Patient with fibromyalgia for more than four years, Catarina Araújo used to have a weekly routine of going to the hospital in search of morphine to relieve pain. A kindergarten teacher, she had to take a 60-day leave from work due to depression, fatigue, discouragement, and intense pain.

The situation changed drastically in late 2023 when Catarina became acquainted with medicinal cannabis. In addition to resuming her work routine, cooking — one of her favorite hobbies — and performing simple tasks, such as taking a shower on her own, she was able to set aside three prescription drugs and two other black label medications.

“My memory is much better, the bone pains have passed. Cannabidiol gave me ‘life’ again,” Catarina said in an interview with Portal Sechat in July 2024.

With the aim of transforming the lives of other patients like Catarina, researchers from Paraná are recruiting volunteers for a clinical study that investigates the use of medicinal cannabis in the treatment of fibromyalgia.

The study includes monthly consultations, application of clinical questionnaires, and laboratory tests before and after the intervention. According to those responsible, the focus is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of full spectrum oil in modulating the main symptoms of the disease.

Scheduled to start in October, the Open Label study — named “Fridinha” — will be conducted in Foz do Iguaçu and Cascavel. Over a period of six months, 36 women diagnosed with fibromyalgia will be monitored by the scientific team.

Objectives and participation criteria

The research is conducted by the Medicinal Cannabis and Psychedelic Sciences Laboratory (LCP) of UNILA, in partnership with the Santa Cannabis association from Santa Catarina.

“Our main goal is to understand how the balanced use of CBD and THC can act in pain control and in improving the quality of life of patients. We will also analyze indicators related to depression, sleep, and overall well-being,” explained the study coordinator, Professor Ney Nascimento.

Women between 18 and 60 years old, with a confirmed diagnosis of fibromyalgia, who are available for monthly in-person consultations in Foz do Iguaçu or Cascavel, can participate. Volunteers will not incur costs for exams, consultations, or medications.

Registrations are already open and can be made through the UNILA online form.

Fibromyalgia: an invisible disease affecting millions

Little discussed, fibromyalgia is the third most common rheumatologic disease in the world, affecting about 7% of the population, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The most frequent profile is women between 50 and 60 years old.

The lack of effective treatments causes many patients to face chronic suffering and significant loss in quality of life.

“A large part of these patients are unable to work a few years after diagnosis. The suicide rate is up to 10 times higher than that of the healthy population. In addition, the cost of medications, consultations, and exams can be 300% higher than that of an average citizen. Faced with this reality, it is impossible to remain inert. Studies like the one at UNILA are essential to ensure the right to health and dignity of these women,” emphasized Maria Eduarda Carraro, a Medicine student and project author.

The role of cannabis and Santa Cannabis

Medicinal cannabis has proven to be a promising alternative in the control of chronic pain and sleep disorders, especially in cases of difficult treatment, such as fibromyalgia.

In the UNILA study, the oil will be provided free of charge by Santa Cannabis, an association that works in the legal cultivation and production of plant derivatives for medicinal purposes.

“We believe in science as a tool for social transformation. Supporting this study is, for us, an ethical duty to the thousands of people who depend on medicinal cannabis to live with dignity. Furthermore, it is a way to show that it is possible to produce with quality, safety, and social commitment in Brazil,” stated Pedro Sabaciauskis, president of the entity.