“Pregabalin, duloxetine, milnacipran, and amitriptyline are the current first-line prescribed agents but have had a mostly modest effect. With only a minority of patients expected to experience substantial benefit, most will discontinue therapy because of either a lack of efficacy or tolerability problems.” Hauser
The three FDA approved drugs for Fibromyalgia are a step forward, but they probably really significantly help only a small group of patients
Three drugs ( Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Savella) have been approved for Fibromyalgia. On the face of it that’s great. That means three drugs have successfully undergone several large and rigorous clinical trials under the eye of the FDA. The drugs helped legitimize FM and their tremendous financial success revealed a population of 5 million or so FM patients that were eager for relief. That was a huge step forward.
Some even divide Fibromyalgia into Fibromyalgia pre-Lyrica (pre-2007) and FM post-Lyrica era’s. They made that much of a difference.
It doesn’t mean, however, that these drugs will work for you or even that they’ll work all that well if they do. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require a drug to be a cure to be approved; it simply requires that a drug provide a significant clinical benefit to a portion of the patient population and there’s the rub.
For all that the drugs have done for Fibromyalgia (FM), the evidence suggests that none of these drugs are particularly helpful for many people with FM. Dr. John Quintner of the National Pain Report points out that the Number Needed to Treat (NNT) for Lyrica indicates that only one out of ten FM patients taking Lyrica is likely to receive a fifty percent or greater reduction in pain. It’s one out of six for Cymbalta and one out of eight for Savella. That means only a small percentage of FM patients can expect their pain levels to drop really significantly on these drugs.
A recent National Pain Foundation Survey bears out these findings. Of the 1,300 FM patients in the survey, 60% said that Cymbalta (Duloexetine), the most commonly prescribed drug in the U.S. (and a $5 billion blockbuster for Eli Lilly) helped them not all. Thirty-two percent got ‘a little benefit’ and only 8 percent said it was ‘very effective’. Lyrica’s numbers were depressingly similar (61% – no help, 29% – a little help, 10% – very effective.)*
A recent journal review of FM drug efficacy backed up the survey’s conclusions stating that “only a minority of patients (are) expected to experience substantial benefit.
The Missing Drug
Selective compounds targeting cannabinoid-like receptors constitute promising therapeutics to manage neuroinflammation” Stella
The survey found that one drug, however, was quite effective at reducing pain in Fibromyalgia. The catch is that it’s not, for political reasons, readily available to many people in the U.S. for use or even for study. In an astonishing reversal of the findings for the ‘big three’, over sixty percent of FM patients who had used medical marijuana in the past stated it was very effective at treating pain. 33% said it provided a little relief and only five percent said it provided no relief.
- Check out the National Pain Report here
With twenty-one states in the U.S. approving the sale of medical marijuana (MM) it is available to some, but with most states with large populations not approving it, many do not have access to it (see below).
“The curative properties of cannabinoids do not overlap with currently available medicines, and therefore cannabinoid-based treatments constitute a new therapeutic platform” Stella
Why might marijuana be more effective than the “big three”? A recent study may provide a clue. Cannabanoid drugs that altered cannabanoid receptors found on the microglia reduced neuropathic pain production in an animal model. They even appeared to prevent a key characteristic of neuropathic pain – increased microglial growth – from occurring.
Of the two cannabanoid receptors, one (CB2) is found almost exclusively on the microglia and appears to be a powerful regulator of microglial activity. Another recent study found that a marijuana derivative called cannabidinol reduces microglial activation, pro-inflammatory cytokine activity (including IL-1B) and inflammation in a viral mouse model of multiple sclerosis.
Barriers to Research Remain Intact In the U.S.
“These professional health organizations have clearly sent a message that the current restrictions on marijuana research do not support active investigation into the drug’s physiological effects.” Huntington’s Outreach Project for Education at Stanford University.
The federal governments stance on medical marijuana research is paradoxical given the wide use of the drug for medical purposes today.
Dr. Clauw has said that he far prefers the use of medical marijuana to opioids for pain in Fibromyalgia and other disorders, but despairs that the political climate in the U.S. will prevent, at least in his lifetime, any meaningful research from being done. The federal government’s designation of marijuana as a Class I drug that has no medical benefits and a high potential for abuse has almost completely blocked medical marijuana research in the U.S.
