Is CBD Good for Arthritis?
Dr. Sana-Ara Ahmed, Anesthesiologist and Chronic Pain Specialist based in Alberta discuss medical cannabis; how it’s used, prescribed and benefits for the treatment of chronic pain.
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Is CBD Good for Arthritis?
Health Benefits of CBD for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Animal studies have suggested that CBD has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, but these effects have not been validated with quality studies in humans.1 Anecdotally, some people who have tried CBD for treatment of arthritis symptoms report noticeable pain relief, improved sleep improvement, and reduced anxiety.
The trials that have been conducted in humans have not yielded strong evidence for the use of CBD in managing arthritic pain.
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A randomized trial of topical CBD for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis lasted only 12 weeks, and results were mixed.4
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One of the largest reviews examining the health effects of cannabis and CBD concluded that there is substantial evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain in adults. There was, however, no specific conclusion regarding CBD, as definitive studies were not available.
Research in this area is ongoing.
If you are interested in trying CBD for RA pain management, be sure to talk to your doctor first before using any CBD products.
Rising Popularity of CBD for RA
Based on a 2019 national survey of 2,600 people conducted by the Arthritis Foundation, 79% of respondents said they were using CBD, have used it in the past, or were considering using it to help with their arthritis pain.6
Given the lack of strong scientific evidence supporting the use of CBD, it is not recommended as the first choice for pain relief in RA.7
If you have RA, you should not stop taking your prescribed medications that may be protecting your joints from future damage. You should discuss any changes you want to make to your medication regimen with your doctor.
Additional Health Benefits
The strongest scientific evidence for the effectiveness of CBD as a medical treatment is for seizure prevention in Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, which are severe childhood epilepsy disorders that typically don’t respond to antiseizure medications.8 Several years ago, the FDA approved the first cannabis-derived medicine for these conditions, Epidiolex, which contains CBD.
Other potential health benefits of CBD include:
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Reduce anxiety, insomnia, and depression9
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Relieve cancer or cancer treatment symptoms10
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Clear acne11
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Slow the progress of neurologic disease like Alzheimer’s disease12
Possible Side Effects
Treatment with CBD should be started slowly and under the supervision of a doctor, who will oversee its effectiveness and side effects. There have been reports of mild side effects of CBD.
The most common side effects include:8
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Irritability
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Lightheadedness
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Sleepiness
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Appetite changes
It’s important to note that CBD may interact with other drugs, including some of the medications that are prescribed for the treatment of RA.
Warnings and Interactions
There are some warnings and adverse drug interactions to be aware of before beginning using CBD for the management of RA-associated pain.
Warnings
Do not stop taking any other treatments without consulting your doctor. Additionally, CBD shouldn’t be a replacement for other therapies you are using.
Pregnant people and children should consult a doctor before using CBD since there isn’t enough research on the effects of CBD on these populations. There has been concern about a possible link between inhaled cannabis and lower-birthweight babies, but it’s not clear if this applies to CBD.8
Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the safety and purity of CBD products, so you cannot know for sure that the product you buy has active ingredients at the dose listed on the label.8 The product may contain other unknown elements. The most effective therapeutic dose of CBD for any particular medical condition has not been established.
Interactions
Studies have found moderate interactions between CBD and medications commonly prescribed for treating RA.
Interactions can occur with these medications:13
- Some antidepressants, including amitriptyline, citalopram, fluoxetine, mirtazapine, paroxetine, and sertraline
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Some medications used for treating fibromyalgia, including gabapentin and pregabalin
CBD can increase your level of coumadin, a blood thinner.
CBD may also raise levels of other medications in your blood by the same mechanism that grapefruit juice does.8
Medications that interact with grapefruit juice can potentially interact with CBD, including:
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Cholesterol medications
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High blood pressure medications
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Organ-rejection medications
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Anti-anxiety medications
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Corticosteroids
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Heart medications
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Some antihistamines
Resources:
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THC vs CBD: What’s The Difference?
Is CBD Legal? Hemp-derived CBD products (with less than 0.3 percent THC) are legal on the federal level but are still illegal under some state laws. Marijuana-derived CBD products are illegal on the federal level but are legal under some state laws. Check your state’s laws and those of anywhere you travel. Keep in mind that nonprescription CBD products are not FDA-approved, and may be inaccurately labeled.
The information contained on this website is presented for the purpose of educating people about cannabis. Nothing contained on this website should be construed nor is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider.
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