Painkillers May Be Making Your Fibromyalgia Worse

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Chronic Pain Relief Medications

In general, chronic pain treatment includes medication and self-care. Different options work for different symptoms, with an emphasis on improving general health.

Prescription drugs and over-the-counter pain medicines are common treatments. They help reduce pain and improve sleep quality, but they are not without problems (more on that later). Your doctor may prescribe the following medications to help you deal with fibromyalgia:

Analgesics

Over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics are often the first line of defense for pain relief. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium are common OTC choices. Your doctor may even suggest a prescription painkiller, such as tramadol.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants, such as duloxetine and milnacipran, are also used to treat pain. And your doctor may prescribe cyclobenzaprine (a muscle relaxant) to help you sleep.

Antiseizure Drugs

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pregabalin to treat your disorder. Or your doctor may prescribe an epilepsy drug, such as gabapentin, for the pain.

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pain medications for fibromyalgia

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2 Comments

  1. says: Colin

    All very well and good to say that chronic pain is a lifestyle problem rather than a a medical one. That’s rubbish. It depends on what the source of the pain is. Medicine hasn’t focused enough on finding answers to treating fibro myalgia. In the meantime, yes, try to help yourself with drug free alternatives but they are often ineffective too. And why don’t you recommend herbs and supplements? I have personal experience of using them and they are effective.

  2. says: Pauleen

    Help!! I can’t taste or smell anything!! My feet hurt my head has constant stabbing pains. I sleep very little and I get irritated easily.

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