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Fibromyalgia Treatment and Management

  • The doctor can prescribe to go in for anti-depressants such as duloxetine and minacipran which can help in providing relief from any pain which is associated with fibromyalgia. Sometimes the doctor can also prescribe amitriptyline for treating the fibromyalgia symptoms. These medications are known to affect the varied number of symptoms in the individual such as their depressed mood, disturbances in their sleep, pain and fatigue. Cymbalta is another antidepressant that is known to belong to the serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors class of drugs. Few of the common side effects of this drug are dryness in the mouth, nausea and constipation.
  • There are also over the counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen. Acetaminophen and naproxen sodium which can turn out to be helpful pain relievers. Though they may not necessarily be of much help since in fibromyalgia there is little to no inflammation caused. But these drugs are known to boost pain relief from the other fibromyalgia medications. These drugs also carry certain side effects which one should be aware about and they are increase in blood pressure, stomach upset and bleeding. Acetaminophen can be helpful to a certain extent and also it is a bit easy on the stomach. Also it does not lead to much of the drug interactions as the other drugs can. But acetaminophen can be taken only when recommended by the doctor since too much of this drug is also not good for the health and it can lead to liver issues.
  • There are certain anti-seizure medications such as pregabalin which can help in reducing the symptoms that are normally associated with fibromyalgia.
  • Fibromyalgia is known to cause disruption in sleep hence the doctor can also prescribe certain sleep related medications for assisting in better sleep for the individual. These medications are known to include low doses of antidepressant medications which can include amitriptyline which can be mostly taken before going to sleep. The other kinds of sleeping pills may not turn out to be useful for those suffering from fibromyalgia.
  • Those individuals who suffer from stiffness or spasms in the muscles due to this medical condition then the doctor in such cases can also recommend to go in for certain muscle relaxants which can include diazepam. Muscle relaxant such as cyclobenzaprine may to a certain extent provide relief from pain in the muscles but it should be taken before bedtime. In certain cases, a steroid injection which is given directly into the muscle spasm or the trigger region can in certain cases be used when the other treatments do not work much.
  • Few of the common anti-convulsant which can be used for fibromyalgia patients are gabapentin and pregabalin. The drug pregabalin has also been approved by the FDA for treating fibromyalgia. Lyrica is known to help in reducing the pain as well as bring about improvement in the daily functioning for few of the individuals. But the drug is known to have certain side effects such as it can lead to mild form of dizziness or sleepiness in the individual. Lyrica is also said to lead to swelling and weight gain in few individuals. Hence it is advisable that the patient should speak to their doctor about the possibility of any impairment caused due to lyrica.
  • The doctor can also prescribe certain antipsychotic medications which are also known as neuroleptics.
  • Use of hydrotherapy is another method of bringing about improvement in the condition of fibromyalgia. The individual can sit, exercise or swim in heated water for getting relief from the fibromyalgia symptoms.
  • Certain doctors based on the individual’s condition can also refer for going in for cognitive behavioural therapy. This would basically refer to talking therapy wherein the main aim of this therapy is to influence positively the individual’s perception regarding certain thing which can include their health and their lifestyle.
  • The use of psychotherapy is known to teach the patient for understanding as well as to effectively handle their thoughts as well as their feelings.

When it comes to fibromyalgia the pain can be quite devastating hence one can wonder about the effectiveness of those alternative form of treatments so as to provide ease to the discomfort caused. Few of the alternative methods are use of acupuncture, massaging, chiropractic, tai chi, carrying out meditation and use of herbal or dietary supplements.