Living with fibromyalgia can be difficult, but there are many different medications for treating the symptoms of fibromyalgia, such as pain reliever medicines, antidepressant medicines, etc. For this article, we will primarily be discussing pain meds, though as we will see some antidepressants may be considered pain meds as well.
None of the pain meds, however, will completely cure you of fibromyalgia. We should set that part straight to begin with. However, most of the pain meds will help to ease the pain and symptoms of fibromyalgia.
You’ll have a better mood and get better sleep at night too, and they can especially be effective if your work with your doctor throughout the treatment process and so that you find the right pain meds and instructions for treating and managing your fibromyalgia symptoms effectively.
The Treatment for Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is very difficult to diagnose in the first place, because it has so many symptoms that are also symptoms in other medical conditions and diseases as well. But for the sake of the information here, let’s assume that you have been officially diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Your doctor will immediately begin treatment, and you probably will want to as well.
Pain meds are an excellent way to start for treating fibromyalgia. One form of pain med that your doctor may prescribe to you is an antidepressant, which actually works as a very effective pain reliever, not to mention that it can help your fatigue as well. They can also help to relieve depression, a common symptom in people with fibromyalgia.
Tricyclic Antidepressants
Regardless of whether you think antidepressants are pain meds or not, they are extremely effective at reducing pain levels. This is particularly true with tricyclic antidepressants, which raise neurotransmitter levels in the brain, especially serotonin and norepinephrine. When these neurotransmitters are calmed down, it greatly decreases the level of pain in the body. They can also increase the effects of painkillers. Of course, as with any drugs there are side effects to tricylclic antidepressants, including dry eyes, dry mouth, excessive drowsiness, and constipation.
Do other Antidepressants Relieve the Pain and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
There are several different types of antidepressants, and in turn there are several different antidepressants that can help to relieve the pain of fibromyalgia. Most of these include Cymbalta, Savella, and Effexor.
Cymbalta and Savella are probably better choices as they are approved to treat fibromyalgia, while Effexor is not. While Effexor does help to relieve the symptoms in some people, it is not approved because we do not yet have the medical research to prove that it effectively does treat fibromyalgia.
Many of the antidepressants also work differently throughout the body, and just because one antidepressant helped to relieve the pain in your friend doesn’t exactly mean that it will in you too. Ultimately, you may have to do more than just take antidepressants, and eventually you may just abandon antidepressants altogether in favor of other Fibromyalgia medications.
Fibromyalgia Pain Reliever Medications
As with antidepressants, there are many different kinds of pain relievers, and there are many pain relievers that can treat the pain and symptoms of fibromyalgia. And as with antidepressants, just because one pain reliever worked in one person doesn’t necessarily mean that it will work for you too. The most common type of pain reliever that people with fibromyalgia take is acetaminophen, which they can take over the counter and can greatly alleviate the pain. One of the neat things about acetaminophen is that it has very few side effects.
Anti-inflammatory drugs have been found to not work that well with fibromyalgia, so it is best that you avoid them in favor of other options. Anti-inflammatory drugs are also available over the counter, and include aspirin and ibuprofen.
Fortunately, anti-inflammatory drugs do sometimes work if they are combined with other drugs. You should consult with your doctor to see what options will work the best for you, and also check into the potential side effects. For example, common side effects of aspirin include heartburn and nausea/vomiting. Also, taking these over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs for a long period of time is only going to make you likelier to develop these side effects, so make sure that you follow your doctor’s instructions closely.
Anticonvulsants as Pain Relievers
Fibromyalgia is commonly treated by Lyrica, which is a drug that was primarily used for treating seizures. It has also been found to be effective for fibromyalgia, as it can affect the brain chemicals that send pain signals to the body, and as a result reduce the symptoms and pain of fibromyalgia. It can also reduce the fatigue that you feel and allow you to get more sleep at night and feel less tired during the day.
Muscle Relaxants as Pain Relievers
Muscle relaxants have also proved useful for treating fibromyalgia. The primary benefit of muscle relaxants is that they work inside brain to relax the muscles. Of course, there are also potential side effects that you should be aware about. Muscle relaxants may cause you to experience dizziness and drowsiness, dry mouth, and a difficulty comprehending things and remembering thoughts from the previous day.
Other Options
These are not the only pain meds options available for treating fibromyalgia, but they are the most common. Examples include Ultram, Ativan, Klonopin, Xanax, and Valium, which all would have to be prescribed by your doctor before you use any of them. All of these can help by relaxing the pain in your muscles and allow you to get better sleep at night, and subsequently feel significantly less fatigued during the day. You will still want to use all of these with caution, as using them more than the recommended amount will only increase the chance of developing the side effects. Some of them are also addictive and should only be used with medical supervision.
Comments