Medications to Treat Fibromyalgia

Medications for fibromyalgia pain may also help with sleep problems -- but not always. If you're having trouble sleeping, ask your doctor about adjusting your current fibromyalgia medications. You can also ask about the risks and benefits of... Full Answer

Neuromodulating drugs modify the level of activation of different nerves in the brain, by decreasing abnormal activity in the nervous system. Most neuromodulating drugs were initially designed to reduce the abnormal brain signaling that can... Full Answer

A variety of antidepressants may help reduce fibromyalgia symptoms, but the most effective ones are the serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressants, including duloxetine (Cymbalta) and milnacipran (Savella). The tricyclic... Full Answer

Although some sleep medications may offer short-term improvement, sleep disturbances are better treated with drugs that have a strong track record for long-term use in fibromyalgia and that may help relieve more symptoms than just poor sleep. The... Full Answer

Pain medications are notoriously ineffective for reducing fibromyalgia pain. A review published in the Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology found that treatment with analgesic medications provided no better pain reduction than treatment with a... Full Answer

If you have fibromyalgia, safe pain medications when you're breastfeeding include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Low-dose narcotics are safe as a one-time treatment, but repeated use should be avoided because they can build up in some... Full Answer

No drug is 100% safe to use with absolutely no side effects or risks. When you're pregnant, your doctor will consider the possible side effects and risks for both you and your baby from any medication you might take for fibromyalgia. Medication... Full Answer

If you have fibromyalgia, antidepressants may be necessary to treat severe mood disorders during pregnancy. They are infrequently recommended during pregnancy, due to the small risk of miscarriage or birth defects with most groups of... Full Answer

Analgesics generally do not reduce fibromyalgia pain. Sometimes, however, they are recommended to treat other types of pain that develop during pregnancy. Safe medication options include acetaminophen throughout pregnancy, and nonsteroidal... Full Answer

Here's a list of pain medications used to treat fibromyalgia during pregnancy: Acetaminophen: Generally considered safe to use during pregnancy. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin) and naproxen (Naprosyn)): Avoid when... Full Answer