The American College of Rheumatology estimates that 3 million to 6 million people in the United States have the chronic pain disorder known as fibromyalgia. The condition is classified as a syndrome because it consists of a range of nonspecific symptoms and signs with physical, physiological and psychological components. The signs appear with one another but have no known cause. Conversely, a disease presents with a specific set of signs and symptoms with a very identifiable cause or etiology. Fibromyalgia is more prevalent in women than in men. Several types of medicines and different classes of drugs have been used to treat the symptoms with varying results.
Antidepressants
A study by Dr. Winfried Hauser and a research team published January 14, 2009, in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that several classes of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)--including the serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)--helped to relieve symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia. The study reported a significant reduction in pain (95 percent confidence interval) in all classes of antidepressants administered. These drugs often manage pain, insomnia and fatigue that result from the condition. Those commonly prescribed include duloxetine (Cymbalta), amitriptyline (Elavil) and fluoxetine (Prozac).
Anti-Epileptics and Anti-Psychotics
A March 2009 article in Arthritis Today, the online health magazine for the Arthritis Foundation, cited that pregabalin (Lyrica) was approved by the FDA based on a double-blind controlled study of 1,800 subjects. The article, titled "Lyrica as a Fibromyalgia Treatment" and written by Denise Lynn Mann, reports that principal investigator Dr. Leslie Crofford found pregabalin (Lyrica) can significantly reduce pain symptoms associated with the condition and provide relief lasting for six months.
Another commonly prescribed medication for fibromyalgia is gabapentin (Neurontin). In a study led by L.M. Arnold published in Arthritis and Rheumatism in 2007, researchers reported that the use of 1,200 to 2,400 mg of gabapentin per day for 12 weeks significantly reduced patients' pain and led to less fatigue and better sleep.
Anti-psychotic drugs also treat depression and mental illness that can result from the condition.
Pain Relievers
Mild pain in fibromyalgia patients can be treated with over-the-counter painkillers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Narcotics such as oxycodone may be prescribed for debilitating pain. Narcotics are particularly addicting, however, and should be used only under a doctor's care.
