of betrayal by therapies that have harmed their quality of life and frequently have severe side effects.
It’s essential to remember that individuals with fibromyalgia don’t simply experience pain for a few weeks or months and occasionally an uncertain diagnosis – they frequently endure symptoms for years without receiving appropriate care or knowing why. In addition, after patients get a diagnosis, they have the additional difficulty of determining how to manage the pain in the long run.
What treatments/therapies/healthcare services are currently available for this condition?
While there is no cure for fibromyalgia, there are a variety of therapies available to help manage symptoms, including anticonvulsants, opioids, and antidepressants. Patients may need some time after receiving a diagnosis to figure out which therapies are best for their particular symptoms and overall health. However, in many instances, these treatments do not provide long-term relief.
This is where medicinal cannabis enters the discussion, since its usage in the treatment of chronic pain and the support of sleep has shown promising results. It’s worth remembering that pain, mood, and sleep are all intertwined. When we successfully treat one of these symptoms, we often observe significant improvement or eradication of the others.
Why are people increasingly turning to medicinal marijuana?
We know that fibromyalgia, and chronic pain disorders in general, are notoriously difficult to identify and treat because of their nature. Patients are often tested for various illnesses before receiving a definite diagnosis, and by the time they do, they are specialists in their condition. They’ve tried a number of therapies and put a lot of effort into their own health.
As a result, many people are becoming more interested in finding relief from their pain and associated symptoms without resorting to powerful medications. This is especially important given that we know that the misuse of opioids has resulted in a major public health crisis, including in the United Kingdom, and that alternative treatments such as medical cannabis – which has fewer side effects and a better safety profile than opioids – could be a valuable option worth exploring.
What do you think this medicine can do for these individuals, in your opinion?
Our bodies naturally produce pain relievers called endorphins, but they may also be triggered by the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is involved in a variety of biological processes such as sleep, pain, and even memory, and we’ve known for a long time that cannabinoids interact directly with it. As a result, we see cannabis as a distinct class of medication, with the potential to alleviate a broad range of symptoms, including pain, nausea, anxiety, and sleep disturbances – all of which are symptoms of fibromyalgia.
When we talk with patients, we often hear that medicinal cannabis is beneficial not just for pain relief but also for making the discomfort more bearable. They say it helps them sleep, improves their mood, and helps them recover a better quality of life, and although we know it’s not a cure, it may be a significant step forward in managing these tough symptoms.
What more can be done to make this illness more understandable for both patients and clinicians?
Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose and treat because of its invisibility. Because there is presently no definitive diagnostic for the disease, it is often misdiagnosed or goes untreated for years.
I witnessed the anguish and desperation of many individuals suffering with a disease that has been misdiagnosed or totally overlooked, resulting in patients being funneled through seemingly endless testing and doctor appointments while I worked as a pain management physician. When you throw in the stigma of using medicinal cannabis, you have a really difficult treatment path for these individuals.
To assist these individuals, healthcare practitioners must feel at ease and be able to speak freely with patients about whether medical cannabis may be used as a therapeutic option and, if so, how to get it. This is a journey that both the health professional and the patient must take together, and although we are making progress, there is still a long way to go in terms of breaking down barriers when it comes to addressing medical cannabis as a therapeutic choice. Spectrum is working hard to assist enable these conversations via education programs in the UK and across the world.
What else is Spectrum doing to help those living with chronic illnesses?
Given the patient-driven nature of medical cannabis adoption and the broad variety of possible therapeutic applications, Spectrum thinks that real-world evidence (RWE) and clinician education are essential for learning more about medical cannabis usage and applications.
An RWE observational research with 600 participants was recently released to explain the effect medicinal cannabis may have on sleep, pain management, and other mental health symptoms including anxiety and sadness. THC-dominant drugs were found to be more often used for pain and sleep, whereas CBD-dominant products were found to be more frequently used for anxiety and sadness. This study provides useful information on how people use and react to cannabis products, as well as significant pathways and possibilities for future clinical research.
In addition, as part of our efforts to show how medical cannabis can help people with chronic pain, we’ve published two consensus papers that offer practical advice and suggestions on how clinicians can use medical cannabis to help people with opioid addiction and how medical cannabis can be used to treat chronic pain.
The use of medical marijuana is currently legal in 29 states and the District of Columbia. Medical marijuana can be used to treat a wide range of ailments and symptoms; however, one of the most common uses of medical marijuana is for pain management. Medical marijuana can be used to treat a variety of symptoms and conditions, including, but not limited to: Cancer Pain, Arthritis Pain, Multiple Sclerosis Pain, Cancer, Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, Nausea, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Migraines, Dementia, Insomnia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Anxiety, Depression, Alzheimer’s Disease, Epilepsy, Bipolar Disorder, Migraines, Parkinson’s Disease, PTSD,. Read more about best edibles for fibromyalgia pain and let us know what you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CBD oil effective for fibromyalgia?
CBD oil is effective for fibromyalgia.
Is fibromyalgia an autoimmune disease?
Yes, fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disease.
How fast does CBD oil work for fibromyalgia?
CBD oil is a natural pain reliever that can help with the symptoms of fibromyalgia. It has been shown to reduce inflammation, which in turn reduces pain and muscle spasms.
Related Tags
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