A Washington State researcher stated “It’s unfortunate, but you can count on one hand the number of human studies done in this country.” The director of the epilepsy center at New York University, Orrin Devinsky, said many researchers abandon marijuana research after they discover how time-consuming and expensive it is. He lacerated the federal governments current policy in a Washington Post article stating
“There is no rationale for this except for the federal government’s outdated 1930’s view about marijuana”
Few researchers have surmounted the federal governments barriers to medical marijuana research
The National Institutes of Health, the American Medical Association, the Institute of Medicine, and the American College of Physicians, have all called for federal regulations that allow for effective research into medical marijuana, but the U.S. has not budged. Currently only one farm in the U.S. – managed by the National Institute of Drug Abuse – is allowed to grow marijuana for federal use, and getting medical marijuana out of it for use in a research study is reportedly not easy.
The federal governments stubbornness regarding medical marijuana study is paradoxical given that over a million Americans are now using it to treat medical conditions.
More and more evidence suggests that the microglia which surround and stabilize the neurons play a key role in all sorts of chronic pain states. If that’s so then microglial inhibitors that target cannabanoid receptors on the microglia (without inducing an marijuana high) could provide help – if given the chance.
Medical marijuana could be the best drug available to treat the pain, fatigue, hypersensitivities and sleep problems in Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS – or it may not be; we just don’t know, and given the dearth of good treatment options it’s a question everybody with FM and/or ME/CFS deserves an answer to.
_______________________
States which have approved medical marijuana use
1996: California
1998: Alaska, Oregon, Washington
1999: Maine
2000: Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada
2004: Montana
2006: Rhode Island
2007: New Mexico, Vermont
2008: Michigan
2010: Arizona, New Jersey
2011: Delaware, Washington, D.C.
2012: Connecticut, Massachusetts
2013: New Hampshire, Illinois
2014: Maryland
I’ve recently started on a cannaboid for my fibro pain. I’m amazed at how well I’m doing on such a small dose. Nabilone is a synthetic THC and the advantage over smoking is having control over dosing and none of the nasty stuff that comes with smoking. Nabilone has been around for 30-40 years. I have a hard time buying into medical marijuana arguments when this stuff has long been available. It is an off label use to use it for fibro pain. Great as well is that it doesn’t interact with the LDN.
Glad to hear that it helps. We hear so little about Nabilone. Can you say what the cost is?
I’ve used medical marijuana for 2 years and its the only thing that makes a difference. Nabilone helps me with sleep but thats about it for me. Nabilone only mimics 1 canabinnoid but the plant has 85! with a TONS of medical benefits including anti inflammatory properties,
Currently using 0.5mg twice a day. Cost for a 30 day supply was $190 CND. It’s covered on my husband’s work benefits.
Thanks
Cort: I received a letter from Humana today stating that my appeal has won and I will be getting my Xyrem for sleep again. Who, in truth, could afford this drug without insurance paying for it? Thank you for all you do, Abby
Congratulations!
I can’t imagine hardly anyone can afford to pay for it on their own. I think it has about 8 years before it goes generic.
Yes, I too, am interested in learning more about Nabilone. I have almost no medical support due to extreme adverse reactions to almost all opiods, psychoactive meds, uhh…all meds, lol. I’ve tried and ‘failed'( lol @ who/what failed whom ) Lyrica, Neurontin, Elavil….Ultram and all variations of the themes, etc. I take, clonazepam ( .5 mg 2x a day and .25 as needed), Celebrex twice a day, Niaspan 1500 mg. at bedtime , Tylenol as needed, folic acid, Armour Thyroid 200 mg /2 grain, cortef on occasion..but rarely because I don’t like how I feel on it, and I take DHEA in the tiniest bit of powder on the tip of my finger especially when I am in agony. The DHEA keeps me on the planet. I once had money to order pharmaceutical grade from a compounding pharmacy, but no more. So I buy tabs from a health food store. I crush them. But nothing addresses the pain in an effective ‘give me my life back, or at least get me out of hell’ sorta way.
