Fibromyalgia & musculoskeletal pain
The effect of medical cannabis on gastrointestinal symptoms in fibromyalgia and disorders of gut-brain interaction: a patient‑centred real‑world observational study
Authors' conclusion
This study supports Bedrocan® medical cannabis as an alternative treatment for FM with a potential effect on FD and IBS symptoms.
Study context
- Population
- Fibromyalgia (FM) patients, with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and DGBIs (irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia (FD)) diagnosed by Rome IV criteria
- Participants
- 60 patients
- Outcome
- Change in FM severity and GI symptoms during cannabis treatment
- Follow-up
- 3 and 6 months
Methodological detailsreal-world, single-group, no control group
- Real-world
- Single-group
- No control group
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
3 and 6 months
- Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) severity score (log-transformed) significantly decreased month by month (repeated-measures ANOVA)
- p<0.001
- Log-transformed intensity-frequency score of epigastric pain, epigastric burning, abdominal pain, abdominal distension and bloating significantly decreased month by month (repeated-measures ANOVA)
- p<0.01
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Prevalence of DGBIs in FM at enrolment
- At least one DGBI
- 46/60 (76.6%)
- IBS
- 10/60 (16.7%)
- FD
- 17/60 (28.3%)
- Both IBS/FD
- 19/60 (31.7%)
Original publication
The effect of medical cannabis on gastrointestinal symptoms in fibromyalgia and disorders of gut-brain interaction: a patient‑centred real‑world observational study. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Published 22 March 2025. doi:10.
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