Using Marijuana to treat the pain and discomfort of Fibromyalgia and Cancer it has uses for both. New drugs are derived from it constantly now.

Medications derived from marijuana

Ware recently published a study showing that one such compound, nabilone (Cesamet), helped fibromyalgia those being treated sleep better. It was more efficient than amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant often prescribed to fibromyalgia those being treated to ease pain and strengthen sleep. And a study published a few years ago found nabilone helped lessen pain and anxiety in fibromyalgia patients.

Nabilone is a synthetic analog of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol -- THC for short -- often thought of as the active ingredient of cannabis. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug back in 1985 for treating nausea in cancer our patients undergoing chemotherapy.

The only other cannabis-based drug now on the market in the U.S. is dronabinol, which is sold as Marinol in the U.S. and is FDA-approved for treating chemo-related nausea and vomiting. It hasn't been tested formally in fibromyalgia patients, although Lynda received a prescription for Marinol in 2006.

"The drug makes me more tired and doesn't last long enough in my system, but I've stuck with it since then for two basic reasons -- I do supplement with marijuana, just not as many times per day," she says. "There could be times that I don't use all day or week or month."

A third cannabis-based medicine, Sativex, is now in clinical trials in the United States for treating cancer pain.

The drug is sprayed under the tongue or into the cheek, and contains THC and cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis that eases swelling and pain and will also reduce the side effects of THC (like anxiety, hunger production, and many of the intoxicating properties), as well as a number of other compounds (other cannabinoids and terpenoids, which were analgesics in their own rights).

But do they help?

"It is quite conceivably possible that cannabis-based drugs could be helpful for sufferers of fibromyalgia based on available science," says Ethan Russo, M.D., who is senior medical advisor to GW Pharmaceuticals, which makes Sativex, and a study physician for the U.S. clinical trials now underway for cancer cure.

Russo says he's hopeful Sativex will get FDA approval for treating cancer pain in 2013. "While a theoretical basis for Sativex potentially helping profit fibromyalgia manifestations is quite strong, and we know it has been very helpful with neuropathic pain and sleep disturbance in many other illnesses," he adds, "it's ultimate utility in fibromyalgia can only be proven in a meaningful, practical fashion using formal randomized clinical trials."

For now, Ware says, those suffering with fibromyalgia who aren't being helped by their existing medication might need to discuss nabilone with their doctor. "A lot of physicians just don't know that these prescription cannabinoids exist," he says.