Cort,
Thank you for drawing attention to the miserable track record of the FDA approved medications for fibromyalgia. I’ve tried them all with no benefit and reviewed the studies showing minimal efficacy and found it ridiculous. My pain is alleviated with opioids, which, without any real study, have been declared ineffective for fibromyalgia by many authors, simply due to opiophobia.
Then there’s the case of Xyrem, baby thrown out with the bathwater due to media hysteria over GHB being “a date rape drug.” As you know, the FDA refused to approve Xyrem (GHB) for fibromyalgia despite it’s efficacy, because they were afraid that with the large number of fibromyalgia patients, the risk of the drug being diverted to “the street” was too high! Nothing has ever competed with alcohol as the universal date rape drug, and GHB is really a very safe medication (when not combined with other sedatives). Should be dirt cheap, too, as it is not expensive to make and there was no development cost involved in it’s “discovery.”
Doctors will continue to blithely prescribe the largely ineffective “approved” medications with their significant side effect profiles and likely blame the patient when they don’t work. Sorry about the bitter tone!
I understand the outrage – I had forgotten about Xyrem – another very frustrating roadblock for FM and ME/CFS sufferers – particularly given it’s incredibly high costs without insurance coverage.
This is kind of an ‘outrage’ blog – so it fits 🙂
The fact that those drugs don’t do very well and yet have had such huge sales indicates how big the need is out there – and hopefully is making other drug manufacturers chomp at the bit to get part of the FM market.
Notably, I feel best after I take Niaspan, Celebrex, Tylenol, clonazepam all at once at bedtime. My theory is that Niaspan helps for some off label reasons, perhaps facilitating blood flow ie oxygen delivery. I have noticed that coffee helps my pain, and remember the Sudafed intrigue in the early days …? , and uhh, the Guaifenesin ‘cure’? ..All have several things in common: possible elevation of bp, constriction of blood vessels, faster hearbeat…, all sides with potential to short circuit the stubbornly sluggish systems that CFIDS/ME sufferers endure. But while we can hot wire our systems, we crash and burn after the ‘high’. We need something better than this. And we need it yesterday.
It is really interesting to read this as just this month I began researching medical marijuana as a possibility after 15-18 years of taking too many medications that now I’ve been told have damaged my innards.
I am stunned to find out how politically motivated the negative ‘facts’ we have been fed for the past 30 plus years were. To read about all of the positive research and studies that have been done and documented in our own country; along with the years of positive research, studies and human real life cases over decades in many other countries, being totally ignored by our own government agencies is frightening and certainly not democratic.
To learn what a miracle medicine marijuana truly is and to not allow it to be freely utilized by physicians in the care of their patients in a democratic society is beyond comprehension. I suppose the only way around this is through it. Patients need to educate themselves on the truth of marijuana, and then support the need for it by standing together and lambasting their representatives in the government. And not stopping until this foolishness is eliminated from acceptance in our democratic society.
You can not have all these states telling their representatives what they want and then have the federal government ignore them. This is a government FOR the people. They REPRESENT the people. They do NOT rule the people. Wrong country. Free country here. Put them out of office if they do not do the peoples will.
Hugs, Carol
Well put Carol! I think this is true.
“Patients need to educate themselves on the truth of marijuana, and then support the need for it by standing together and lambasting their representatives in the government. ”
Politics is holding this up and politics will be needed to take it down.
Big Pharma continues to line the pockets of politicians to keep medical cannabis from approval. Its cheap, and effective, theres no money in it for big pharma.
I am so happy to find this post and see how many others also cannot tolerate the side effects from these drugs.
I also have begun looking into these options, so all of this is very helpful!!
awesome story. So true, I tried everyone of those meds for fibro and it did not work for me. Medical marijuana has does wonder for me for my pain and really helps with sleep and my autonomic symstem. The edibles are very good for pain, sleep, and to stay awake – they are different brands. I went to Denver and discussed options with a medical dispensary that helped me make the selection and it came in gluten free and high in antioxidants! all pluses for ME/CFS. and great for people that have GI issues. Many people think that medical marijuana is all about getting high – you get high if you eat more than you need but if you take it as prescribed – you function normally. My family saw a huge difference with it than without it. Its hard to educate many people that medical marijuana is made with lower THC or should I say a balanced THC and/or cannabanoid/cannabanoid oils and there are SO MANY strains. I can’t keep up.
