Antidepressants
These two antidepressant drugs have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of fibromyalgia—duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran (Savella).
Some people are also prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac or Paxil or tricyclic anti-depressants such as Pamelor and Elavil.
Over-the-Counter Painkillers
You will need to consult your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications, Tylenol and NSAIDS are available for pain.
Anti-epileptics
Anti-epileptic drugs can reduce nerve signals from the muscles to the brain and in some people may help with muscle spasms and pain. Lyrica is the FDA-approved drug for fibromyalgia. Sometimes Neurotontin is also prescribed.
Non-narcotic analgesics
Analgesics are painkillers which in some people reduce pain signals to the brain. Non-narcotic analgesics such as tramadol (Ultram) are not as strong or quite as addictive as narcotic analgesics.
Muscle relaxants
These can also be used to help fibromyalgia patients feel more comfortable and/or experience improved sleep by relaxing tense muscles. Flexeril and Cycloflex and commonly prescribed muscle relaxants.
Narcotic analgesics
Opioids are narcotic analgesics sometimes used when other medications have failed to treat the symptoms of fibromyalgia. They can be addictive. Oyxcodone (OxyContin) is a common opioid analgesic.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines like Valium can sometimes help with sleep and slow down the central nervous system. They are sometimes prescribed to help patients with stress.
Medications
To reduce FM symptoms, a number of pharmaceutical interventions have been tried with some results:
Table .0
Medications commonly used for Fibromyalgia and associated side effects
| Medication Name | No. of Reviews | Pregnancy Adverse Effects |
Side Effects | Type | FDA status for FM (Y/N) |
Full Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pregabalin | 281 | C | Dizziness, blurry vision, dry mouth, sleepiness, weight gain, trouble concentrating, swelling of hands and feet |
Seizure medication | Y | 3 weeks |
| Duloxetine | 190 | C | Nausea, dry mouth, constipation, reduced appetite, sleepiness, increased sweating suicidal thinking |
Antidepressant | Y | 4 weeks or more |
| Milnacipran | 292 | C | Suicidal actions and thoughts, nausea, constipation, dizziness, insomnia, vomiting, excessive sweating, palpitations, high blood pressure |
Antidepressant | Y | 3 weeks |
| Sodium Oxybate | 18 | C | Nausea, dizziness, vomiting, insomnia, anxiety, somnolence, fatigue, muscle spasms, peripheral edema |
Narcolepsy | Y | 2 months or more |
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