A synthetic marijuana pill commonly used to treat nausea and vomiting in patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer treatment was recently shown to significantly decrease the symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia Medication
Approximately 12 million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia, a condition that involves diffuse muscle and joint. Historically, medications that treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia have been limited in number and in effectiveness. However, according to a just-published report in The Journal of Pain, a possible new solution – nabilone – has shown promising results.
Fibromyalgia Pain Relief
Nabilone (Cesamet) works by binding to the cannabinoid receptor in neural tissue. This medication was studied in the first randomized, double-blind trial in 40 patients to determine if there was an improvement in pain management and quality of life. The study took place over four weeks and started with 0.5 mg of nabilone at night with an increase to 1 mg twice a day. The results: a statistically significant improvement of pain and anxiety for those taking nabilone compared to a placebo.
Bottom line: Individuals with fibromyalgia may have another treatment option in controlling their symptoms and improving quality of life. Before taking any medication, however, the risks and benefits should be thoroughly discussed with your prescribing physician.
For more information: “Nabilone for the Treatment of Pain in Fibromyalgia,” Ryan Quinlan Skrabek, Lena Galimova, Karen Ethans, and Daryl Perry, Journal of Pain, vol 9, no. 2, February 2008.
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For more information about treatments for Fibromyalgia, see Fibromyalgia Treatment Update.
Researches discover a combination of two analgesic drugs, tramadol and acetaminophen, could be a safe and effective fibromyalgia pain relief treatment. See Fibromyalgia Pain Relief Found with Drug Combination to learn more.