But as we all know…what works for one person doesn’t mean it will work with all especially with complex diseases. That is what we need to get across to the FDA. At this point in time, I don’t think we will see a “one size” fits all for ME/CFS bc there are so many subtypes. It will be important for researchers to have a clinical database that they will be able extrapolate data to see what patient population had the best efficacy at the same time as you know very well and efficacy can’t be about getting us WELL meaning we can now go out and run a mile. Just having a medication to get out of bed 3 days vs 1 day is great efficacy for our disease. Getting a severe ME patient to sit up for 2 hours is efficacy. however, this is not a norm clinical endpoint for the FDA. We need to keep working with the FDA to have clinical endpoints that work for our disease not the masses. Until we find the cause of this disease, efficacy is always going to be an issue. thanks for all your great articles!!!
“My family saw a huge difference with it than without it.”
My ex – who’d had six back surgeries I think – and was in pain all the time – was a different person on MM. Without being high (and occasionally she would go too far) she was just a much happier person to be around.
Here in Colorado where both medical and recreational mj are legal we no longer have to spend outrageous amounts for prescriptions that don’t work and have terrible side effect, plus all the hassle and expense of going back for Dr. visits. I have to visit the Dr. once/year to get my red card reauthorized for medical marijuana.
As far as I’m concerned, I hope BigPharma stays out of the mmj market, but I know it won’t. They are even now spearheading propaganda campaigns against ending Prohibition. As already noted in the above post, BigPharma likes to isolate one chemical from a medicinal plant and then patent it and charge outrageous prices for it. That practice totally ignores the synergy of ALL the compounds in medicinal plants such as marijuana.
So far, I’ve only purchased mine from a dispensary (@$300/oz, which lasts me at least 3 months), but I have started growing mmj plants that have only 7% THC (as opposed to stoner marijuana which often has up to 21% THC) and 7-12% of CBD, as opposed to only 1-2% CBD in stoner marijuana. I should be harvesting my home-grown in 4-6 weeks. I will then clone my plants and never have to buy the outrageously expensive seeds. ($5-15 each)
My pain relief and the help with sleep issues is just indescribable to anyone who hasn’t experienced it. I feel mmj is also helping with other ME issues. Those who have been using it longer than I have tell me it just gets better and better over time.
It does have side effects: increases appetite, which I don’t need, and makes me a little dizzy for an hour or so after I take it (in tincture form, which I make with grain alcohol and water). As my tolerance for the THC increases, there is less dizzyness, but I already had ataxia before I started so it’s hard to tell how much the mmj contributes to dizzyness. I just make sure I’m planning to sit or lie down for an hour or so after taking it. I consider these side effects to be minor in comparison to the relief I get.
For all the Colorado news on marijuana the Denver Post has a supplement:
http://www.thecannabist.co/2014/05/13/changing-tide-drs-gupta-oz-bessner-changed-minds-medical-pot/11705/
This story tells why several big names in medicine have changed their views to support the end of Prohibition.
Iquitos, I live in Colorado and had a terrible reaction to THC. I’ve been wondering about trying one with CBD , which is the strain profiled in Sanjay Gupta’s special, “Weed” ( great that he “saw the light” and apologized for being against it for so long.) Thanks for sharing the percentage that it’s helping you.
Just to be clear, CBD is not a strain of marijuana. It is one of the many cannabinoids in all marijuana and hemp, of which there are at least 85, many as yet not investigated very well. CBD stands for cannabadiol. Wikipedia says it comprises about 40% of those 85 cannabinoids.
Did you know you can buy CBD drops at $40/oz on Amazon, with free shipping, from Cibdex? I use that, too. It seems to counter or balance the effects of THC. I only want a little THC, for that balance, or synergy, and I do understand how you might be sensitive to it.
