Fibromyalgia is an ailment that many people suffer from, and it causes fatigue and muscle pain. Lifestyle changes and a number of medications are utilized in the treatment of this malady. Which medication is the most helpful for those who suffer from fibromyalgia?

The aching and pain associated with fibromyalgia can incapacitate victims, disrupting attendance at work and interfering with daily activities. As many as one in fifty people have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia - mainly women - making it a fairly common affliction. Exercise and stress reduction are measures that are often used to help treat this ailment, however the majority of fibromyalgia patients wind up taking a minimum of one prescription medication to treat the symptoms. Antidepressants are the most frequently used type of drugs when treating fibromyalgia.

Are antidepressants helpful to those who suffer from fibromyalgia? Studies have indicated that the fatigue and general ache of fibromyalgia can be improved when they are taken, even for those who do not exhibit symptoms related to depression. According to one study, fibromyalgia sufferers who took an antidepressant were four times more likely to note amelioration of their symptoms.

The Journal of the American Medical Association has presented a new study that confirms that antidepressants are helpful in treating those who have fibromyalgia. The data from eighteen, high-quality clinical trials were examined by German researchers and they indicated that antidepressants definitely were helpful in treating fibromyalgia. An older group of antidepressants, in use for over 50 years, tricyclic antidepressants appear to be most helpful in reducing general aches and sleep disturbances. SSRIs, which are newer medications and used more frequently these days, were not as effective as other groups of antidepressants.

This study indicates that tricyclics are the most effective kind of prescription medication in the treatment of fibromyalgia, and may be especially helpful in combating the moodiness and sleep issues that often plague fibromyalgia patients. Even though they are helpful, tricyclic medications should only be utilized after lifestyle changes have been made, since they can produce a variety of side effects.

Many fibromyalgia patients find that doing at least a half hour of aerobic exercise daily helps alleviate symptoms and improves their quality of sleep at night. Eating foods that are not processed and have little sugar may help. Caffeine should not be consumed, particularly if sleep problems are an issue. Meditation and massage therapy can be helpful to some people in relieving pain and fatigue, in addition to enhancing mood. Drug therapy, along with its side effects. can sometimes be eliminated when these more conservative treatments are used.

While it is best to use a natural approach, if lifestyle changes do not reduce symptoms, those with fibromyalgia may find some relief by using tricyclic antidepressants.