Fibromyalgia Treatment

About 5% of people in the world suffer from fibromyalgia’s widespread pain. Studies have shown that Women are affected more often than men. There are multiple symptoms like headaches and fatigue, sleep disturbances and irritable bowel syndrome that can interfere with daily functioning and affecting quality of life.

The condition is not a curable syndrome, so the current treatments are used to try keeping the symptoms to the minimum.

Management therapies

Management can be divided into classes that include:-

Medication therapy
Physical therapy and exercise
Cognitive behavioral therapy

Medication therapy

The main problem that medications can treat in patients with fibromyalgia is pain.

The most commonly used agents are thus pain relievers that belong to the class of Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs like paracetamol may benefit patients with fibromyalgia when used in combination with Tramadol – a synthetic opioid and a weak opioid agonist.

Antidepressants work by raising brain levels of neurotransmitters. Drugs used in this class include tricyclic antidepressants (like Amytriptylline), Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (like Fluoxetine) and Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (like Duloxetine, venlafaxine, milnacipran etc.).

Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline are useful in chronic tension-type headache, fibromyalgia and muscle spasm associated pain. SSRIs improve pain, sleep, and sense of well-being.

Muscle relaxants or Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists – drugs of this class include clonidine and tizanidine. Tizanidine helps in relieving muscle spasm and easing pain.
Anticonvulsants – Pregabalin is a drug used in epilepsy and has shown benefits in managing fibromyalgia.

Physical therapy and exercise

Exercise is one of the most important aspects of the treatment of fibromyalgia. Exercises increase flexibility, improve function and also help in improvement of mood, self reliance and reduction of pain.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

This focuses on stress reduction and other behavioral approaches to ease the pain and improve other symptoms. Stress reduction techniques, including cognitive-behavioral programs, meditation, progressive relaxation training, and biofeedback.

Other therapies

Other therapies include acupuncture that may relieve pain in both myofascial pain and fibromyalgia. Others include massage, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and ultrasound therapy.