Table of Contents
Zolpidem (Ambien) or other newer sleep medications such as zaleplon (Sonata) and eszopiclone (Lunesta) may improve sleep in patients with insomnia.
Pain Relievers
Pain relief is of major concern for patients with fibromyalgia. Pain relievers for fibromyalgia include:
- Tramadol (Ultram), used alone or in combination with acetaminophen (Tylenol), is commonly prescribed for relief of fibromyalgia pain. Its most common side effects are drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, and nausea. Tramadol should not be used with tricyclic antidepressants. Patients may become dependent on this drug, and potentially abuse it.
- For relief of mild pain, acetaminophen is most often recommended. Anti-inflammatory drugs, which are commonly used for arthritic conditions, are less useful for the pain of fibromyalgia, because the pain is not caused by muscle or joint inflammation. Anti-inflammatory drugs include corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil). New guidelines from the American Geriatrics Society do not recommend the use of NSAIDs for older adults with chronic pain because the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risks outweigh the benefits of using these drugs.
- Capsaicin (Zostrix) is an ointment prepared from the active ingredient in hot chili peppers. Capsaicin is helpful for relieving painful areas in other disorders. It may also have some value for fibromyalgia patients.
- Opioids, or narcotics, may be used occasionally by certain patients with moderate-to-severe pain, or those with significant problems performing everyday tasks. Such patients should use narcotics only if they cannot find relief with other, less potent treatments. Patients may get combinations of narcotic pain relievers and acetaminophen for periodic pain. Some physicians prescribe opioids, such as oxycodone (Roxicodone) or morphine sulfate (Duramorph), for patients who need ongoing relief. However, the benefit of opioids in fibromyalgia treatment is highly controversial. Physicians should take a careful medical and psychological profile of the patient before prescribing opioids, and then should evaluate those patients periodically for continuing pain relief, side effects, and signs of dependence.
- Pramipexole, a drug used to treat Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome, may help relieve pain and fatigue in people with fibromyalgia. Pramipexole stimulates the production of dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain.
- The atypical antipsychotic drug olanzapine (Zyprexa) may be a beneficial add-on therapy for patients with fibromyalgia. Although proven effective for some chronic pain conditions, olanzapine and other antipsychotics cause unpleasant and potentially serious side effects.
Other Investigative Drugs
Nabilone. A synthetic drug derived from marijuana may be another effective addition to fibromyalgia treatment, according to early studies. In one study, nabilone (Cesamet), which is also used to treat severe nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients, significantly relieved fibromyalgia pain compared to placebo. There are some challenges to using nabilone for fibromyalgia, however. First, it is a controlled substance that can become addictive, and researchers say it is so expensive that it would be cost-prohibitive to use for a chronic disease such as fibromyalgia.
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Review Date: 12/27/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
