[GailA]

FYI for my fellow suffers of Fibromalgia.

[Jen]

This is good news!

[Ff--150]

ping

[Wait4Truth]

Thanks, Gail. My sister suffers from fibromyalgia. I emailed the article to her.

[Damocles]

Thanks for the info. My Grandmother-in-law has been dibilitated by fybromyalgia for years and has tried every medication known (legal and illegal) to try and gain relief to no avail.

I'll pass this info along.

[mathluv]

Are there any trial programs?

[valleygal]

I, too have FM. Take a look at www.fibromyalgiatreatment.com.
I began taking guaifensin a few weeks ago. It's supposed to help the kidneys get rid of phosphates that build up in our cells because our bodies can get rid of it like it should.

Guaifenesin is supposed to reverse fibro not just treat the pain. Kind of restrictive, though. Can't use any skin products with salicylates in them (or plant extracts) or take aspirin. One company does make salicylate free products, though.

If anybody has other info they can pass on, I'd appreciate it. My mother has FM very, very badly. Nothing has helped her. She hasn't tried guai yet. And I haven't been on it long enough to know for sure this is going to be the answer.

[buffyt]

My college roommate takes Paxil and Elavil for it. She takes one drug by day and the other one by night. I ran this by my doctor and he said that drug mix is a no no. But Jeannie has been taking this drug mix for many years. Without them she was unable to do anything. With them she is able to teach school every day.

[Patriotic Bostonian]

This is fantastic news! I too suffer from Fibromyalsia.

[Plutarch]

Amer College Rheum Annual Meeting Presentation Oct 2002

Pregabalin Improves Pain Associated with Fibromyalgia Syndrome in a Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Monotherapy Trial

Leslie Crofford, I. Jon Russell, Philip Mease, Ann Corbin, James Young, Jr., Linda LaMoreaux, Susan Martin, Uma Sharma, Lloyd Knapp, Mark Versavel, R. Michael Poole

Purpose: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients experience chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain in association with fatigue and sleep disturbance. There are no approved therapies, and treatments that are used often do not provide adequate relief. This 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group monotherapy trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of pregabalin up to 450mg/day (150 mg TID) for reducing pain and associated symptoms in patients with FMS.

Methods: Patients meeting the ACR criteria for FMS completed a 1-week baseline phase and an 8-week fixed dose treatment phase (6 required visits). Patients (n=529) were randomized to receive placebo, 150, 300 or 450mg/day pregabalin at Visit 2. The primary efficacy parameter was pain, recorded by patients in a daily pain diary, using an 11-point numeric rating scale. The primary analysis was based on the endpoint mean pain score. Secondary efficacy measures included the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), sleep quality diary, Medical Outcomes Study (MOS)-Sleep Scale, Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF), Patient and Clinical Global Impression of Change (PGIC, CGIC), and SF-36 Health Survey.

Results: Pregabalin-treated patients (450mg/day) showed significant improvement in the endpoint mean pain score (-0.93; p<0.001) compared to placebo, and were significantly more likely to have 50% reduction in pain from baseline (29% vs. 13%, p = 0.003). The mean SF-MPQ total pain descriptor and visual analog scale (VAS) scores were significantly improved at each visit and at endpoint for the pregabalin 450mg/day treatment group compared to placebo. Mean sleep quality, fatigue, CGIC and PGIC scores at endpoint were significantly improved for patients receiving 300 and 450mg/day pregabalin. The MOS-Sleep Index score was significantly improved at endpoint for all doses. Four of 8 domains of the SF-36 were significantly improved at endpoint for the 450mg/day treatment group. Overall, 48 patients (9%) withdrew due to adverse events and 44 patients (8%) due to lack of efficacy. The most common adverse events were dizziness and somnolence. Most patients (78%) completed the trial and entered a follow-on safety trial.

Conclusions: Pregabalin is effective and safe for the treatment of pain at 450mg/day in patients with FMS in this study. Pregabalin additionally improved sleep quality, fatigue, global measures of improvement and quality of life.

Keywords: fibromyalgia, pregabalin, pain

[republicandiva]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I will watch as this drug makes it through the approval/rejection process. It might be worth our while to form as a group to "encourage" approval, or at least speed along the testing process. I'm currently managing my existence on steroids, muscle relaxants, Vioxx and occassional narcotics. Not sure how long some of my organs will keep tolerating some of these drugs, but the docs have hinted something like this might be coming. I know others that are narcotic dependent (addicted) and this would be a God-send. Let's keep our fingers crossed this proves to be an answer.

[Concerned]

There is a DRUG-FREE PRODUCT on the market which is FDA-approved for anxiety, depression and insomnia. It has also been found to VERY helpful for fibromyalgia.

There have been something like 126 human studies and 29 animal studies.

[equus]

I think a good portion of fibro is caused by chronic infection. For instance, a very healthy friend had fibro for 6 months at one point and it turned out to be a bad tooth, the fibro disappeared in days of having the tooth pulled. (He hadn't realized the connection).

I got lyme disease a few years ago and in spite of a course of antibiotics suffer from fibro & fatigue since, I know its continuing infection, I just hate antibiotics, but I know of many people diagnosed with fibro & fatigue who improve on antibiotics.

It could also be fungal, parasties, whatever. I don't think people just "get" fibro for no reason. It is related to toxins thrown off by infection, and the body's inflammatory response to chronic infection.

Just a thot for the other sufferers--don't just live with it but explore the root causes.

[elbucko]

As one who has gone through a very long and painful rehab, after a car accident some years ago, I do truly hope this is an effective treatment for those that need it. One piece of advice, don't give up, three minutes before the miracle.

Regards, Buck.

[SuziQ]

My husband saw this thread and pointed it out to me. My sister suffers from fibromyalgia. I went to the Commercial Appeal website and e-mailed the article to her. Thanks for posting it!

[Pagey]

My mom suffers from this and it is horrible to see her in pain like this when I visit and she's only 66 years old.It's too bad they can't make a cure available faster. How she can stand it,is WAY beyond my comprehension.

[TroutStalker]

Thanks for posting this. My wife suffers from fibromyalgia and I am forwarding this to her.

[RightWinger]

Thanks, I gave a copy to my wife who suffers from it.

[MamaLucci]

Patient Ratings Of Lyrica(Pregabalin)

FYI. Looks promising!

[MamaB]

I have had this for many years. Some of my symptoms have been severe chest pain which feels like a heart attack. Mine seems to be under control unless I am under a great deal of stress or try to lift something that I know I should not.