Fibromyalgia Medications

There are currently two drugs approved as specific fibromyalgia medications. However, several drugs approved for other purposes can be used "off-label" to treat some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. In addition, a few experimental drugs are currently being tested to see if they can become safe and effective medications for fibromyalgia.

 

An Overview of Medications for Fibromyalgia

There are several treatment options for a person diagnosed with fibromyalgia. One treatment option is medication. At present, two medications, pregabalin (Lyrica®) and duloxetine (Cymbalta®), have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for treating fibromyalgia. Healthcare providers may also treat fibromyalgia with a variety of medications developed and approved for other purposes. Using these medicines for the treatment of fibromyalgia is known as using them for an "off-label" purpose. While these drugs have not been licensed to treat fibromyalgia, a number of studies have shown how they can provide benefits to people with the condition.
 
(Click Off-Label to learn about what off-label means, as well as off-label rules and how it is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using a drug off-label.)
 
The following are some of the most commonly used categories of medications for fibromyalgia:
 
  • Pain relievers (analgesics)
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Antidepressants
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Antiseizure medicines
  • A select group of other medications used to treat specific symptoms.

 

Approved Fibromyalgia Medicines

Currently, there are two medications approved for treating fibromyalgia. The approval of these medications represents a major step in the medical community's acceptance of fibromyalgia as a real, serious medical condition.
 
In June 2007, pregabalin (Lyrica®) was approved by the FDA for treating fibromyalgia in adults. Lyrica was already approved to treat seizures, as well as pain from damaged nerves that can happen in people with diabetes (diabetic neuropathy) and in those who develop pain (postherpetic neuralgia) following the shingles rash.
 
In previous clinical studies, Lyrica was shown to reduce pain and improve daily functions in some people with fibromyalgia. These studies also demonstrated that fibromyalgia symptoms worsened when Lyrica was withdrawn. Some of the most common Lyrica side effects include dizziness and sleepiness, blurry vision, weight gain, trouble concentrating, swelling of the hands and feet, and a dry mouth. Allergic reactions can also occur. These are rare, but potentially serious.
 
A second medication, duloxetine (Cymbalta®) has also been approved for fibromyalgia treatment. Cymbalta is a selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant that is also approved to treat depression, generalized anxiety, and diabetic nerve pain. Studies indicate that Cymbalta can help reduce fibromyalgia pain. Cymbalta was more effective than a placebo (a "sugar pill") for relieving pain, even in people who did not have depression along with fibromyalgia (although it was most effective in people that had depression).
   

Pain Relievers Used as Fibromyalgia Medication

Analgesics are pain relievers. They range from over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or aspirin to prescription medicines, such as tramadol (Ultram®).
 
For some people with fibromyalgia, narcotic medications are prescribed for severe muscle pain. However, there is no solid evidence showing that narcotics actually work to treat the chronic pain of fibromyalgia, and most healthcare providers hesitate to prescribe them for long-term use because of the potential for physical or psychological addiction to the drugs.
 

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs represent another class of fibromyalgia medications that are sometimes useful against pain. However, these medicines tend to work better when combined with other medications.
 
There are many NSAIDs that may be recommended. Some are available over the counter (for example, Advil®, Motrin®, Aleve®, and ketoprofen). Other NSAIDs require a prescription. They may be used to help ease the muscle aches of fibromyalgia. They may also relieve menstrual cramps and the headaches often associated with fibromyalgia.
 
Some examples of NSAIDs that can be used to treat fibromyalgia include:
 
Some of the most common NSAIDs side effects include:
 
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain (or stomach pain)
  • Heartburn
  • Dizziness
  • An unexplained rash.
     
There are also less common, but serious, side effects of NSAIDs, such as a heart attack or stroke, congestive heart failure, or an allergic reaction.
 
(Click NSAIDs Side Effects for more information on side effects with NSAIDs, including serious side effects to look out for.)
 
There are also certain groups of people who may be at a higher risk of side effects while taking NSAIDs (such as those with heart disease or stomach ulcers). These people should take NSAIDs with caution or not at all.
 
(Click NSAIDs Warnings and Precautions for more information on specific warnings and precautions with NSAIDs, including a list of people who should not take NSAIDs.)
 

Antidepressants

Perhaps the most useful fibromyalgia medications include several in the antidepressant class. Antidepressants elevate the levels of certain chemicals in the brain, including serotonin and norepinephrine (which was formerly called adrenaline). Low levels of these chemicals are associated not only with depression, but also with pain and fatigue. Increasing the levels of these chemicals can reduce pain in people who have fibromyalgia. Healthcare providers prescribe several types of antidepressants as fibromyalgia medications, including:
 
Tricyclic Antidepressants
When taken at bedtime in dosages lower than those used to treat depression, tricyclic antidepressants can help promote restorative sleep in people with fibromyalgia. They also can relax painful muscles and heighten the effects of the body's natural pain-killing substances called endorphins.
 
Tricyclic antidepressants have been around for almost half a century. Some examples of tricyclics used as fibromyalgia medications include:
 

 

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

If a tricyclic antidepressant fails to bring relief, a healthcare provider will sometimes prescribe a newer type of antidepressant called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). As with tricyclics, healthcare providers usually prescribe these for people with fibromyalgia in lower dosages than are used to treat depression. By promoting the release of serotonin, these drugs may reduce fatigue and some other symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.
 
Some examples of SSRIs used as fibromyalgia medications include:
 

 

SSRIs may be prescribed along with a tricyclic antidepressant. Healthcare providers rarely prescribe SSRIs alone. Since SSRIs make people feel more energetic, they also interfere with sleep, which often is already a problem for people with fibromyalgia. In previous studies, a combination therapy of the tricyclic amitriptyline and the SSRI fluoxetine resulted in greater improvements in the study participants' fibromyalgia symptoms than when either drug was used alone.
 
Other Antidepressants
Some newer antidepressants raise levels of different chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin and norepinephrine. Some examples of these antidepressants that may be used to treat fibromyalgia symptoms include:
 

  

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines help some people with fibromyalgia by relaxing tense, painful muscles and stabilizing the erratic brain waves that can interfere with deep sleep. These medicines can also relieve the symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS), which is common among people with fibromyalgia. Restless legs syndrome is characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs, as well as twitching (particularly at night).
 
Because of the potential for addiction, healthcare providers usually prescribe benzodiazepines only for people who have not responded to other therapies. Some examples of benzodiazepines used as fibromyalgia medications include:
 

Antiseizure Medicines

Antiseizure medications (also known as anticonvulsants or seizure medicines) are helpful in treating pain, particularly neuropathic pain. Many people with fibromyalgia have burning or electrical shock feelings in their hands and feet. Seizure medicines have been helpful in improving these symptoms.
 
Besides Lyrica (which is approved to treat fibromyalgia symptoms), some examples of seizure medicines used off-label include:
 

Other Fibromyalgia Medications

In addition to the general categories of drugs described above, healthcare providers may prescribe other drugs, depending on a person's specific symptoms or fibromyalgia-related conditions. For example, in recent years, alosetron (Lotronex®) has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (which is common in people with fibromyalgia). Some other symptom-specific medications include:
 
  • Sleep medications, such as:

 

 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD