Fibromyalgia
Limited, insufficient evidence with poor tolerability. An adjunct only, after standard approaches like exercise and CBT.
Last reviewed 15 June 2026 · Education, not medical advice
Low-quality or sparse trials; benefit is uncertain and may be outweighed by harms.
Can medicinal cannabis help with fibromyalgia in NZ?
Limited evidence for fibromyalgia. Limited, insufficient evidence with poor tolerability. An adjunct only, after standard approaches like exercise and CBT.There is no fixed list of qualifying conditions in NZ — whether it's appropriate for you is a clinical judgement for a registered doctor. This is education, not a treatment recommendation.
What the evidence says
A 2016 Cochrane review found only two small RCTs (both of nabilone) and no convincing, unbiased evidence of benefit, with poor tolerability. More recent reviews report low-quality short-term pain reduction. It is an adjunct only, after standard approaches such as exercise, duloxetine/pregabalin/amitriptyline and CBT.
Cannabinoids studied
- THC
- Balanced THC:CBD
- CBD
Key cautions
- Poor tolerability with nabilone (dizziness, dry mouth, sedation, dropouts).
- Cognitive effects of THC.
- Expected benefit is modest.
Sources
Peer-reviewed reviews, trial data and official guidance. We never fabricate figures.
What to do next
If you think medicinal cannabis might help with fibromyalgia, the next step is a conversation with a registered New Zealand doctor, who can weigh your individual situation. Start with your own GP or a clinic that focuses on cannabis medicine. Our step-by-step pathway walks through the whole process, and our self-check can help you prepare.
This is general information, not medical advice. Only a registered New Zealand doctor can decide whether medicinal cannabis is right for you.
Reviewed for accuracy by the mc.nz editorial team against the cited sources. Last reviewed 15 June 2026.