I was chatting with another person who uses mmj here, for a different illness, and he mentioned how it took an hour to feel the effects and he told me how much he takes. (He uses the oil, commonly called “Rick Simpson” oil, but which has been around for centuries before Rich Simpson came on the scene.) If I took as much as he does, I’d be a zombie. I think we are much more sensitive to mmj, just as we are to a lot of chemicals.
In searching for my right dose, I overdid it a couple of times and I did not like how it felt. The varieties available at dispensaries usually have a lot more THC than I want, even as they are labeled “medical.” I am currently using one called Red Dragon, but the dispensary could not tell me the actual THC content. I hope that changes as the labs that test for those percentages come into being under the latest legislation/rules.
I didn’t know that CBD wasn’t a strain of marijuana. I got my THC edibles from a dispensary owned by Josh Stanley, one of the 6 brothers profiled in “Weed.” Their main purpose is helping kids with epilepsy using the CBD, because most growers have very little of it. But, they don’t sell it in their store, I’d have to join a group they sponser. I wrote asking the percentage of CBD in that product as I’ve heard everything has some THC in it and never heard back so haven’t persued it again.
Cort
Please could you put Gabapentin into context within these drugs for me and say if coming off these pain killers altogether would cause involuntary spams e.g. tics? As I was given Gabapentin in place of Amitriptyline, but experienced tics as I came off it.
Thanks
Ann
Hi, Cort
Wonderful article on marijuana, thank you so much for the wonderful work that you do. I just wanted to share that I recently moved to Denver and have been using marijuana in its various forms to see if it helps with the pain and fatigue of FM, which developed for me 25 years ago after a severe car accident. My response has been a significant reduction in pain and fatigue. I’d just like to share a couple of observations. In Colorado, you do not need a red card to purchase marijuana for medical use. The difference is that recreational mmj is taxed and the medical is not. Therefore, if you want to pay less you will then need to get a red card, but that is not difficult. You will have to be a Colorado resident, however. There are several really good clinics in the Denver area, the staff is extremely knowledgeable about which products to use and will spend the time to help you.
If I am trying a new product, I always just use a small amount to test my tolerance. As we all know, we are all different.i have not had any bad reactions to products I have tried, which include lotions for painful spots, edibles with higher THC, and oil in a vaporizer pen with a lower THC content which helps with the overall pain and central nervous system “ramping up”that I experience.
My hope is that all of us with this hellish disease have the opportunity to at least try mmj to see if it helps. I thank God that the people of Colorado had the courage and compassion to help those of us in pain. My thought is that the Feds, in particular the DEA is very threatened by all of this and will fight to keep their little kingdoms of power. Ridiculous!
There is another prescription med that also doesn’t get much press. Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN). It generally is taken in dosages from 0.5mg-4.5mg. It typically is purchased as a compounded capsule. A months supply can be $20-45 typically, but can also be made into a liquid by dissolving the full strength 50mg tablet in distilled water, then using a calibrated dropper to administer. I recently filled a prescription for a years supply of 50 mg tablets and paid approx. $40. The typical side effects are vivid dreams and/or insomnia, which often go away within the first 2 weeks. I developed restless leg syndrome at 4.5mg and will be restarting at 0.5mg when I get the okay from my physician. My pain level was greatly reduced and I am looking forward to restarting. RLS is a really rare side effect… LDN could be a good alternate for those that can’t afford MJ, cant get it legally, or don’t want use it. Both have a lot of benefits and can be used to treat a variety of conditions. Its really too bad that more people don’t have access to either of these great choices!
Completely agree…LDN is a cheap and often really helpful drug. Check out our LDN Resource Center here = http://www.cortjohnson.org/treating-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-mecfs/drugs-for-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-mecfs-treatment/low-dose-naltrexone-ldn-fibromyalgia-chronic-fatigue-syndrom/
Cort
I was looking into the situation in Australia, and ran across this link:
http://www.abc.net.au/quantum/poison/marijuan/about.htm
[Qantum is the ABC-National Radio scince program]
In particular 8 and 9. No wonder we eat chocolate!
