The researchers say that the pain, anxiety and inability significantly reduced by drinking nabilone, drug marijuana derivatives (Cesamet) for people with fibromyalgia.
As reported by Ryan Q. Skrabek from the University of Manitoba in the Journal of Pain, in a small experiment, the use of nabilone without a label for four weeks, the average score of the Visual Analogue Scale decreased 10 points, and the pain of the 2 points initial conditions ( P = 0.02). Drug analogue nabilone is a synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol, the main component of marijuana. Chemotherapy with this drug FDA approved for the treatment of nausea and vomiting.
Forty patients were included in the experiments conducted at random, closed, using placebo, the first experiment using nabilone in fibromyalgia patients. 20 patients given nabilone showed a 12.0-point improvement compared to the original state (P = 0.02) in the 100-point Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. Instruments that evaluate physical function, work status, depression, anxiety, drowsiness, pain, muscle stiffness, tired and the health of patients suffering from fibromyalgia.
There is no obvious improvement compared with the initial condition is seen in 20 controls using a placebo as measured by the results of a study conducted at the time. Treatment with nabilone begins with taking 0.5 mg during the first week of treatment and increased to 0.5 mg/day in each week until the patient was given 1 mg twice daily for four weeks of treatment.
Patients included in trial if they meet the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology for fibromyalgia and those who still feel the pain even after treatment with other medications. They can continue other treatments during the study.
The average initial score by Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire was 66.5 for the two treatment agents. On the pain scale, the average score was 6.9 in the group using nabilone and 6.2 in the group using placebo.
Patients evaluated at weeks two and four, and again in the eighth week after the patient is not treated for four weeks. After a washout period, scores on the impact of fibromyalgia pain and return to near its initial value in the group using nabilone.
In the group using nabilone usual side effects. Most side effects are consistent with what was reported in those who smoked the marijuana. Side effects include drowsiness, dry mouth, vertigo, confusion and disassociation.
Five patients given nabilone drops in the first two weeks of study, which compared with the two gifts that are not followed in the placebo group. Patients who suffer from fibromyalgia have a sensitivity to medication side effects and the researchers mentioned that the possibility of reducing the level higher.
The researchers showed that subjects attempted only by the use of nabilone for four weeks, which just last week treatment dose of 1 mg twice a day. Long term side effects of nabilone in reducing pain and improving quality of life of patients suffering from fibromyalgia can not be determined based on the length of study.
Further studies are needed to assess and find long-term benefits of the use of nabilone for pain and quality of life, and secondary outcome measures such as anxiety, depression, and fatigue which then should be found using a valid assessment tool.
Nabilone regulated as class II control substance, and the label includes a warning about the possibility of psychotropic effects and precautions must be observed by reference to the possibility of abuse.
Tags: Fibromyalgia
