A disorder that affects the muscles, joints and tendons, fibromyalgia's main symptom is pain. Patients with fibromyalgia can also experience fatigue, depression, memory problems and irritable bowel syndrome, which includes diarrhea, constipation and gas, according to MedlinePlus. The National Women's Health Information Center points out that treating fibromyalgia is a team-based effort, and includes different components that alleviate the symptoms.
Pain Treatment
The National Women's Health Information Center explains that the Food and Drug Administration approved three drugs for fibromyalgia pain: pregabalin, duloxetine and milnacipran. An antiepileptic drug, pregabalin decreases the pain signals sent by the patient's body. A type of antidepressant, duloxetine increases the levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, which stop the movement of the pain signals. Another type of antidepressant, milnacipran works similarly to duloxetine, except it causes a larger increase of norepinephrine than duloxetine.
MayoClinic.com points out that fibromyalgia patients may use other drugs for their pain. For example, they may use over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen. If patients take a nonsteroid anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen sodium, they usually take them with other pain medications. Other medication options for pain include tramadol, a prescription pain reliever, and gabapentin, another type of anti-epileptic drug.
Patients may also undergo physical therapy in which they work with a physical therapist on specific exercises. Physical therapy can help with both muscle balance and pain. When fibromyalgia patients start with physical therapy, they do short sessions of low-impact exercises. As they continue with the physical therapy, they increase the intensity as long as they can still tolerate it.
Sleep Improvement
MayoClinic.com notes that patients can use a combination of two antidepressants for sleep issues: fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, and amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant. Besides treating pain, duloxetine can also hep with fatigue. Lifestyle changes can help improve patients' sleep. MedlinePlus recommends that fibromyalgia patients eat a well-balanced diet and avoid caffeine. Patients can also improve their sleep by keeping regular sleeping hours, avoiding daytime naps and relaxing before bed.
Counseling for Mental Health
Because fibromyalgia can affect patients psychologically, treatment programs can include counseling. For example, patients may undergo cognitive behavioral therapy, a type of counseling in which negative thoughts and behaviors are identified, and the therapist helps the patient change them to positive ones. MedlinePlus points out that sessions last for an hour, and patients can attend between six and 20 sessions. After undergoing counseling, patients learn how to deal with their negative thoughts, recognize the triggers that worsen their symptoms and set personal limits.
