About a third of people with fibromyalgia currently use CBD, mostly for pain, and most report improvement
In a survey of 2,701 fibromyalgia patients, 32.4% currently used CBD, primarily for pain, and generally reported slight to much improvement across symptom domains.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 2,701 fibromyalgia patients, 32.4% currently used CBD and 29.4% had used it previously. Users reported improvements across multiple symptom domains, most commonly pain. About half reported minor side effects. Two-thirds disclosed CBD use to their physician but only 33% asked for physician advice.
Key Numbers
2,701 participants; 38.1% never used CBD; 29.4% past use; 32.4% current use; two-thirds disclosed to physician; only 33% sought physician advice; about half reported minor side effects
How They Did This
Cross-sectional anonymous survey of 2,701 individuals with fibromyalgia, primarily in the United States, examining CBD use patterns, reasons for use/discontinuation, physician communication, and perceived effectiveness.
Why This Research Matters
With nearly a third of fibromyalgia patients using CBD despite limited evidence, this represents a massive uncontrolled experiment. Understanding use patterns can help guide future clinical research priorities.
The Bigger Picture
The disconnect between widespread CBD use and limited clinical evidence for fibromyalgia reflects a broader pattern where consumer adoption of cannabinoid products far outpaces the research needed to guide safe use.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-selected survey population likely overrepresents those interested in CBD, cross-sectional design, self-reported improvement without objective measures, predominantly U.S. respondents.
Questions This Raises
- ?What distinguishes people who continue CBD use from those who stop?
- ?Why do only a third of CBD users seek physician advice?
- ?Would standardized CBD products show efficacy in a clinical trial for fibromyalgia?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 32.4% of fibromyalgia patients currently use CBD, primarily for pain
- Evidence Grade:
- Large survey with self-selected population and self-reported outcomes
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021. Clinical trials of CBD specifically for fibromyalgia remain limited.
- Original Title:
- Cannabidiol Use for Fibromyalgia: Prevalence of Use and Perceptions of Effectiveness in a Large Online Survey.
- Published In:
- The journal of pain, 22(5), 556-566 (2021)
- Authors:
- Boehnke, Kevin F(22), Gagnier, Joel J(3), Matallana, Lynne(4), Williams, David A
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03014
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How many fibromyalgia patients use CBD?
In this survey of 2,701 patients, 32.4% currently used CBD and another 29.4% had used it in the past. Most used CBD for pain and reported at least slight improvement.
Do fibromyalgia patients discuss CBD with their doctors?
Two-thirds of CBD users disclosed their use to their physician, but only 33% actually sought physician advice on using CBD. Those not using CBD most commonly cited safety concerns as their reason.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03014APA
Boehnke, Kevin F; Gagnier, Joel J; Matallana, Lynne; Williams, David A. (2021). Cannabidiol Use for Fibromyalgia: Prevalence of Use and Perceptions of Effectiveness in a Large Online Survey.. The journal of pain, 22(5), 556-566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2020.12.001
MLA
Boehnke, Kevin F, et al. "Cannabidiol Use for Fibromyalgia: Prevalence of Use and Perceptions of Effectiveness in a Large Online Survey.." The journal of pain, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2020.12.001
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabidiol Use for Fibromyalgia: Prevalence of Use and Perc..." RTHC-03014. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/boehnke-2021-cannabidiol-use-for-fibromyalgia
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.