I can attest to this help! having been located in a state with provisions and then having to move to one with out…I was lucky enough to have my old Dr offer me this as a last resort….and the amazing thing was I was able to remove several other medication not just hte pain but I have severe GI issues and you have no idea how awesome it was to be able to get ready made edibles and a safe testest supply on a regular basis. Now after moving to be closer to my daughter during her High School years and I promised so no chance of moving …..I am restricted my my doctors because I am honest and tell them what has worked so much so that I am on a contract so I can get the stupid opiods the only other thing that helps me to be able to get up and move and we all know how important this moving the body is…..I feel like am being forced to which I really can not do because of my disability so have to go without medicine …but if I had the energy and the wherewithal to not be a in a torturous state all the time means I have to go to joe shmo on the street hope its good and be a criminal in the eyes of my community….so yeah great article and the fact that we are unable to even get CBD treatment is outrageous!
also being a narcoleptic and on Xyrem as treatment this also helps because you know this viscous cycle lack of sleep=increased pain at least for me!
I recently was diagnosed with narcolepsy this past month. I havent started any mads yet cause I don’t want to add anything to the mess of meds I have been on.
I’m on Medical marijuana and it helps me so much! Everything else has awful side effects and I want to get off pharmaceutical’s. Mmj is the best way to go as long as your state has it legalized medically. Definitely worth it!
Glad to hear it. Thanks for sharing your experience 🙂
Cort,
I just received this info and want to pass it on to you. Maybe this is the way to get heard regarding Medical Marijuana for Chronic Fatigue, etc. Not much time left, unfortunately, but there is still some time.
Carol
“Make the invisible visible by sharing your fibromyalgia experience with the FDA by May 26th! The FDA has invited patients, caregivers, and other stakeholders to submit written comments describing how fibromyalgia impacts your daily lives and your views on current therapies to treat the condition. Even if you were unable to attend the public meeting on Fibromyalgia, you still have a chance to have your voice heard!
The FDA is especially interested in hearing patients’ perspectives on a number of questions which are available on the Federal Register notice at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/09/23/2013-23019/fibromyalgia-public-meeting-on-patient-focused-drug-development
Submit your comments through this website http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FDA-2013-N-1041-0004
Note: The comment period IS NOT CLOSED. The FDA extended the deadline date.
Also, if anyone is interested in what was discussed at the public meeting on fibromyalgia on March 26, 2014, there is a full recording of the meeting posted on the FDA’s website at: http://www.fda.gov/forindustry/userfees/prescriptiondruguserfee/ucm363203.htm
You can also access the written transcript of the meeting at: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForIndustry/UserFees/PrescriptionDrugUserFee/UCM393377.pdf
Let’s make a difference together!
Fibromyalgia Public Meeting on Patient-Focused Drug Development
http://www.federalregister.gov
Federal Register
http://www.federalregister.gov
Search, browse and learn about the Federal…”
Thanks!
I have taken Lyrica, made me swell up, have trouble breathing (severely), and gain 30 lbs. in three weeks. Then there’s Cymbalta. If it works at all, I will only be able to tell if I stop taking it, There’s the problem with Cymbalta, one of them anyway. You can’t stop taking Cymbalta. That’s right,’ it’s even got its own diagnosis, “Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome”.
Nobody mentioned this little problem to me when they were getting me addicted to it. I have tried just cutting back to 60mg instead of 90mg and though my restless legs syndrome was going to cause me to freak out. I have, on a couple of occasions, forgotten to take my morning medications, had major panic-type attacks and, upon discovering that I had not taken the Cymbalta, I was amazed at the effect of one missed dose of this dangerous drug. You know, the one nobody mentioned was next to impossible to come off of. I read in some literature the other day, it should take a year of taking one less pill per MONTH to get to a point where you can eventually take your last pill.
Please don’t give me any of those dangerous opioids, though!
See the link for “Opposition to Kentucky HB 1-Reform HB 217 aka “Pill Mill Bill”
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Opposition-to-Kentucky-HB-1-Reform-HB-217-aka-Pill-Mill-Bill/595049517218134
Cort,
I just left a comment at Regulations.gov. Hope it all helps.
