Ann Rheum Dis

Cannabidiol no better than placebo for fibromyalgia pain relief

October 17, 2025

Study details: This single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 200 adults with fibromyalgia, stratified by sex, age, and baseline pain. Participants received either 50 mg plant-derived cannabidiol (CBD) or placebo daily for 24 weeks. Primary endpoint was change in pain intensity on the numeric rating scale (NRS) from the revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire.

Results: At 24 weeks, the mean change in pain intensity was -0.4 points (CBD) vs. -1.1 points (placebo), with a statistically significant between-group difference favoring placebo (-0.7 points; 95% confidence interval -1.2 to -0.25; P=.0028). Adverse events were mild and evenly distributed between groups, with no serious safety signals.

Clinical impact: Despite growing interest in cannabinoids for chronic pain, this rigorously designed trial suggests that CBD offers no meaningful benefit over placebo in fibromyalgia management. Clinicians should remain cautious when considering CBD for fibromyalgia and prioritize evidence-based therapies. The strong placebo effect observed reinforces the importance of patient-provider communication and contextual factors in symptom management.

Source:

Rasmussen MU, et al. (2025, August 21). Ann Rheum Dis. Cannabidiol versus placebo in patients with fibromyalgia: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, single-centre trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40846590/