About Fibromyalgia Medication

Fibromyalgia is a chronic and painful disorder of the muscles and soft tissues, according to the American College of Rheumatology. Fibromyalgia may cause a variety of seemingly unrelated symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, sensitivity to temperature, memory problems, morning stiffness, painful menstruation, restless legs and muscle aches. Diagnosis is based on symptoms and physical examination, because there are no tests for fibromyalgia. Treatment is primarily with medications and lifestyle changes.

Significance

• Nearly 4 million adult Americans suffer from fibromyalgia, most of whom would be considerably more ill and potentially disabled without treatment with medication, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Function

• According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, fibromyalgia is a syndrome with no known cause, which means medications focus on relieving symptoms instead of curing the condition.

Types

• Three medications are currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat fibromyalgia: Lyrica (pregabalin), Cymbalta (duloxetine hydrochloride) and Savella (milnacipran).

Considerations

• According to the FDA, a number of medications are prescribed off-label to relieve fibromyalgia symptoms, including antidepressants, muscle relaxants, sleep aids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, benzodiazepines, antiseizure medications and both over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers.

Potential

• According to the American College of Rheumatology, abnormal levels of Substance P may be present in the spinal fluid of people with fibromyalgia, and research is currently underway to determine the role of Substance P in the development of fibromyalgia, so more effective medications can be developed.