DOCTOR'S VIEW ARCHIVE
Fibromyalgia Treatment...Methods Using Available
Medicines
NEWTON, MASS.-- Fibromyalgia (also known as fibrositis)
is a chronic condition causing pain, stiffness, and tenderness
of the muscles, tendons, and joints. Fibromyalgia is also
characterized
by restless sleep, awakening feeling tired, fatigue, anxiety,
depression, and disturbances in bowel function.
While fibromyalgia is one of the most common diseases
affecting the muscles, its cause is currently unknown. The painful
tissues involved are not accompanied by tissue inflammation.
Fibromyalgia
affects predominantly women (90 percent) between the ages of 35
and 55. In the United States, over 3 percent of the population
have fibromyalgia.
Since the symptoms of fibromyalgia are diverse and
vary among patients, treatment programs have to be individualized.
Treatment programs are most effective when they combine patient
education, stress reduction, regular exercise, and medications.
Tricyclic "antidepressant" drugs have been
used frequently to treat fibromyalgia. Amitriptyline (ELAVIL)
is one of the most commonly used tricyclic drugs for fibromyalgia
therapy. Fluoxetine (PROZAC) represents an entirely different
class of antidepressant medications called serotonin reuptake
inhibitors. There have been recent reports of success using fluoxetine
to treat fibromyalgia
The results of a study by Don Goldenberg,
M.D. and associates published in Arthritis &
Rheumatism
(1996;Vol.39,1852-9) suggest that combining amitriptyline and
fluoxetine in the treatment of fibromyalgia can be even more effective
than either drug alone.
Because the exact cause of fibromyalgia remains a
mystery we have yet to define an ideal treatment method for all
patients with this illness. The study by Dr. Goldenberg and associates
will open up many new avenues of options for future research looking
into the cause and treatment of fibromyalgia. Moreover, the
combination
of medications useful in fibromyalgia may be more helpful to some
patients than continually searching for individual drugs for benefits
while risking side effect exposure.
For more information, please read the Fibromyalgia,
Elavil, and
Prozac articles.
Last Editorial Review: 12/28/2004
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