Fibromyalgia medication is intended to reduce the pain and fatigue that disrupts the lives of people with this condition. There is not a cure for fibromyalgia, and treatment focuses on relieving the symptoms of the disorder. A combination of analgesics, antidepressants, and sleep aids are given to most people with fibromyalgia. Recently, anti-convulsants have been approved to reduce the pain associated with fibromyalgia.
Since the most prevalent complaint of fibromyalgia is a deep and widespread muscle pain, most physicians will begin with medications for pain relief. Over the counter drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium are sometimes effective at reducing the painful sensations experienced on a daily basis. Some people have pain that does not respond well to non-prescription drugs. For these people, narcotic or opioid medications like Vicodin® or Oxycontin® are the best way to get long-term relief from pain. Tramadol®, a non-narcotic painkiller, has had good results with pain relief without the risk of forming a dependence on the medication.
Some antidepressants prescribed for fibromyalgia treatment are in a class called serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and include Cymbalta® or Savella®. These medications work by preventing the reabsorbtion of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. Having more of these chemicals available in the brain is thought to promote feelings of well-being. Other ones used for fibromyalgia medication are called tricyclic antidepressants, like Elavil®. These medications can help to regulate sleep cycles and treat the depression and anxiety that many fibromyalgia sufferers face.
Many people with fibromyalgia are unable to get any deep restorative sleep. Sleep aids like Restoril® and Ambien® are often prescribed to promote a better sleep experience. The body heals itself during the sleep cycles, and poor sleep patterns can contribute to an increase in pain levels throughout the body. A large portion of fibromyalgia patients are also faced with extraordinary fatigue daily. These sleep aids may be able to help the person be more alert the next day.
In 2007, a fibromyalgia medication called Lyrica® was approved for the treatment of widespread pain. This drug is in a class of medications called anti-convulsants. It is thought that the over-activity of certain impulses in the brain contributes to the pain felt by fibromyalgia patients. Lyrica® is believed to slow down the impulses that transmit pain signals, resulting in less pain registered by the brain. This fibromyalgia medication can also help banish the fatigue that is generally a daily problem for most people with this disorder.