Systematic review found medical cannabis may benefit some fibromyalgia patients with mild side effects
A systematic review of 10 studies (1,136 patients) found medical cannabis was generally safe and well-tolerated for fibromyalgia, with no serious adverse events reported.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Across 3 RCTs and 6 observational studies, cannabis showed potential benefit for fibromyalgia symptoms with side effects limited to feeling "high," dizziness, dry mouth, cough, red eyes, and drowsiness. No serious adverse events were reported. The review could not identify which specific cannabis type or formulation was most effective.
Key Numbers
181 citations screened, 10 included. 1,136 patients total. 3 RCTs, 6 observational, 1 comparison study. Study sizes: 9-383 patients (mean 114, median 36). Adverse events: mild only, no serious events.
How They Did This
Systematic review searching MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, AMED, Scopus, and Cochrane CENTRAL (2000-2020). 10 of 181 identified studies met inclusion criteria. Total of 1,136 patients across all studies (intervention n=945, control n=108, crossover n=83).
Why This Research Matters
Fibromyalgia remains poorly treated by conventional medicine. This review confirms that medical cannabis has a favorable safety profile in this population, which is important given that many fibromyalgia patients are already using cannabis without clinical guidance.
The Bigger Picture
The safety finding is arguably more important than the efficacy signal at this stage. For a chronic condition where patients are often desperate for relief, knowing that medical cannabis has mild and manageable side effects allows for more informed shared decision-making.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Only 10 studies, mostly observational. Heterogeneous study designs. Small sample sizes. Cannot determine optimal cannabis type, dose, or duration. Three different study designs limit synthesis.
Questions This Raises
- ?Which cannabis formulation is most effective for fibromyalgia?
- ?What is the optimal dosing strategy?
- ?How does cannabis compare head-to-head with approved fibromyalgia drugs?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- No serious adverse events across 1,136 patients in 10 studies
- Evidence Grade:
- Systematic methodology but limited by few studies, small samples, and heterogeneous designs.
- Study Age:
- 2021 systematic review covering studies from 2000-2020.
- Original Title:
- Safety and Efficacy of Medicinal Cannabis in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review.
- Published In:
- Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 27(3), 198-213 (2021)
- Authors:
- Kurlyandchik, Inna(2), Tiralongo, Evelin(2), Schloss, Janet(3)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03263
Evidence Hierarchy
Analyzes all available research on a topic using a structured method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is medical cannabis safe for fibromyalgia?
Based on this review, medical cannabis appears safe with only mild side effects (dizziness, dry mouth, drowsiness). No serious adverse events were reported across 1,136 patients in 10 studies.
Does cannabis cure fibromyalgia?
No. The review found cannabis may help manage symptoms but could not establish definitive efficacy. More research is needed on which types and doses work best.
Read More on RethinkTHC
- CBD-oil-quality-guide
- anxiety-medication-after-quitting-weed
- cannabis-chemotherapy-nausea
- cannabis-chronic-pain-research
- cannabis-epilepsy-CBD-Epidiolex
- cbd-anxiety-research-evidence
- cbd-for-weed-withdrawal
- cbd-vs-thc-difference
- medical-benefits-of-cannabis
- quitting-weed-before-surgery
- quitting-weed-medication-interactions
- quitting-weed-pregnancy
- quitting-weed-pregnant
- seniors-older-adults-cannabis-risks-medications
- weed-breastfeeding-THC-breast-milk
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03263APA
Kurlyandchik, Inna; Tiralongo, Evelin; Schloss, Janet. (2021). Safety and Efficacy of Medicinal Cannabis in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review.. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 27(3), 198-213. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2020.0331
MLA
Kurlyandchik, Inna, et al. "Safety and Efficacy of Medicinal Cannabis in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review.." Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2020.0331
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Safety and Efficacy of Medicinal Cannabis in the Treatment o..." RTHC-03263. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/kurlyandchik-2021-safety-and-efficacy-of
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.