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-- WITH PHOTO -- TO BUSINESS, HEALTH, AND MEDICAL EDITORS:
Marijuana Rated Significantly More Effective in Treating Fibromyalgia
Symptoms than FDA-Approved Drugs, Global Survey Finds
GOLDEN, Colo., April 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- A survey of 1,339 people
with fibromyalgia conducted by The National Pain Foundation and
NationalPainReport.com, revealed that those who have used marijuana to
treat their symptoms find it significantly more effective than any of
the three drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat
the disorder.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140418/76548
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140418/76547
The three drugs approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia are
Cymbalta (Duloxetine); Lyrica (Pregabalin); and Savella
(Milnacipran).
How Cymbalta Performs for Fibromyalgia Sufferers (N=960)
-- 60% say Cymbalta does not work at all
-- 32% say Cymbalta helps a little
-- 8% say Cymbalta was very effective
How Lyrica Performs for Fibromyalgia Sufferers (N=860)
-- 61% say Lyrica does not work at all
-- 29% say Lyrica helps a little
-- 10% say Lyrica was very effective
How Savella Performs for Fibromyalgia Sufferers (N=387)
-- 68% say it does not work at all
-- 22% say it helps a little
-- 10% say it was very effective
How Marijuana Performs for Fibromyalgia Sufferers (N=379)
-- 5% say it does not work at all
-- 33% marijuana helps a little
-- 62% say marijuana was very effective
Comments from survey respondents regarding the use of marijuana to
treat Fibromyalgia:
-- "I've found nothing that has worked for me, apart from marijuana."
-- "Nothing but medical marijuana has made the greatest dent in the
pain and mental problems."
-- "Marijuana does help a LOT, it numbs the pain. But, it doesn't last
long and it makes your brain foggy."
Ninety-six percent (96 of survey respondents were females. About
half (49 were diagnosed between the ages of 18 and 34, while 38%
were diagnosed between the ages of 35 to 49. Only 12% were diagnosed
at the age of 50 or older.
Forty-four percent (44 lived with Fibromyalgia for more than five
years before receiving a diagnosis. Only 11% were diagnosed within one
year of experiencing symptoms.
Four out of ten (43 of fibromyalgia sufferers feel their physician
is not knowledgeable about the disorder. Over a third (35 feel their
physician does not take their fibromyalgia seriously. And 45% feel
their family and friends do not take their fibromyalgia seriously.
About The National Pain Foundation
The National Pain Foundation is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit
organization that is addressing the critical public health challenges
attributed to pain on a global basis.
CONTACT: Doug Lynch 304-876-1677
Read more news from The National Pain Foundation.
SOURCE The National Pain Foundation
-0- 04/21/2014
/Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140418/76548
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140418/76547
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
/Web Site: http://www.thenationalpainfoundation.org
CO: The National Pain Foundation
ST: Colorado
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PRN
-- PH08552 --
0000 04/21/2014 12:30:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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