Fibromyalgia medications include:
*Fibromyalgia medications can include Analgesics. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) sometimes lower the pain and stiffness caused by fibromyalgia. However, its effectiveness is different with each person. Tramadol (Ultram) is a prescription pain reliever that can be taken together with acetaminophen or alone. Your physician may suggest nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or naproxen sodium (Anaprox, Aleve), together with other medications. NSAIDs, by themselves have not proven effective in managing the pain in fibromyalgia.
*Fibromyalgia medications can include antidepressants. Your doctor may prescribe antidepressant medications such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline (Pamelor) or doxepin (Sinequan) to help promote sleep. Fluoxetine (Prozac) in combination with amitriptyline has also been found effective. Sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil) may help if you are in depression.
*Some evidence exists for a newer type of antidepressants known as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors or dual uptake inhibitors, which regulate two brain chemicals that may transmit pain signals. Studies have shown that duloxetine (Cymbalta) may help control pain better than placebo in people with fibromyalgia. Small trials of venlafaxine (Effexor) suggest the same, however more research is required to substanciate these findings.
*Fibromyalgia medications can include muscle relaxants. Taking the medication cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) before going to bed may help treat muscle pain and spasms. Muscle relaxants are usually restricted to short-term use.
*Firbomyalgia medications can include Pregabalin (Lyrica). Pregabalin may lower pain and help people with fibromyalgia to function better. Pregabalin is an anti-seizure medication, which is also used to treat certain types of pain. It is the original drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a fibromyalgia medication. Research shows pregabalin lessened signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia in some people. In one study, approximately 50% of the participants, who took the highest doses of pregabalin, reported at least a 30 percent improvement. Pregabalin’s side effects include dizziness, blurred vision, sleepiness, weight gain, difficulty concentrating, swelling in the hands and feet, and dry mouth.
Fibromyalgia medications such as prescription sleeping pills like zolpidem (Ambien), may give short-term benefits for some fibromyalgia sufferers, yet doctors generally advise against long-term use of these sleeping pills. These medications tend to work for only a short while, after which your body no longer responds to their effects. In the end, sleeping pills usually tend to create even more sleeping problems for many people.
