ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL FIBROMYALGIA ASSOCIATION (NFA), UP TO 10 MILLION AMERICANS SUFFER FROM THE CHRONIC PAIN DISORDER KNOWN AS FIBROMYALGIA. IT IS CHARACTERISED BY MUSCULAR PAIN, TENDON PAIN, TENDERNESS, STIFFNESS, FATIGUE AND, IN SOME CASES, SLEEP PROBLEMS.  
Although the condition is still not fully understood by scientists, research focused on the central nervous system suggests that patients suffer from increased sensitivity, resulting in a pain experience that varies from patient to patient and can be exacerbated by situations such as stress.  
In recent decades, several prescription medications have been developed to treat this condition. Most focus on treating pain or sleep problems, but some also address a serotonin imbalance that may be the cause of the disorder for some people.  
Unfortunately, some people experience significant side effects from these medications, or in worse cases, there is no relief from the currently available medications for fibromyalgia.  
While certainly not a substitute for conventional medical treatment of the condition, many patients have found some relief from both pain and sleep problems through the use of CBD, a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis.  
This article will help you learn more about CBD for fibromyalgia.   
LET'S DIVE INTO THE RESEARCH:

Does CBD oil work for fibromyalgia?
It is important to note that CBD oil has not been approved by the FDA to treat fibromyalgia. However, this does not mean that there is no research to suggest that CBD oil can have a therapeutic effect on fibromyalgia.  
Let's first look at the research that looks at CBD for pain and sleep problems, the two main symptoms that make life difficult for many fibromyalgia sufferers. Then we look at what we know about CBD and fibromyalgia in particular.  

CBD AND PAIN: THE RESEARCH
One of the most researched areas of CBD research is how CBD works with the body's natural endocannabinoid system to significantly reduce pain (both neuropathic and nociceptive) and inflammation.   

CBD AND SLEEP: THE RESEARCH.
In addition to pain, problems with satisfactory sleep quantity and quality are a common problem for FM sufferers. It turns out that CBD can help some people achieve better sleep while experiencing less pain, so also report success in pain management.
On the other hand, CBD can have an awakening effect in some people. More research on the link between CBD and sleep is clearly still needed.  
Reports from people who use CBD suggest that there is wide variation in the effects of CBD on sleep. Some people find that taking CBD oil before bed helps with sleep, others avoid it for several hours before bed because it seems to have the opposite effect.  

CBD AND FIBROMYALGIA: THE RESEARCH
 Although research has fairly well studied the pain-relieving effects of CBD, research specifically looking at fibromyalgia and CBD oil remains underdeveloped.  

LET'S DIVE INTO WHAT WE DO KNOW:  
One of the most compelling pieces of evidence for cannabis' potential as an effective pain treatment for fibromyalgia patients is a 2014 survey conducted by the National Pain Foundation.   
The study found that among the 1,300 people with fibromyalgia who responded to the survey, cannabis can also be an effective pain treatment: "Medical marijuana is far more effective in treating the symptoms of fibromyalgia than any of the three prescription drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat the condition."
In addition, many respondents noted that the FDA-approved prescription drugs, including Cymbalta, Lyrica and Savella, have more negative side effects.

2018 SURVEY OF ISRAELI FIBRO PATIENTS:
In 2018, another large survey was conducted in Israel about fibromyalgia patients and their use of medical marijuana. Results of the 383 participants:  

  • 94% reported pain relief
  • 93% reported improved sleep quality
  • 62% reported anxiety reduction
  • Few adverse effects were reported.
It should be noted that surveys do not have the empirical weight of clinical trials. However, since there are still no funded clinical trials, some pain patients are now willing to try CBD because it is known to be safe with few side effects.  
In addition, there are some important differences between medical marijuana and CBD oil. The former contains THC, which is known to play at least some role in the pain-relieving effects of medical marijuana, although it is also responsible for the halucinogenic effect.  
CBD oil generally contains no more than traces of THC. Full spectrum oils usually contain a small amount (but not enough to get "high"). No research has been done on this, surveys or otherwise, on the use of pure CBD (only one of over 100 cannabinoids) found in cannabis and FM specifically.  

CLINICAL ENDOCANNABINOID DEFICIENCY (CECD) AND PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH:
Although still considered under-researched in the medical community, there is some evidence that the endocannabinoid system may be directly related to fibromyalgia (along with some other conditions such as migraine and irritable bowel syndrome).  
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one of the cannabinoids found in cannabis, and it is the one most associated with the high that users of marijuana experience. However, at least some of the healing properties of products derived from cannabis appear to be related to this psychoactive compound.  
Due to the strict regulations on THC in the US (thanks in large part to the DEA), the drug has not been approved by the FDA. This sad state of affairs may show that drug enforcement and the fear that people might get high is a greater priority for regulators than helping patients in need. SIGH!  

MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR FIBROMYALGIA TREATMENT:
If you happen to be lucky enough to live in a state that has legalised the use of medical marijuana and you suffer from fibromyalgia, you may be pleased to know that this is one of the conditions that some doctors will approve for the use of this plant to treat the pain associated with this debilitating disease.  
However, the process of getting approval is both time-consuming and expensive, made worse by the fact that most insurance companies refuse to cover the treatment or doctor's visits to obtain a prescription.  
CBD hemp oil is derived from industrial hemp, a plant that was legalised nationwide by the 2014 Farm Bill. The plant itself and all products derived from it are required by law to contain less than 0.3% THC. All of the products for which I give a positive review on this website meet the requirements of the 0.3% rule.   
This means that CBD oil is legal in all 50 states, does not require a prescription and will not get you high.  

CBD IS NOT A MIRACLE DRUG.
Many fibromyalgia patients have found pain relief with CBD oil. But reports from sufferers, no matter how often you find them on message boards on the internet, are not the same as clinical trials.  
It is important to remind my readers that CBD has not been approved by the FDA for medical use, nor should it be used as a substitute for medical treatment. If you decide to try it, please talk to your doctor about possible interference with prescription medications you are taking.  
Is CBD oil safe?
Yes. CBD has been studied enough in humans and animals to say that it has very low toxicity levels in humans.  
In fact, it is known to be safer than most current pain treatments, including over-the-counter medications such as NSAIDS, which have significant long-term negative health effects when used regularly, particularly on gastrointestinal health and especially for patients being treated for cardiovascular disease.  
In addition, CBD is not addictive, which is very important given the current opioid crisis in America. Ironically, CBD oil may even be an effective treatment for recovering opioid addicts.  

CBD effects on fibromyalgia:
It cannot be stressed enough that CBD oil affects different people differently. Some people seem to have an excellent response that includes excellent pain relief, others find the effect less noticeable.
In addition, some people have found that they need to increase their dosage to maintain the effect, while others have found a stable dose level that seems to work for longer periods of time.  
Finally, some people notice an almost immediate effect from CBD oil, while others notice an effect that increases after a week or more of regular dosing.  

CBD oil dosage for fibromyalgia  
CBD dosing is complicated by a variety of factors. The type of consumption, the size of the person, their symptoms, and their experience with CBD can have a significant impact on the dose that is effective for them.  
I am not a doctor, and since there are so many differences in how it affects people, it would be irresponsible of me to give specific dosage recommendations.  
What I do recommend is that you follow the instructions on the product you buy, start low and slowly increase the dose.  
Also, talk to your doctor if you are taking other medications to make sure you don't have to worry about drug interactions. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take CBD until more research has been done on its safety under these conditions. 

Isolated CBD versus full spectrum CBD for fibromyalgia:
If you've decided to try CBD, you may have noticed that there are two basic types of CBD oils, those that are CBD isolate-based and those that are called "full spectrum". What is the difference?
CBD isolate is hemp oil that has been processed to remove all the extra cannabinoids and substances from the hemp plant, leaving only one cannabinoid: CBD.  
On the other hand, full spectrum oils contain a whole range of cannabinoids. Although CBD is always by far the largest component of industrial hemp, there will be trace amounts of other cannabinoids including THC in such oils (but not enough to cause cognitive impairment).
There is some research to suggest that cannabinoids have an 'ambient effect', i.e. they work synergistically together to enhance the healing properties of these substances working with the body's endocannabinoid system.  
While it's not entirely clear yet, there's probably something to the entourage effect, and if you're not concerned about traces of THC being detected in a drug test for work, or if you've shown an intolerance to THC specifically in the past, a full spectrum oil is probably the way to go.  

THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING A REPUTABLE SOURCE OF CBD HEMP OIL FOR FIBROMYALGIA:
Unfortunately, as awareness of its natural health benefits spreads, the growing demand for CBD oil has led to many companies taking advantage of customers. Scams have even made national headlines.  
Sometimes products advertised online don't even contain the actual CBD. A research study conducted in 2017 showed that out of 84 randomly tested CBD products, only 31% actually contained the claimed amount of CBD.
This is where I come in. This page is dedicated to distinguishing the best CBD oil companies from the fakes. All of the products I recommend on my pages are from those companies that have extremely high quality indicators based on my extensive research.  
You will find both positive and negative reviews on this website because I want to help users avoid scams and find quality CBD products. I look for several key quality indicators for the companies I recommend, including:
  • Recent third-party testing available on their website.
  • Local sourcing and manufacturing
  • Organic, non-GMO hemp  
  • Premium and natural additives  
Conclusion: Is CBD oil good for fibromyalgia?
Since the FDA has not approved the use of CBD oil for any condition, it is important to remember that you should not use CBD oil as a cure for fibromyalgia or use it in place of proper medical treatment.  
That being said, there is evidence of the successful use of CBD oil for pain management as well as the reports of thousands of fibromyalgia patients from two large studies covered in this report.  
Please feel free to leave a comment below if you have any experiences of using CBD oil for your fibromyalgia that might help other readers of this website. Thank you!