Can a prescription be a part of my overall fibromyalgia treatment regimen?

A prescription medication is certainly part of your fibromyalgia treatment regimen. Right now there are three FDA approved fibromyalgia medications including duloxetine (Cymbalta), milnacipran (Savella), and pregabalin (Lyrica). These medications have brought relief to many men and women with fibromyalgia symptoms. Ask your doctor about prescriptions for fibromyalgia treatment. You may have to try two or three different prescription medications to find the one that works best for your symptoms. Once you find the right medication, you can enjoy reduced pain, less fatigue, better sleep, and an improved mood.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three drugs for fibromyalgia: pregabalin, duloxetine and milnacipran. Your doctor may prescribe one of these drugs for you as well as other medicines for relieving pain, improving sleep, fighting depression, reducing stomach discomfort or relieving other symptoms you might be experiencing because of your fibromyalgia. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms. Together you can develop a treatment plan that's right for you.

There are many ways to manage the chronic widespread pain of fibromyalgia, including taking a prescription medicine. But your prescription is only part of a complete fibromyalgia treatment plan. One way to approach your treatment is to think of it as a series of steps:

1. Learn all you can about fibromyalgia
2. Work with your doctor to set a treatment goal—even one as simple as "be in less fibromyalgia pain"
3. Work with your doctor to form a fibromyalgia treatment plan. Consider using more than one method—for instance, complement taking medicine with alternative treatment approaches
4. Track progress over time—this will help you know when you’ve met your first goal

Many people can benefit from creating a fibromyalgia treatment plan that combines medicine and alternative treatment approaches.

• A healthy diet can make a difference
• Restful sleep can make a difference
• Being active can help
• Consider alternative treatment approaches, including physical therapy, chiropractic therapy, nutritional counseling, etc.

Talk to your doctor before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine, or treatment plan.

For many with fibromyalgia, prescription medicine is an important part of treatment. Ask your doctor if prescription medicine, such as LYRICA, could be a part of your fibromyalgia treatment plan. In clinical studies, LYRICA was proven to provide significant relief from fibromyalgia pain compared with a placebo, so patients felt better and could do more.*

*Individual results may vary.