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A New Free Report - What Is Fibromyalgia?
This fascinating new report from UK-based publishing house Health Research Today answers some of the most-asked questions about this baffling disease :
- What's the medical definition of Fibromyalgia?
- What are the symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
- What are tender points and what are trigger points? What's the difference?
- What are the known causes of Fibromyalgia?
Fill in this form and we will send you the report immediately, which you are welcome to send on to friends or family!
Treatments for Fibromyalgia
This article is an extract from the ebook Freedom From Fibromyalgia!
Medical Treatment Options for Fibromyalgia
No one wants to hear the diagnosis of fibromyalgia, but even more, no one wants to deal with the many fibromyalgia symptoms, ranging from chronic pain and headaches to fatigue and difficulty concentrating. Fortunately, if you are proactive, you’ll find there are myriad of fibromyalgia treatments that can effectively alleviate your symptoms, at least to some degree.
Unsurprisingly, many fibromyalgia patients and their doctors decide that medication is an effective fibromyalgia treatment for alleviating symptoms and pain. Among the many medications doctors have prescribed to fibromyalgia patients include muscle relaxants, antidepressants, anti-inflammatory meds, pain killers, and sleep modifiers.
It’s not uncommon for fibromyalgia patients to try numerous medications, trying to treat their fibromyalgia symptoms, to find the one that works best for them. Talk with your doctor about medication options, as one form of fibromyalgia treatment, and always make sure you ask about the potential side effects of medications.
Fibromyalgia Medications
Finding the right type of fibromyalgia medication, combined with the right fibromyalgia treatment, can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Sometimes it takes trial and error before finding the best medication for your needs, but the good news is once you’ve received your official fibromyalgia diagnosis, your doctor will likely want to discuss the available fibromyalgia medications to help curb your symptoms.
Therefore, it’s important to understand the different categories of fibromyalgia medications: antidepressants, anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxants, pain killers, and sleep modifiers.
Additionally, before you take any fibromyalgia medication, make sure you talk to your doctor about the side effects you may experience. If you’re still able to work, for example, you don’t want to take a muscle relaxant during the day, or you’ll likely be too tired to keep your eyes open.
Types of medications:
There are several classifications of fibromyalgia medicines your doctor may prescribe to you. Each, of course, has its distinct advantages and disadvantages, so you’ll want to discuss with your doctor the best choice(s) for you.
Antidepressants. While antidepressants naturally help to curb depression, a common side effect of fibromyalgia, antidepressants are also used to manage the pain and insomnia that often accompanies fibromyalgia. The disadvantages of some antidepressants, used as fibromyalgia medication, are side effects such as fatigue and dry mouth.
Common antidepressants prescribed as fibromyalgia medications include: Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Effexor, and Serzone. Remember to ask your doctor to explain the specific side effects for the medication he or she has prescribed for you.
Anti-inflammatories Anti-inflammatory medications are fairly self-explanatory as they help reduce fibromyalgia’s pain. Used as a fibromyalgia medication, anti-inflammatories aren’t guaranteed to help relieve pain; however, if the prescribed anti-inflammatory curbs pain, there’s no harm in staying on it long-term.
However, it is extremely important to understand that there is a major side effect of taking an anti-inflammatory, even if it is prescribed as a fibromyalgia medication. Anti-inflammatories have been known to cause gastrointestinal bleeding. Discuss your options with your doctor to determine if you’re at risk for such a side effect.
In addition to ibuprofen, other common anti-inflammatories used for fibromyalgia medications include Lodine, Daypro, Celebrex, and Vioxx.
Muscle relaxants. Often used as a fibromyalgia medication, muscle relaxants are designed to relax the muscles. While muscle relaxants have been found to help fibromyalgia patients, be aware that the main side effect is drowsiness.
Muscle relaxants prescribed as fibromyalgia medications include Flexeril, Robaxin, Skelaxin, and Soma.
Pain killers. Pain killers do just that: kill pain. Many doctors will only prescribe pain killers – as a fibromyalgia medication – only for a specific period. Many pain killers are narcotics, which means there is a chance of addition. Other side effects may include concentration problems and sleepiness.
Examples of pain killers used as fibromyalgia medicine include: Vicodin, Ultram, Darvocet, Percocet, and Oxycontin.
Anti-anxiety. Among the many symptoms of fibromyalgia is anxiety, including panic attacks. Combating anxiety is important as it can make your condition much worse. Anti-anxiety medications, prescribed as a fibromyalgia medicine, include Xanax, Ativan, and Klonopin. You may experience such side effects as memory problems and depression.
Sleep aids. In addition to anti-depressants and muscle relaxants, sleeping medications such as Ambien and Sonata are prescribed as a fibromyalgia medication to help patients sleep. Whereas you may awake feeling drowsy after having taken a muscle relaxant or antidepressant the night before, the sleep medicines are designed to leave you feeling refreshed, the drowsiness having worn off by the time you wake up.
Trying different fibromyalgia medications can get expensive, particularly if one doesn’t work. Additionally, if you don’t have health insurance, you may not be able to afford to try different medications. Ask your doctor if he or she has any samples of a fibromyalgia medicine you can try.
Many doctors will give their patients samples of the chosen fibromyalgia
medicine, along with a prescription. That way, if the fibromyalgia medication
works, you can take the prescription to the pharmacy to have it filled. And, if
it doesn’t work, you’re not out any money and can have your doctor suggest a
different fibromyalgia medication.
Finding the right fibromyalgia medication might take some time, but don’t give up on it. Eventually, you will find the right medication that will curb your symptoms and help you feel better than ever.
© Health Research Today
Read the rest of this article in Freedom From Fibromyalgia!
