Fibromyalgia Treatments and Medications

Constant fatigue and pain make daily life difficult. And these are just some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. The first step toward finding relief from fibromyalgia is learning what can be done to treat it.

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic medical condition that’s marked by aches, pains, and tender points all over the body. It also causes fatigue, trouble sleeping, and can even lead to memory difficulties and depression.

Fibromyalgia affects more than 4 million people in the United States, and women are much more likely to get fibromyalgia than men. The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but doctors and researchers are always looking for new treatment options to help people find relief from their symptoms.

Fibromyalgia symptoms are often treated with medication, exercise, counseling, and/or physical therapy. People who develop fibromyalgia will spend a lot of time focusing on symptom management to improve their quality of life with the condition.

How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but some researchers believe it has to do with how the brain processes pain signals. People with fibromyalgia are more sensitive to temperature, pressure, light, and noise than others. Anyone can develop fibromyalgia, but women and people between the ages of 20 and 60 are more likely to get the condition. It is a diagnosis of exclusion, which means, all other medical conditions which can present like fibromyalgia should be ruled out. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), thyroid disease, vitamin D deficiency, depression, and migraine are the common diseases that need to be excluded.

Fibromyalgia must be properly diagnosed by a medical professional. “The requirements for diagnosis are: a patient with generalized widespread pain, lasting at least 3 months, along with other complaints (fatigue, problems sleeping, headaches, gastrointestinal disruption, and cognitive problems such as brain fog),” says Maria Vila, DO, a family medicine specialist in Morristown, NJ and medical advisor for eMediHealth.

“You also need a physical exam showing tenderness at multiple sites without any obvious signs of inflammation or injury such as swelling. The final component of diagnosis involves blood work that is normal, and any other tests that may be necessary based on the patient's individual symptoms, such as a test for obstructive sleep apnea,” says Dr. Vila.

Other than blood work tests or sleep apnea tests, a healthcare provider might order one of the following to help rule out other medical conditions:

• A thyroid function test

• An erythrocyte sedimentation rate test

• A vitamin D level test

During an exam, a healthcare provider or rheumatologist may ask some of the following questions to help confirm a diagnosis:

• What symptoms have you been experiencing?

• How long have you been experiencing symptoms?

• What’s your family’s medical history?

• Are you currently taking any medications?

Having the answers to these questions ready at the time of your examination will help whoever’s diagnosing you do the best job they can.

Fibromyalgia treatment options

Once someone is diagnosed with fibromyalgia, the next step is finding a treatment plan to help manage symptoms. A medical professional will be able to recommend the best treatment plan, but here are some of the most common treatments for fibromyalgia:

• Therapy: Fibromyalgia is often treated with talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). These types of counseling help people with fibromyalgia learn how to cope with their condition and manage pain.

• Medication: Prescription or over-the-counter medications for fibromyalgia help manage widespread muscle pain and tenderness.

• Self-care: Some treatments for fibromyalgia are best done at home like exercising and finding ways to reduce stress. Self-education about fibromyalgia is also an important part of managing and treating the condition.

Treatment of fibromyalgia will often involve a combination of treatment options. It may take some time and experimentation, but relief from symptoms is possible if you find what works for you and stick with it.

Fibromyalgia medications

Fibromyalgia medications help treat pain and can even help with things like mood changes and difficulty sleeping. Here are some of the most popular groups of medications used to treat fibromyalgia.

Over-the-counter pain medications

For mild fibromyalgia pain, many over-the-counter painkillers can help. Advil (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen) are both examples of medications that can be purchased at any pharmacy. Pain medications may help you feel better, but they often work best as part of a multidimensional treatment plan for fibromyalgia.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants work by increasing hormones in the brain like serotonin, which can help the central nervous system respond to pain better. Antidepressants can also help with mood changes and sleep problems that many people with fibromyalgia have. Cymbalta, Paxil, and Savella are commonly prescribed antidepressants.

Anticonvulsants

Anticonvulsants, or anti-seizure medications, help keep nerves from sending too many pain signals to the brain. Lyrica (pregabalin) and Neurontin gabapentin are anti-seizure drugs that are approved by the FDA to treat fibromyalgia, but they can cause side effects like weight gain and blurred vision.

What is the best medication for fibromyalgia?

There isn’t one single fibromyalgia medication that will work best for everyone. The type of medication you’ll need will depend on your age, medical history, symptoms, other medications you’re taking, and your response to treatment. The following table lists commonly prescribed fibromyalgia medications.

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What is the best medication for fibromyalgia?