Talk:Fibromyalgia drugs

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Extra sources[edit source | reply | new]

I think amitriptyline is important to add. New refs to add - Appendix AMedications Used Off Label for Fibromyalgia Syndrome in the United States - NHS fibromyalgia medication - for UK: Antidepressants used to treat fibromyalgia include: tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as duloxetine and venlafaxine, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine.A medication called pramipexole, which is not an antidepressant but also affects the levels of neurotransmitters, is sometimes used as well. - Milnacipran / Jonica brand approved in Australia

notjusttired (talk) 09:58, 13 April 2019 (EDT)
Do you now. I will tell you why they were using depression drugs for "fibromyalgia". It is because doctors, especially psychiatrists, kept diagnosing people that had depression with fibro because depression can cause pain. This is why the ACR 2010 criteria had to be developed, to stop this trend. I can tell you personally that prescribing these depression drugs for pain and sleep caused me great physical damage. So, if you want to completely destroy someone's life, then by all means post this information on the page.--77.111.245.196 12:10, 13 April 2019 (EDT)
Aditionally, amitriptyline is highly addictive and is horrific to come off of as are most depression drugs. These serotonin reuptake drugs cause severe sedation and drugging during the day.
If a drug is commonly used for fibromyalgia and there is clear evidence including clinical trials then it should be covered. Side effects, negatives and any evidence go on the page for each drug. Amitriptyline is not a serotonin reuptake drug, it is a TCA which is very commonly used for nerve pain and general pain, and is also sedating so commonly used for insomnia in people without depression - pain and insomnia being common symptoms of fibromyalgia. It is also not regarded as a drug that is difficult to discontinue. It is not helpful to disregard any and all classes of anti-depressants based on assumptions that they are intended to treat mood problems that may not exist - if that was true antidepressants in general would be recommended rather than a particular one, and specialists in Fibromyalgia would not suggest it. There are a number of specific medications classed as psychiatric drugs which are either licensed for unrelated conditions or commonly used off-label for specific symptoms. Doses may well be different in those cases. A person might find a neurologist suggests a bipolar drug (mood stabilizer) to reduce migraines for example, or for Trigeminal neuralgia pain. ~Njt (talk) 13:45, April 5, 2020 (PDT)

Insomnia drugs[edit source | reply | new]

These do not appear to be any different in Fibromyalgia than for ME/CFS or insomnia from other causes. I suggest moving this to the general insomnia page.

A reference specific to insomnia in fibro is the book Fibromyalgia Q&A. Note "sedating antipsychotics" sounds bizarre but quetiapine is used at low doses off-label. The existing website referenced was written by someone with fibromyalgia and described itself as a blog so unfortunately doesn't meet the MEpedia:Science guidelines. ~Njt (talk) 13:45, April 5, 2020 (PDT)