Fibromyalgia and Cymbalta
Last month, the FDA approved Cymbalta® for the management of fibromyalgia. It was hailed as “another important step in the efforts to ensure that people with fibromyalgia will have the availability of effective medications to help reduce the chronic, widespread pain of this life-altering disorder.”
Cymbalta works by restoring the balance of two natural substances in the brain (neurotransmitters) serotonin and norepinephrine, thereby possibly improving ones mood. It is also a serotonic-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, which the FDA says will help reduce pain that is associated with fibromyalgia.
FMS sufferers must be aware of what the typical side-effects of Cymbalta are because some of these side-effects, may be contributing to your current discomfort/symptoms. Cymbalta’s side-effects include:
· nausea (may be related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
· dry mouth
· constipation (may be related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
· loss of appetite (may be related to Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
· fatigue (may be related to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
· drowsiness (may be related to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
· dizziness (may be related to “Fibro Fog”)
· increased sweating
· blurred vision
Some of the patients I treat or have treated in my private practice who have tried Cymbalta® didn’t get much relief from being on the medication but at least there are now two approved medications by the FDA for fibromyalgia. Cymbalta® and Lyrica (which the FDA approved last June).
With two medications now approved by the FDA continues to improve the public and the medical awareness that fibromyalgia is real!
