Chronic pain is a common complaint among patients, and
rheumatic diseases are a common cause for
chronic pain. Current pharmacological interventions for
chronic pain are not always useful or safe enough for long-term use. Cannabis and
cannabinoids are currently being studied due to their potential as
analgesics. In this review we will discuss current literature regarding
cannabinoids and cannabis as treatment for
rheumatic diseases.
Fibromyalgia is a prevalent
rheumatic disease that causes diffuse
pain,
fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Treatment of this syndrome is symptomatic, and it has been suggested that cannabis and
cannabinoids could potentially alleviate some of the symptoms associated with
fibromyalgia. In this review we cite some of the evidence that supports this claim. However, data on long-term efficacy and safety of
cannabinoid and cannabis use are still lacking.
Cannabinoids and cannabis are commonly investigated as
analgesic agents, but in recent years more evidence has accumulated on their potential immune-modulatory effect, supported by results in animal models of certain
rheumatic diseases. While results that demonstrate the same effect in humans are still lacking,
cannabinoids and cannabis remain potential drugs to alleviate the
pain associated with
rheumatic diseases, as they were shown to be safe and to cause limited adverse effects.