Medication for the treatment of fibromyalgia

In a few people who have fibromyalgia, the drugs amitriptyline, duloxetine and pregabalin can clearly reduce the pain. Their effectiveness can be estimated based on the results of studies. This is what the studies found:

• Pain was reduced by at least half in about 25 to 45 out of 100 people who took any of these medications.
• Pain was reduced by at least half in about 10 to 25 out of 100 people who took a placebo (fake medication).

But most of the studies only lasted roughly between three and six months. There is a lack of good research on the effectiveness over longer periods of time.

The studies also looked at the side effects of the medications and, in particular, how often participants stopped their treatment due to side effects such as nausea or sleep problems. The results showed the following:

• On average, 10 to 17 out of 100 people who took any of these medications stopped their treatment due to side effects – compared to
• about 5 to 10 out of 100 people who took a placebo.

The frequency of side effects will depend on various things, such as which drug and dose is used.

If you decide to try out treatment with one of these medications, you can’t expect immediate results. It takes two to four weeks for them to start working, if they work.

If this medication is used over a long time period, it can make sense to see whether it is still needed after a while. For instance, if someone has started doing more exercise or has learned relaxation or stress management techniques since they started taking medication, then their symptoms may have improved so much that they no longer need the medication. So people are sometimes advised to see how they feel if they stop taking the medication after six months.

Amitriptyline is a type of medication known as tricyclic antidepressants. It inhibits the action of several chemical messengers (neurotransmitters), including serotonin and noradrenaline (norepinephrine). When used for the treatment of fibromyalgia, amitriptyline is prescribed in low doses. It is taken once a day in the form of a tablet, usually in the evening (dose: 10 to 50 mg).

Some people find that amitriptyline becomes less effective over time. So doctors sometimes advise people to regularly stop taking it for a while – for instance, every three months.

The possible side effects of amitriptyline include a dry mouth, nausea, sleepiness, constipation and a slight increase in weight. Sleepiness is most common in the first few weeks of treatment, while the body gets used to the medication. If side effects occur, you can talk to your doctor about perhaps reducing the dose.

Duloxetine is a type of antidepressant medication known as serotonin-noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs). It has been approved for the treatment of depression, generalized anxiety disorder and pain caused by diabetes-related nerve damage. But there has also been research into its effectiveness in people who have fibromyalgia. When used in fibromyalgia, it is generally taken as a capsule in the morning (dose: 60 mg). The possible side effects of duloxetine include nausea, a dry mouth, drowsiness and sleep problems.

Pregabalin has been approved for the treatment of certain pain syndromes, epilepsy and generalized anxiety disorder. Like other medications mentioned above, it also affects the action of specific chemical messengers (neurotransmitters). Pregabalin is taken in the form of capsules two to three times daily, spread out across the day (dose: 150 to 450 mg). Alternatively, it can be taken in the form of a syrup.

The possible side effects include dizziness, vision problems, sleepiness, a slight increase in weight and water retention in the legs.

In order to avoid side effects as much as possible, it’s a good idea to start treatment with the above-mentioned medications at a low dose. The dose can then be gradually increased to allow your body to slowly get used to it. If a higher dose isn’t well tolerated, the dose can gradually be reduced again. When stopping treatment, too, it is important not to stop abruptly but gradually reduce the dose instead.

Some side effects such as drowsiness mainly occur in the first few weeks of treatment and then go away again. Most people tolerate the medication well. If someone gets a headache or feels sick after taking medication, it is often assumed that these are side effects. But it could simply be a coincidence. Just because two things happen at about the same time, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is a link.

In order to assess the risk of possible interactions with other drugs, it’s important to let your doctor know about any other medication you are taking. This includes herbal products and dietary supplements.

Painkillers such as acetylsalicylic acid (the drug in medications like Aspirin), diclofenac, ibuprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen) aren’t recommended for the treatment of fibromyalgia. They haven’t been proven to help in fibromyalgia. But they can have various side effects.

Other painkillers such as metamizole, as well as stronger medications such as the opioid called oxycodone, aren’t considered to be suitable either. People may become dependent on opioids. And there hasn’t been enough research on the use of opioids in the treatment of fibromyalgia. But research on the use of opioids in other chronic pain syndromes has shown that these medications aren’t very effective in the treatment of chronic pain. This is because the mechanisms of acute and chronic pain are quite different.

A lot of medications that are sometimes used to treat fibromyalgia haven’t been well studied in this area. Medical societies don’t recommend them for the treatment of fibromyalgia. These medications include:

• Sedatives and sleeping pills (also called hypnotics)
• Cannabis-based medication (cannabinoids)
• Guaifenesin (for the treatment of “wet” coughs)
• Hormones (e.g. testosterone, estrogen, growth hormones or thyroid hormones)
• Interferons
• Medication that relaxes your muscles (muscle relaxants)
• Medication that fights viruses (virostatics)
• Mirtazepine (for the treatment of depression)
• Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors
• Anesthetic medication (e.g. ketamine)
• Sodium oxybate

All of these medications can have side effects. So it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor and carefully weigh the pros and cons of using them.