Human growth hormone therapy

The discovery of subnormal levels of IGF-1 in some fibromyalgia patients in a 1997 study, published in the Journal of Rheumatology, sparked a series of research on the efficacy of human growth hormone therapy in fibromyalgia patients. In two separate studies done in 1998 and 2007, growth hormone treatment has been found to benefit a specific group of low IGF-1 fibromyalgia patients, with or without the concurrent use of other medications respectively. The benefits include reduction in tender points, relief in morning stiffness and improvement in muscle weakness.

These findings encouraged the development of human growth hormone (hGH) therapy for fibromyalgia where hGH is injected directly into patients. However, the treatment lacks universality as a treatment option for all fibromyalgia patients as it is only available to suitable patients and incurs a high cost ranging from USD500-1000 a month. There are also concerns with prolonged usage of hGH.

Pyridostigmine therapy to suppress Somatostatin

Some studies also suggest that the impaired secretion of GH could be due to high levels of hypothalamic somatostatin tone inhibiting the activation of GHRH which in turn result in low secretion of GH. A 2002 study published in the Journal of Arthritis Rheumatology found that fibromyalgia patients have a subnormal GH response to exercise and that low GH response can be reversed with the use of Pyridostigmine drug, a somatostatin-blocking agent, which reduced somatostatin tone.

In view of the cost and concerns of long term administration of hGH, 2 clinical trials published in 2007 and 2008, investigated the effect of Pyridostigmine (also known by brand name Mestinon) in combination with exercise therapy to increase GH levels in fibromyalgia patients. In the 2008 trial, subjects reported significant improvement in sleep and anxiety after 6 months of treatment though no significant impact were seen in other fibromyalgia symptoms. Nevertheless, researchers remain positive in the direction of the study to finding a long term Pyridostigmine therapy by adjusting its dosage and duration of exercise and perhaps introducing GH-releasing hormone secretagogues.

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