Carol
We have until May 26 or 27th to comment at Regulations.gov. Any chance to tell them what you think is important is the time to speak up. I am of a simple mind, but this is what I wrote:
I am a Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue/Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder Disabled patient of 18 years + duration. My life has been altered 180 degrees by these overlapping illnesses. My career, some friendships and my 44 year marriage have been destroyed by the depth and length of this never-ending nightmare.
From the very beginning to now I have been very involved in research and learning as much as I can and working with my doctors and those out in the field to stay as educated as possible in all areas necessary to support the best outcome of this group of illnesses. These include sleep hygiene, meditation, medications (from prednisone to Cymbalta), nutrition, therapy – physical, mental, and massage, pacing of activities, tens therapy, acupuncture, hot pads, ice packs, etc.
Every time you think you have found the ‘cocktail’ of medications that fits – alas, it does – for a time, maybe even a few years if you are really lucky. But since each pill is for one symptom, it is hard to try to meet all your different symptom needs. Before you know it you are looking for something to work, the pain is too much, the fatigue has taken over, etc.
MY NEW research has me AWESTRUCK. A medication with properties that should be as lauded as ASPARIN was by our Government years ago is available!! This miracle medication meets almost – if not – all of my symptoms. MEDICAL Marijuana. My internal organs would not now be in ruins so that I now must get off of my medications to save myself. But I do not want to end up curled up in a ball in the corner of my bed and not able to function at all once again….as it was 18 years ago for me. I want to have at least three days a week that I can do two or so things in a day. Shower, or see a grandchild, or have a friend stop by, or read a book for bit.
Medical Marijuana, one medication, can be the only medication I need to function and NOT have any bad side effects at all. And then my liver, throat, kidneys, etc., hopefully will be able to recover from the assault they have taken from the years of pills that the pharmaceuticals have given to me INSTEAD of allowing me to choose with my doctors the NOT dangerous and what should have been more available, proper choice. Look at the test results. See the health results from patients in study results. The facts do not lie. Look at the people you represent in this country. Represent them honestly.
Medical Marijuana is an honest and viable medication. It is long past time to make it available to doctors and patients without strings attached. It is an honest and good medication. Help us help us now.
Thank you.
p.s. I will say as a 68 year old woman I was awestruck to realize what lengths our government went to discredit the knowledge the people of the United States received about medical marijuana and the forceful manner in which this was carried out. In this democratic society, seeing those who represent us allowing this to occur over 30 years is hard to actually believe. Hopefully this will be made right by the FDA Now.
I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 1997. It came after a diagnosis years earlier of chronic migraines which I take imitrex for.
I’m Canadian so drug costs are certainly more reasonable here and I don’t have to deal with insurance companies. I’ve NEVER had a doctor tell me that it was all in my head. I have an amazing doctor.
Over the years, I’ve been on all those drugs and more. Every single one of them caused severe weight gain, which in turn increased my cholesterol and blood sugar levels but even worse as the weight increased so did the pain. So because of the increase in pain, the dosage would be increased on the medication and then more weight gain and then more pain, horrible vertigo, trouble breathing and depression and so higher dosage, more medications and on and on.
After 3 weeks of Lyrica, I had thoughts of suicide – something I have never experienced in my entire life (I’m over 60). Of all the drugs, cymbalta helped me the most. Then after about a year, it stopped working and I was hit with the worst exhaustion ever.
My doctor and I decided it was time to take a break from the medications.
2 1/2 years ago my son convinced me to go vegan (no meat no dairy no animal protein at all). Along with my visits to my chiropractor, that has done more for my pain levels than any drug I’ve ever been on. Yes, I’m still in pain and suffer from horrible exhaustion but I’m still better than what I was on all those drugs. I’ve lost weight – not an enormous amount but I can breathe and my sleep has improved. And the real bonus, is that I can think clearly. Those drugs make it impossible for anyone to think straight. I actually think it’s a crime what they do to you – the side effects are played down so much by the drug companies.
There are so many horror stories. No government seems to have a problem with doctors prescribing multiple medications including narcotics that they know nothing about. People are suffering horribly and because they have faith in their doctors, some end up addicted. And then they are judged and called junkies. How is this fair?
Tell me how medical marijuana could be worse than this.
Well said!