CBD (cannabidiol) is the second most common cannabinoid in the cannabis plant and has been marketed for everything from mood stabilisation to pain relief, without the intoxicating effects produced by THC.<\/p>\n
Previous research shows that some people substitute medical cannabis (often with high concentrations of THC) for opioids and other pain medications, reporting that cannabis provides better pain relief with fewer side effects. However, there is far less data on CBD use.<\/p>\n
Investigators say the findings merit more research<\/p><\/div>\n
Kevin Boehnke, a research investigator from the Department of Anaesthesiology, Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Centre at the University of Michigan, said: “CBD is less harmful than THC, as it is non-intoxicating and has less potential for abuse.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf people can find the same relief without THC\u2019s side effects, CBD may represent a useful as a harm reduction strategy.”<\/p>\n
Boehnke and his team surveyed people 878 people with fibromyalgia about their use of CBD for the treatment of chronic pain.<\/p>\n
“Fibromyalgia is not easy to treat, often involving several medications with significant side effects and modest benefits,” Boehnke explained.<\/p>\n
“I was not expecting that level of substitution, noting that the rate is quite similar to the substitution rate reported in the medical cannabis literature.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople who said they used CBD products that also contained THC had higher odds of substitution and reported greater symptom relief.<\/p>\n
“Yet, finding the products containing only CBD also provided pain relief and were substituted for pain medications is promising and merits future study.”<\/p>\n
The team also noted that much of the widespread use of CBD is occurring without physician guidance and in the absence of relevant clinical trials.<\/p>\n
“Even with that lack of evidence, people are using CBD, substituting it for medication and saying it’s less harmful and more effective,” he said.<\/p>\n
Boehnke stressed the need for more controlled research into how CBD may provide these benefits, as well as whether these benefits may be due to the placebo effect.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cClinically, opening up lines of discussion around CBD use for chronic pain is imperative, for medication safety reasons as well as for enhancing the therapeutic alliance and improving patient care.”<\/p>\n
The use of CBD products in many cases of fibromyalgia can be safe and effective, and an alternative option to opioid analgesics and stronger pain killers which can be addictive with more side effects.<\/p>\n
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Over 70% of fibromyalgia patients are swapping opioids for CBD, says US study - Cannabis Health News<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n