Non-drug treatments can be both physical and psychological. The same treatments do not work for every individual with fibromyalgia.

Non-Drug Treatments

Drugs used for fibromyalgia symptoms may be beneficial but harmful at the same time due to adverse effects. There is limited research to specific drugs used for fibromyalgia, but opioids, antidepressants, and anticonvulsant drugs are prescribed to patients. Tramadol, an opioid has shown effectiveness in helping with fibromyalgia symptoms, but it is highly addictive. Many types of antidepressant drugs are used for fibromyalgia, but they often have side effects. The anticonvulsant, pregabalin has also been used for treatment.

Drug Treatments for Fibromyalgia

There is no "cure" for fibromyalgia but there are different treatments that help the different symptoms become more manageable. Some of the treatments include:

•	Physical therapy

•	Acupuncture 

•	Psychological therapies

•	Analgesics

•	Opioids

•	Antidepressants

•	Anticonvulsant drugs

•	A healthy lifestyle


University of Colorado at Denver

Fibromyalgia is an illness which presents itself as widespread and a variety of other impairing symptoms. This condition is classified under ‘diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue’ in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).

Fibromyalgia

Rahman, A., Underwood, M., & Carnes, D. (2014). Fibromyalgia. BMJ: British Medical Journal, 348. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26514070

Fibromyalgia (Rahman, et al., 2014)

There are no specific causes of the onset of fibromyalgia symptoms but the following have been found as triggers:

•	Genetics

•	Stressors

•	Infections


Possible Causes of Fibromyalgia

Treatments for Fibromyalgia

There is no way to get exact statistics of the amount of people affected by fibromyalgia, but studies have found a few patterns in regard to who has a higher chance of receiving the diagnosis. The prevalence in the population is most likely lower than 2-4% in the United States.

Prevalence of Fibromyalgia in the U.S.

Fibromyalgia does not have a specific test for diagnosis, but usually patients need to meet certain requirements. Different doctors use different criteria to diagnose but usually try to rule out other disorders before giving this diagnosis.

Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia

In this experiment, the upper limb of patients was placed in cold water and a visual analogue scale was used to measure the degree of pain that was experienced.


Experimental Model of Pain in Fibromyalgia Patients


• chronic widespread pain and tenderness

• unrefreshing sleep or other problems with sleep

• feelings of physical exhaustion

• cognitive difficulties such as brain fog

• fatigue and a variety of other somatic and psychological symptoms.

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