Most people with fibromyalgia who use CBD report substituting it for pain medications including opioids
Among 878 fibromyalgia patients using CBD, 72% reported substituting it for medications, most commonly NSAIDs (59%) and opioids (53.3%), with the majority reducing or stopping those medications.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
72% of CBD-using fibromyalgia patients substituted CBD for medications: NSAIDs (59%), opioids (53.3%), gabapentinoids (35%), and benzodiazepines (23.1%). Most reported decreasing or stopping these medications, citing fewer side effects and better symptom management. Those who substituted reported larger improvements than non-substituters.
Key Numbers
878 CBD users with fibromyalgia; 93.6% female; mean age 55.5; 72% substituted for medications; 59% for NSAIDs; 53.3% for opioids; 35% for gabapentinoids; 23.1% for benzodiazepines
How They Did This
Secondary analysis from a cross-sectional survey of 878 fibromyalgia patients currently using CBD, sub-grouped by product type (CBD isolate, hemp, CBD-cannabis, no preference) and substitution behavior.
Why This Research Matters
If fibromyalgia patients are independently substituting CBD for opioids and other medications at this scale, it signals a major unregulated shift in pain management that warrants clinical investigation.
The Bigger Picture
This widespread naturalistic medication substitution is happening without clinical evidence that CBD is effective for fibromyalgia, highlighting the gap between patient behavior and the evidence base.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-selected sample of CBD users (likely biased toward positive experiences), no clinical verification of diagnoses or medication changes, cross-sectional design, 93.6% female and 91.5% Caucasian sample.
Questions This Raises
- ?Is CBD actually providing therapeutic benefit for fibromyalgia or are patients experiencing placebo effects?
- ?Are there risks to stopping opioids and gabapentinoids in favor of CBD?
- ?Do different CBD formulations have different efficacy?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 53.3% of CBD-using fibromyalgia patients substituted it for opioids
- Evidence Grade:
- Large survey but self-selected CBD-using sample with self-reported outcomes
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021. Rigorous clinical trials of CBD for fibromyalgia are still needed.
- Original Title:
- Substituting Cannabidiol for Opioids and Pain Medications Among Individuals With Fibromyalgia: A Large Online Survey.
- Published In:
- The journal of pain, 22(11), 1418-1428 (2021)
- Authors:
- Boehnke, Kevin F(22), Gagnier, Joel J(3), Matallana, Lynne(4), Williams, David A
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03012
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are people with fibromyalgia replacing opioids with CBD?
In this survey, yes. Among 878 fibromyalgia patients using CBD, 53.3% reported substituting it for opioids, with most decreasing or stopping opioid use. However, this was self-reported and not clinically verified.
Which CBD products were most effective?
Participants using CBD-cannabis products (containing more THC) reported significantly more medication substitutions and larger improvements in health, pain, memory, and sleep compared to those using CBD isolate or hemp products.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03012APA
Boehnke, Kevin F; Gagnier, Joel J; Matallana, Lynne; Williams, David A. (2021). Substituting Cannabidiol for Opioids and Pain Medications Among Individuals With Fibromyalgia: A Large Online Survey.. The journal of pain, 22(11), 1418-1428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2021.04.011
MLA
Boehnke, Kevin F, et al. "Substituting Cannabidiol for Opioids and Pain Medications Among Individuals With Fibromyalgia: A Large Online Survey.." The journal of pain, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2021.04.011
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Substituting Cannabidiol for Opioids and Pain Medications Am..." RTHC-03012. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/boehnke-2021-substituting-cannabidiol-for-opioids
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.