What do fibromyalgia patients take for pain

Expert Rev Neurother. Review of pharmacological therapies in fibromyalgia syndrome. Arthritis Res Ther. Lexicomp [online database].

Accessed January 25, Gold Standard, Inc. Clinical Pharmacology [online database]. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; Featured Issue Featured Supplements. US Pharm. FDA-Approved Medications Pregabalin has effects on the release of glutamate, norepinephrine, and substance P that may contribute to the reduction of pain in patients with fibromyalgia. To comment on this article, contact rdavidson uspharmacist. Related CE. View More CE.

Related Content. Take Quiz. Fortunately, several options are available to help ease and manage FM symptoms and improve your quality of life. FM pain can be minor or serious enough to interfere with daily activities. Thankfully, treatment can help manage pain. Medication is an option to reduce FM pain. Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter OTC pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium. These medications can help:.

Shop online for naproxen sodium. These can help ease pain and fatigue. Discuss the possible side effects of using antidepressants for FM with your doctor. For some people, antidepressants can cause a variety of unpleasant side effects such as nausea, weight gain, and loss of sexual desire. These seizure medications may also help reduce pain.

The U. Food and Drug Administration approved pregabalin Lyrica , the first anti-seizure drug for FM treatment. Gabapentin, which reduces nerve pain, may be suggested. But these medications come with possible side effects including:. Research has shown that people with FM who participated in yoga classes experienced improved mood and less pain and fatigue.

The classes included:. Try taking a yoga class. The practice increases muscle strength, incorporates meditation, and teaches different relaxation techniques. Just be sure to let the instructor know about your condition, so they can adjust the poses as needed for you.

Shop online for yoga mats. For those who cannot tolerate the needles, acupressure may be an option. The risks of acupuncture include soreness, minor bleeding, and bruising after treatment. Always make sure your acupuncturist is licensed to decrease risk of infection from unsterilized needles. Physical therapy techniques aim to improve your range of motion and strengthen the muscles.

Other side effects include diarrhoea and extreme tiredness fatigue. Antidepressant medication can also help relieve pain for some people with fibromyalgia. They boost the levels of certain chemicals that carry messages to and from the brain, known as neurotransmitters. Low levels of neurotransmitters may be a factor in fibromyalgia, and it's believed that increasing their levels may ease the widespread pain associated with the condition.

There are different types of antidepressants. The choice of medicine largely depends on the severity of your symptoms and any side effects the medicine may cause. A medication called pramipexole, which is not an antidepressant but also affects the levels of neurotransmitters, is sometimes used as well. For information on the side effects of your particular medication, check the patient information leaflet that comes with it.

They may recommend an over-the-counter remedy, or prescribe a short course of a stronger medication. Read more about treating insomnia for information on good sleeping techniques and medicines to help you sleep.

If you have muscle stiffness or spasms when the muscles contract painfully as a result of fibromyalgia, your GP may prescribe a short course of a muscle relaxant, such as diazepam. These medicines may also help you sleep better because they can have a sedative sleep-inducing effect. You may also be prescribed an anticonvulsant anti-seizure medicine, as these can be effective for those with fibromyalgia. These are normally used to treat epilepsy , but research has shown they can improve the pain associated with fibromyalgia in some people.

Antipsychotic medicines, also called neuroleptics, are sometimes used to help relieve long-term pain.

Studies have shown that these medications may help conditions like fibromyalgia, but further research is needed to confirm this. There is help for people with fibromyalgia. While there is no cure, symptoms can be managed successfully in many cases. The Harvard Medical School Guide Fibromyalgia explores this complex condition, its symptoms, causes, risk factors, and challenges. You'll discover how the symptoms that fibromyalgia shares with other conditions may make it difficult to get a diagnosis.

You'll get suggestions for finding an empathetic doctor and working with that doctor and perhaps other specialists. You'll also discover treatment options that may help you find relief. This guide outlines some of the changes in daily life that may help you live well with this chronic condition.

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