Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41343025›Full record

ArticleClinical rheumatology2026

UK Medical Cannabis Registry: a case series analysing clinical outcomes of medicinal cannabis therapy for fibromyalgia.

Madhur Varadpande, Simon Erridge, Arushika Aggarwal, Evonne Clarke, Katy McLachlan, Ross Coomber, Shelley Barnes, Alia Darweish Medniuk, Rahul Guru, Wendy Holden and 7 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical rheumatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Madhur VaradpandeMedical Cannabis Research Group, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, Academic Surgical Unit, St Mary's Hospital, 10Th Floor QEQM, St Mary's Hospital, South Wharf Road, London, W2 1NY, UK.
Simon ErridgeMedical Cannabis Research Group, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, Academic Surgical Unit, St Mary's Hospital, 10Th Floor QEQM, St Mary's Hospital, South Wharf Road, London, W2 1NY, UK.
Arushika AggarwalMedical Cannabis Research Group, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, Academic Surgical Unit, St Mary's Hospital, 10Th Floor QEQM, St Mary's Hospital, South Wharf Road, London, W2 1NY, UK.
Evonne ClarkeCuraleaf Clinic, London, UK.
Katy McLachlanCuraleaf Clinic, London, UK.
Ross CoomberCuraleaf Clinic, London, UK.
Shelley BarnesCuraleaf Clinic, London, UK.
Alia Darweish MedniukCuraleaf Clinic, London, UK.
Rahul GuruCuraleaf Clinic, London, UK.
Wendy HoldenCuraleaf Clinic, London, UK.
Mohammed SajadCuraleaf Clinic, London, UK.
Robert SearleCuraleaf Clinic, London, UK.
Azfer UsmaniCuraleaf Clinic, London, UK.
Sanjay VarmaCuraleaf Clinic, London, UK.
James J RuckerCuraleaf Clinic, London, UK.
Michael PlattCuraleaf Clinic, London, UK.
Mikael H SodergrenMedical Cannabis Research Group, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, Academic Surgical Unit, St Mary's Hospital, 10Th Floor QEQM, St Mary's Hospital, South Wharf Road, London, W2 1NY, UK. m.sodergren@imperial.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5871-6501

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionFibromyalgia is a common condition characterised by widespread chronic pain, associated with comorbid mental health disorders and reduced quality of life. Preclinical data suggest cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) may have potential benefits in fibromyalgia, but there is a paucity of high-quality clinical evidence. This study aims to assess the change in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and incidence of adverse events (AEs) in patients treated with CBMPs for fibromyalgia.

methodsThis case series analysed data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry (UKMCR). The primary outcome was change in PROMs [Fibromyalgia Symptom Severity, Fibromyalgia Widespread Pain Index, EQ-5D-5L, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7, and Single-Item Sleep Quality Scale] from baseline to follow-up at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.050.

resultsFour hundred ninety-seven patients were included. The mean age was 44.66 ± 12.02 years, 341 patients (68.61%) were female, and the majority of patients were unemployed (n = 268, 53.92%). There was an improvement in all PROMs (p < 0.010) from baseline to all follow-up periods. Higher CBD doses (> 25.00 mg/day) and previous cannabis use were associated with increased odds of improvement on fibromyalgia-specific scales (p < 0.050). 227 patients (45.67%) reported 2100 AEs (422.54%). Most AEs were mild-to-moderate (n = 1792, 85.33%). The most common AE was fatigue (n = 153, 30.78%).

conclusionsThere was an association between treatment with CBMPs and improvements in pain, anxiety, sleep, and general quality of life. The high incidence of AEs in relation to other patient cohorts from the UKMCR may relate to the central sensitisation mechanism of fibromyalgia. Key Points • This study found that CBMPs were associated with short to medium-term improvements in pain, anxiety, sleep, and general quality-of-life in patients with fibromyalgia. • More randomised controlled trials are warranted to consolidate the literature, but this large analysis provides real-world data to inform their rollout.

Indexed as

FibromyalgiaMedical MarijuanaAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient Reported Outcome MeasuresQuality of LifeRegistriesSeverity of Illness IndexTreatment OutcomeUnited KingdomMedical MarijuanaCannabidiolCannabinoidCannabisFibromyalgiaTetrahydrocannabinol

Identifiers

PMID41343025
PMCPMC12923461

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.