New drug relieves pain from Fibromyalgia

The Commercial Appeal ^ | 2/17/03 | NA

[GailA]

New drug relieves pain from Fibromyalgia February 17, 2003

Conventional medications, such as Tylenol, Motrin or even morphine, provide little relief to sufferers of fibromyalgia, a mysterious and debilitating pain disorder. But a new drug might be able to thwart the nerve signals that scientists believe trigger the pain.

"This is a real breakthrough not only because it works, but it proves fibromyalgia can be treated," says Dr. Leslie Crofford, a rheumatologist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor who has studied the new drug, pregabalin.

The syndrome affects an estimated 5.6 million Americans.

Pregabalin reduces the release of specific brain chemicals, such as glutamate and noradrenaline, that may cause pain, says Terry Griesing, a neurology researcher with Pfizer Inc.

The drug, which still needs FDA approval, could be on the market as early as 2004.

[SuziQ]

My husband saw this thread and pointed it out to me. My sister suffers from fibromyalgia. I went to the Commercial Appeal website and e-mailed the article to her. Thanks for posting it!

[SuziQ]

I began taking guaifensin a few weeks ago.

You mean like cough syrup, the kind that is an expectorant?

[Pagey]

My mom suffers from this and it is horrible to see her in pain like this when I visit and she's only 66 years old.It's too bad they can't make a cure available faster. How she can stand it,is WAY beyond my comprehension.

[mathluv]

Do you know anything about neuropathy and how it may be related to FMS?

[contrarian]

A few corrections are in order....Flexeril is (generic) cyclobenzaprine..Tagamet is Cimetidine.Vioxx has a lower side effect profile in regard to GERD, , but, as you have found, it is not Zero..Flexeril/cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxer that generally makes most folks sleepy, but occasionally causes overstimulation..

[contrarian]

as usual my slow posting did not catch your correction.. I will now shut my mouth and go back to lurking.....

[GailA]

I rarely take antibiotics. I'd heard about the colodial silver. But never done any research on it.

My fibro started about a year after our 16 year old son Jeremy was murdered. Emotional upheavels are a frequent cause of FMS from what I've read. I also have Osteo-A in the C 6, 7, L 4 & 5 disc, and arthritis setting in in the index finger of my right hand.

I can't take Estrogen because of the gastro-intestinal side effects it produces, the natural as well as the chemical produce the same side effects.

[Spyder]

I transcribe for several docs who have prescribed both an SSRI and amitriptyline. I think it's a relative no-no, not one of the hard and solid ones.

[GailA]

If the doc says your border line MAKE him treat you any way. They kept saying that for nearly 2 decades with me. It took a trip to the hospital for a lung congestion and severe back spasms before they would treat me.

[TroutStalker]

Thanks for posting this. My wife suffers from fibromyalgia and I am forwarding this to her.

[GailA]

No, Sorry I don't. Maybe one of the other posters will be able to shed more light. Or try a google search putting in both FMS and neuropathy.

[muggs]

You mean like cough syrup, the kind that is an expectorant?

Hey, I was going to ask that.

[Doc On The Bay]

FM appears to be the "End Stage" of a collection of (probably Infectious) symptoms we 'Docs have yet to understand. (MAYBE Herpes 6).

Doc

[GailA]

Alright here are some sites. The FIRST SITE IS A MUST SEE/READ FOR ALL FMS sufferers TONS of links and info.

FMS MUST READ

neuorpathy

Mediofocus

PDF Neuroapthy

FMS abstract

AFSAFUND.org

[tricky_k_1972]

My mom has suffered for years with FMS and just went through thyroid surgery. I have researched this quite a bit and FMS seems to have a lot in common with thyroid problems. I thank you so much for the info. I hope it can eventually lead to a cure.

Thank you.

[RightWinger]

Thanks, I gave a copy to my wife who suffers from it.

[GailA]

How does that tie into the emotional or trauma caused triggers that are often suggested? I've never had herpes that I know of, not even a cold sore. I rarely get the flu or a cold for that matter. I do get occassional low grade 100 degree fevers due to the inflamation from the FMS, which send me to bed with the chills. muscle aches and upchucks.

You might be interested in some of the last stuff I posted.

The first arthritis doc I saw missed the OA even though the MRI and x-rays clearly showed it, and the FMS. Got to the point I could barely use my hands due to the nerve damage from the pinched nerves in the C 6 & & disc, had a migrane level constant headache for 17 months. A neuro surgeon suggested it was all in my head and go see a shrink, despite TWO nerve conduction tests showing nerve damage consistant with carpal tunnel BUT not CT. Finally a friend suggested her arthritis doc.

A MIRACLE (Lodine)in a bottle along with physical therapy brought relief, until it nearly shut my bowel down due to its side effects.

[equus]

Sometimes people's bodies keep an infection in check and latent, until a terrible stress upsets it. You certainly have had the most terrible stress imaginable.

You might try a course of minocycline, it is known to be anti-inflammatory and has helped arthritis. Go to arthritis.trust.org.

You might have your 24-hour cortisol levels tested, to see if they are off/elevated (a chronic response to stress).

I'm sorry you suffer with this.

[republicandiva]

as usual my slow posting did not catch your correction.. I will now shut my mouth and go back to lurking.....

You may think your posting is slow, maybe not as slow as my brain! LOL I'm waiting for the generic Vioxx so I can be completely confused (and definitely much wealthier)...I'm at the point of "Hey doc, I don't care what you call it, if it works, just write me the script." Your clarification of the drugs was very clear. I've also been on the oxy, hydro, codone, contins....not even gonna go there! ; ^ )

[equus]

Yes I think its probably safe short-term like that.

I wouldn't try it long-term for something like fibromyalgia, though...