What Are the Treatments for Fibromyalgia With Antiviral Drugs?

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) estimates that more than 5 million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia. While there is no cure for fibromyalgia and few treatments, theories about the cause of the syndrome have led to experimental antiviral drug treatments.

Features

• Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness that causes increased sensitivity to pain, stiffness, muscle soreness, fatigue and headaches. Between 80 and 90 percent of fibromyalgia patients are women.

Theories/Speculation

• No one understands what causes fibromyalgia, but there are several theories. Researchers such as Daniel C. Dantini believe that a viral illness such as Lyme disease or Epstein-Barr can eventually lead to fibromyalgia. He prescribes some patients the antiviral drugs Valtrex or Famvir.

Interesting Fact

• Dantini is an otolaryngologist and also suffers from fibromyalgia.

Benefits

• In his 2008 book "The New Fibromyalgia Remedy: Stop Your Pain Now with an Anti-Viral Drug Regimen," Dantini claims that 70 to 75 percent of his fibromyalgia patients improved their health when they added antiviral drugs to their treatment. Half of these patients saw improvement after four weeks.

Warning

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved antiviral drugs as a treatment for fibromyalgia, and the medical community is not convinced of their effectiveness.