Fibromyalgia Through the Centuries: How Fibromyalgia Has Evolved

• 2005-2009: The American Pain Society published the first guidelines used in the treatment of fibromyalgia in 2005. In 2007, the US Food and Drug Administration gave its approval for Lyrica (pregabalin), which became the first drug designed to treat fibromyalgia sympoms. The FDA also gave its approval for Cymbalta (duloxetine hydrochloride) as the second drug designed to treat for fibromyalgia in 2008. A year later in 2009, Savella (milnacipran hydrochloride) received the approval of the FDA as the third drug used in treating fibromyalgia.

• 2010: The FIQ was revised to change the questions presented to patients in 2009. It also improved scoring accuracy and evaluation of patients based on their symptoms. The diagnostic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology went through an update in 2010. The update standardized the diagnosis based on symptoms as well as ensuring the use of similar processes in diagnosing fibromyalgia. The Widespread Pain Index replaced the tender point scale, and it also used the Symptom Severity Scale to measure the severity of the symptoms.