Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition occurring in about 2 percent of the population in the United States, affecting more women than men, according to the Mayo Clinic. Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, and fatigue. Individuals with fibromyalgia often get enough hours of rest, but still wake up tired and unrefreshed. Pain resulting from fibromyalgia cannot be explained by any other condition and leads to additional and increased pain when pressure is applied to specific points through the body, including the back of the head, between the shoulder blades, the top of the shoulders, the upper chest and the hips. A wide array of medications have been tried by patients suffering from this disorder, however, only in recent years have specific medications been designed and approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia.
Lyrica
Lyrica is the brand name for an anticonvulsant medication known as pregabalin. Lyrica is used to treat fibromyalgia by affecting chemicals within the brain that send pain signals to the nervous system. Lyrica is not safe for use during pregnancy, and if a man fathers a child while taking Lyrica, the baby may have birth defects, according to the Food and Drug Administration medication guide for Lyrica. Side effects for Lyrica include dizziness or drowsiness, anxiety, problems with memory, constipation, stomach pain, dry mouth, and increased appetite. In rare cases, dangerous side effects requiring urgent medical care may occur, including severe muscle pain or weakness, swelling of the hands or feet, or rapid weight gain, according to the medication guide.
Savella
Milnacipran, brand name Savella, is the newest medication to be FDA-approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Savella works with chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters in much the same way as antidepressants; however, the FDA is clear to point out that Savella is not an antidepressant. It is presumed that abnormalities within the way some neurotransmitters function may be responsible for pain and other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Savella should never be taken with an MAOI, and alcohol should be avoided during treatment with Savella due to the risk of liver damage. Additionally, FDA information regarding Savella indicates drowsiness may result from Savellla and is exacerbated by the use of cold medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, antidepressants and muscle relaxers.
Muscle Relaxants
Muscle pain is the primary complaint of many suffering from fibromyalgia, leading doctors to treat such pain with prescription muscle relaxants. Medicines in this family include cyclobenzaprine, sold as Flexeril; carisoprodol, brand name Soma; metaxalone, or Skelaxin; and methocarbamol, sold as Robaxin. Dr. Mark Pellegrino, board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and electrodiagnostic medicine and a leading expert on fibromyalgia, explains that muscle relaxants are quite effective in helping reduce muscle pain with minimal side effects. The most common side effect is drowsiness, although Soma and Skelaxin cause less of it. The most common side effect is drowsiness, which can be minimized by taking the medication at night. According to Pellegrino, Flexeril is a popular medicine to take in the evening.
Cymbalta
In 2008, the FDA approved Cymbalta for the treatment of pain and depression associated with fibromyalgia. Cymbalta is the market name for duloxetine, a medication originally used to treat depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder and diabetic peripheral nerve pain. Cymbalta is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that works within the brain to affect mood and regulate how the body perceives pain. Side effects are those common to antidepressants, including flu-like symptoms, gastrointestinal problems, headache, insomnia and drowsiness.
