Fibromyalgia eased by synthetic marijuana.

• Position: Pain Management - Brief article

Patients with fibromyalgia treated with a synthetic form of marijuana, nabilone, showed significant reductions in pain and anxiety in a first-of-its-kind study, indicates the American Pain Society, Glenview, Ill.

Fibromyalgia syndrome has no cure and is difficult to diagnose, therefore effective pain management strategies are a must to help patients cope with the disease. An estimated 12,000,000 Americans are afflicted with the malady, which is characterized by widespread muscle and joint pain and myriad other symptoms. The condition is far more prevalent in women and the incidence increases with age, reaching seven percent among women 65 years and older.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Nabilone is one of two oral marijuana-based compounds, known as cannabinoids, available in Canada and is approved for treatment of nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy.

Results of the study showed those using nabilone had significant reductions in pain...