Medical Cannabis Reduced GI Symptoms in Fibromyalgia Patients Over Six Months
Fibromyalgia patients treated with Bedrocan medical cannabis showed significant improvements in both overall fibromyalgia severity and specific gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain and bloating.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
After six months of Bedrocan cannabis treatment, fibromyalgia severity scores decreased significantly (p<0.001), and the intensity-frequency scores for epigastric pain, epigastric burning, abdominal pain, abdominal distension, and bloating all decreased significantly (p<0.01).
Key Numbers
60 patients enrolled. 76.6% (46/60) met criteria for at least one disorder of gut-brain interaction. 16.7% had IBS, 28.3% had functional dyspepsia, 31.7% had both. FIQR severity and five GI symptoms showed statistically significant month-by-month improvement.
How They Did This
Prospective observational study of 60 fibromyalgia patients receiving Bedrocan cannabis treatment for 6 months, assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months using standardized GI symptom questionnaires and the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR).
Why This Research Matters
Fibromyalgia frequently co-occurs with irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia, and current treatments for both conditions offer limited relief. Finding a single treatment that addresses both sets of symptoms could meaningfully improve quality of life for this patient population.
The Bigger Picture
The overlap between fibromyalgia and GI disorders suggests shared mechanisms, possibly involving the endocannabinoid system. If cannabis can address both symptom domains simultaneously, it could simplify treatment regimens for patients who currently manage multiple conditions with multiple medications.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
No control group or placebo comparison. Small sample size of 60 patients. Open-label design introduces expectation bias. Cannot separate cannabis effects from natural symptom fluctuation or regression to the mean.
Questions This Raises
- ?Whether the GI improvements persist beyond six months
- ?Which cannabinoid components (THC, CBD, or both) drive the gastrointestinal effects
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Prospective design with validated outcome measures, but no control group, small sample, and open-label design significantly limit confidence in the findings.
- Study Age:
- Published 2025.
- Original Title:
- The effect of medical cannabis on gastrointestinal symptoms in fibromyalgia and disorders of gut-brain interaction: a patient‑centred real‑world observational study.
- Published In:
- Clinical and experimental rheumatology, 43(6), 1074-1081 (2025)
- Authors:
- Santonicola, Antonella, Moscato, Paolo, Soldaini, Carlo, Loi, Gabriella, Merchionda, Anna, D'Addieco, Paola, Lauritano, Anna, Pellegrino, Greta, Sarzi-Puttini, Piercarlo, Iovino, Paola
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07570
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bedrocan?
Bedrocan is a standardized pharmaceutical-grade cannabis product from the Netherlands containing approximately 22% THC and less than 1% CBD. It is one of the most commonly used medical cannabis products in European clinical settings.
Why do so many fibromyalgia patients have digestive problems?
Fibromyalgia and GI disorders like IBS share features of central sensitization, where the nervous system amplifies pain and other signals. The endocannabinoid system, which cannabis interacts with, plays a role in both pain processing and gut function.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07570APA
Santonicola, Antonella; Moscato, Paolo; Soldaini, Carlo; Loi, Gabriella; Merchionda, Anna; D'Addieco, Paola; Lauritano, Anna; Pellegrino, Greta; Sarzi-Puttini, Piercarlo; Iovino, Paola. (2025). The effect of medical cannabis on gastrointestinal symptoms in fibromyalgia and disorders of gut-brain interaction: a patient‑centred real‑world observational study.. Clinical and experimental rheumatology, 43(6), 1074-1081. https://doi.org/10.55563/clinexprheumatol/o5ck22
MLA
Santonicola, Antonella, et al. "The effect of medical cannabis on gastrointestinal symptoms in fibromyalgia and disorders of gut-brain interaction: a patient‑centred real‑world observational study.." Clinical and experimental rheumatology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.55563/clinexprheumatol/o5ck22
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The effect of medical cannabis on gastrointestinal symptoms ..." RTHC-07570. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/santonicola-2025-the-effect-of-medical
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.