Cymbalta Fibromyalgia Drugs Explained

Pain Relievers for Fibromyalgia

Most doctors will start your fibromyalgia pain relief regimen by recommending that you take an over the counter pain medication.

The most commonly used over the counter pain medications for fibromyalgia include Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and Aspirin. However, many people find that these over the counter pain relievers are not very effective methods of pain relief for this condition. If this is the case with you, your doctor will probably prescribe you something stronger. They may try a stronger pain reliever like Tramadol or an opioid drug like Morphine or Hydrocodone.

Antidepressants for Fibromyalgia

If you are prescribed an antidepressant for fibromyalgia it may be for your depression, but it may also be used to reduce your painful symptoms. One of the newer drugs that's showing a lot of promise for treating people with fibromyalgia is called Cymbalta. Fibromyalgia doctors use a number of different antidepressants including Amitriptyline, Pamelor, Doxepin, Prozac, Zoloft, and Effexor, which is similar to Cymbalta. Fibromyalgia is used to reduce pain because the neurotransmitters that are responsible for relaying pain signals also relay mood signals. Naturally, this makes antidepressants useful for depression relief and fibromyalgia pain relief.

Anticonvulsants for Fibromyalgia

It would not be uncommon for your doctor to prescribe you an anticonvulsant rather than an antidepressant like Cymbalta. Fibromyalgia can be treated rather effectively with anticonvulsants like Lyrica. In fact, Lyrica is the only drug that is approved by the Food and Drug administration to treat people living with fibromyalgia. Anticonvulsants work the same way that the depression medications do, by blocking pain signals in the brain. Many people who have taken Lyrica have reported a significant decrease in pain and a notable increase in daily function.

Other Medications and Fibromyalgia

When it comes to treating your condition fibromyalgia pain relief is just part of the process. Most likely your doctor will have to treat other symptoms like sleeping problems and muscle pain or spasms. To treat temporary sleeping problems your doctor will prescribe you a sleep aid like Ambien. To treat your muscle spasms they will prescribe a muscle relaxant like Flexeril to take before bed. Other symptoms will be treated with corresponding medications as necessary. Most likely you will try one of the popular fibromyalgia drugs like Lyrica or Cymbalta. Fibromyalgia doctors often try a combination of different medications and therapies to provide their patients with fibromyalgia pain relief.

Some of the additional therapies that your doctor may recommend would include physical therapy, massage therapy, chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture, counseling, and biofeedback. In most cases your best chance for relief involves you settling on a combination of medicines and non-medicinal therapies. Once you find what works for you and you are routine with it you will find living with fibromyalgia isn't as difficult as you once thought.