Fibromyalgia: Effective Treatment with Medical Marijuana

Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician, Toxicologist and Pharmacologist.

Image of "tender points" in fibromyalgia Photo courtesy: jaapa.com

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - Fibromyalgia is a very painful, complex disease causing spasm of muscles and accompanying nerves and has been a contentious puzzle to both victims and their doctors.

It seems nobody has the slightest idea what causes it and its symptoms and signs can be so diverse that it has been called the "invisible disease" with no specificity except the victim's typical statements that, "I hurt all over."

Most doctors reaction or response to a patient presenting with the above just responded with "It's all in your head," or alternatively "You just want drugs." This is and was incorrect, they wanted relief!

The self-hypnosis of many doctors was usually that depression causes fibromyalgia. This decries the fact that chronic pain does cause depression. One very prominent doctor in Oregon made an international reputation for himself by treating hundreds of patients with a very widely used anti-depressant, amitriptyline (Elavil). It helped their depression but it didn't help much for their fibromyalgia pain and spasms.

Another of the attempts to treat the painful muscle spasms was with cyclobenzaprine (Flexaril) which my patients told me just made them dopey or feel stupid. This is just not too good for someone who has to work.

Anti-seizure drugs such as gabapentin (Neurontin) have been tried. I tried this myself for causalgia, severe burning pain in my feet caused from damage to my sacral nerves. It made me so dopey and dysfunctional I called my neurosurgeon and told him I wouldn't prescribe it to my worst enemy. I do have a former patient who takes it in high doses for severe discogenic disease. His wife says he is now completely disabled AND dysfunctional.

Some other medications have been tried, success has been minimal.

It was not a surprise to me to read of successful trials in Germany for fibromyalgia with THC, the medicinal chemical in cannabis/marijuana. I have about 100 fibromyalgia patients using marijuana/cannabis very effectively. It is known that cannabis has good analgesic, antispasmodic and euphoriant actions.

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It is also known also that the body produces endo cannabinoids, anandamide and 2AG also produce analgesia, antispasm and euphoriant actions, and that plant and natural cannabinoids are better than any other chemical/pharmaceutical trial drug or combination.

It is estimated that 5% to 7% of the population has fibromyalgia. This means that several million patients in the U.S. are afflicted. I note that Eli Lilly & Company are advertising a new drug for fibromyalgia. Three years ago they ballyhooed a drug for ADD. It was a bust. Eli Lilly was once a leading producer of cannabis medicines. I think they should go back to that, it works.

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You can email your questions to the doctor: newsroom@salem-news.com

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Watch for Dr. Phil Leveque's video question and answer segments about medical marijuana with Bonnie King.

Other articles and video segments about medical marijuana on Salem-News.com:

• Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Tells All: Q&A Part 6 (VIDEO)
• Medical Marijuana: Treatment for Marijuana Dependence
• Medical Marijuana Medical Conditions
• Medical Marijuana Medical ConditionsConnecticut Governor Vetoes Medical Marijuana Bill
• Medical Marijuana: PTSD Medical Malpractice
• Marine Combat Vet Discusses Iraq, PTSD and Medical Marijuana
• The Most Dangerous Man in Oregon
• Medical Marijuana: What it's About
• Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Discusses PTSD Treatment (VIDEO)
• PTSD: Life-Long Challenge For Growing Number of Veterans
• Medical Marijuana: A California Success Story
• Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Tells All: Q&A Part 3 (VIDEO)
• Medical Marijuana: The Replacement for Very Dangerous Drugs
• Oregon Toxicologist Says Treatment for PTSD Should Include Cannabis
• Medical Marijuana Doctor Responds to Written Comments (VIDEO) (Originally titled Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Tells All: Q&A Part 3)
• Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Answers All (VIDEO)

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I'm 23 years old and have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and arthritis...I have to agree that smoking marijuana is definutely the only thing that keeps me going...when I dont have it to smoke I find myself not wanting to move at all!! I feel so tired and life just seems to suck...so thank you for helping the "non believers" see the truth behind the purposes that marijuana can and should be used...

ello govna! I love you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you work so hard for us and our pains

dude im glad someone understands the power of the big leaf. Thanks

i agree that it help with fibromyalgia I have it and raynauds desease, arthritis and called the police for help one day. Instead of helping me with the problem I called for they busted me for pot because they saw a pipe or some other paraphinalia. The freeloader still lives in my house it has been a year and I am in so much pain from not having my weed that I am seriously considering the alternative. I am not sure how much more of this constant pain and sleeplessness I can take. I get pills for depression now and pills for pain and pills for anxiety. My blood presure has gone so high my legs have swollen and my chest hurts constantly. I am confused from all the meds and can not stay on track, but hey I am not doing anything illegal but I can no longer work to afford their fines and I am just about ready to just end it all. I just want to thank all the narrow minded people for making a contributing citizen into a criple and just damn near in-sain from being without the only medicine that gave me some relief.

With all the aches and pains i go thru daily i would bake it, smoke it, puff it, eat it if i had to. i just want to feel better. Keep up your hard work!!!

DSHS wants me to talk to my doctor about taking 'depression' medication. What DSHS and my previous doctors didn't care to see was that the pain I've been in for 14 years is what caused the depression in the first place as well as the stress, and the eventual diabetes, high BP, high colestorol, and finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia (by a practioner who actually cares). Now the fight goes on to prove Cannabis is a Medicine. Thank you Dr. Leveque for writing your articles as proof that it is a medicine. Marijuana does help to relax my muscles so I can move my neck.

My spouse may complain about the joint I'm smoking tonight, but I will just point to this article to explain my usage. Analgesic!

Please keep researching and publishing. We medicinal marijuana users need all the help we can get.

Thank you for putting in an article about Fibromyalgia. It is not easy to live. I am glad to see more articles online

It is so nice to see that someone agrees that it works on Fibromyalgia. Thank You Dr. Phil I wish I Lived in oregon, with you as my Doc.

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