Researchers in the physical medicine and rehabilitation department of the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada conducted a randomized double-blind study to analyze the effectiveness of nabilone as a treatment option for patients with fibromyalgia. Nabilone is a synthetic cannabinoid that is used as an anti-emetic and an analgesic for neuropathic pain. Patients received 1 mg of nabilone twice a day, and were assessed at weeks 2, 4, and 8 of the study. Patients were evaluated using a visual analog scale for pain, the number of tender points, the average tender point pain threshold, and using a Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. The treatment group experienced relief from pain and anxiety, whereas there were no significant improvements in the control group. Nabilone was well-tolerated by the patients, with minimal side effects. The researchers found nabilone to be an effective treatment for pain relief and functional improvement in fibromyalgia patients, and they suggest the use of nabilone as an adjunct treatment for managing pain in fibromyalgia sufferers.
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