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Typically causing muscle pain and fatigue, Fibromyalgia is a common disorder. Lifestyle changes and an array of medications are used in the treatment of this disorder. For those diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which medication is the most effective?

One can be incapacitated due to the discomfort caused by fibromyalgia. Often people who suffer from this disease cannot carry out their daily activities and can’t even go to work some days. Most people with fibromyalgia are women; however, one in fifty people are diagnosed with this malady. Fibromyalgia may be treated with conservative methods like stress reduction and exercise.  Additionally, people who have this syndrome usually take a prescription drug to ease the symptoms. Antidepressants are used in the treatment of fibromyalgia, and they are one of the most commonly used class of drugs.

Can patients with fibromyalgia go on antidepressants? They have been found effective in treatment of aches and pains and fatigue in many people with fibromyalgia – even when depression is not present. According to one study, patients who use antidepressants for the treatment of fibromyalgia are 3 times more likely to see a betterment in symptoms.

The journal of the AMA reports that antidepressants have definite benefits for patients suffering from fibromyalgia. German researchers examined the data collected from 18 very high quality clinical trials.  They found that fibromyalgia can clearly reap benefits from the use of antidepressants. Tricyclics are an older group of antidepressants that came into use during the 1960s.  These old and established drugs have proven very effective in treating the aches, pains, and sleeplessness associated with fibromyalgia. The older groups of antidepressants seem more effective than newer SSRI’s.

This study indicates that, of all prescription medications, tricyclics are the most highly effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia.  They are especially beneficial for addressing the sleeplessness and moodiness many patients experience. While tricyclic medications can be beneficial, they also have a number of side effects; therefore, they shouldn’t be taken until one has made some changes in their lives.

Many patients have found that participation in a daily exercise program consisting of half an hour of aerobics is very helpful in reducing symptoms during the day and helping with sleep at night. Another thing that might help would be to eat healthier by avoiding processed foods and reducing one’s sugar intake. Especially if there are problems with sleeping, caffeine should be avoided. Depressed mood, fatigue and pain can often be treated with such methods as massage therapy and meditation. Such holistic remedies could cut out the need for one to take drugs, which in certain instances could produce side effects.

While the natural method of treatment is preferred, some patients who have fibromyalgia and have already made some changes to their lifestyle could see some benefits from taking tricyclic antidepressants.