The American Journal of Medicine
Volume 121, Issue 7 , Pages 555-561 , July 2008

Update on Fibromyalgia Therapy

  • Micha Abeles, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington
  • ,
  • Bruce M. Solitar, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine/NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York
    • New York Harbor VA Healthcare System, New York Campus; New York.
  • ,
  • Michael H. Pillinger, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine/NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York
    • New York Harbor VA Healthcare System, New York Campus; New York.
  • ,
  • Aryeh M. Abeles

      Affiliations

    • Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington
    • Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine/NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York
    • New York Harbor VA Healthcare System, New York Campus; New York.
    • Corresponding Author InformationRequests for reprints should be addressed to Aryeh M. Abeles, MD, New England Musculoskeletal Institute, Medical Arts & Research Building, UConn Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-5352.

References 

  1. Abeles AM, Pillinger MH, Solitar BM, Abeles M. Narrative review: the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia. Ann Intern Med. 2007;146(10):726–734
  2. Galea C, Lim A, Reisine S, et al. Self reported medication and perceived efficacy of treatment among a sample of fibromylagia patients. Arthritis Rheum. 2003;48(Suppl):S711
  3. Goldenberg DL, Burckhardt C, Crofford L. Management of fibromyalgia syndrome. JAMA. 2004;292(19):2388–2395
  4. Leventhal LJ. Management of fibromyalgia. Ann Intern Med. 1999;131(11):850–858
  5. Wolfe F, Anderson J, Harkness D, et al. Health status and disease severity in fibromyalgia: results of a six-center longitudinal study. Arthritis Rheum. 1997;40(9):1571–1579
  6. Leventhal L. Management of fibromyalgia. Ann Intern Med. 2000;132(12):1005
  7. MacFarlane GJ, Thomas E, Papageorgiou AC, Schollum J, Croft PR, Silman AJ. The natural history of chronic pain in the community: a better prognosis than in the clinic?. J Rheumatol. 1996;23(9):1617–1620
  8. Turk DC, Okifuji A, Sinclair JD, Starz TW. Differential responses by psychosocial subgroups of fibromyalgia syndrome patients to an interdisciplinary treatment. Arthritis Care Res. 1998;11(5):397–404
  9. Thieme K, Turk DC. Heterogeneity of psychophysiological stress responses in fibromyalgia syndrome patients. Arthritis Res Ther. 2005;8(1):R9
  10. Finset A, Wigers SH, Gotestam KG. Depressed mood impedes pain treatment response in patients with fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol. 2004;31(5):976–980
  11. Thorsen K. Fibromyalgia and cognitive function. Fibromyalgia Network. 2004;10–11
  12. Mease PJ, Clauw DJ, Arnold LM, et al. Fibromyalgia syndrome. J Rheumatol. 2005;32(11):2270–2277
  13. Carette S, McCain GA, Bell DA, Fam AG. Evaluation of amitriptyline in primary fibrositis (A double-blind, placebo-controlled study). Arthritis Rheum. 1986;29(5):655–659
  14. Goldenberg DL, Felson DT, Dinerman H. A randomized, controlled trial of amitriptyline and naproxen in the treatment of patients with fibromyalgia. Arthritis Rheum. 1986;29(11):1371–1377
  15. Scudds RA, McCain GA, Rollman GB, Harth M. Improvements in pain responsiveness in patients with fibrositis after successful treatment with amitriptyline. J Rheumatol Suppl. 1989;19:98–103
  16. Jaeschke R, Adachi J, Guyatt G, et al. Clinical usefulness of amitriptyline in fibromyalgia: the results of 23 N-of-1 randomized controlled trials. J Rheumatol. 1991;18(3):447–451
  17. Carette S, Bell MJ, Reynolds WJ, et al. Comparison of amitriptyline, cyclobenzaprine, and placebo in the treatment of fibromyalgia (A randomized, double-blind clinical trial). Arthritis Rheum. 1994;37(1):32–40
  18. Heymann RE, Helfenstein M, Feldman D. A double-blind, randomized, controlled study of amitriptyline, nortriptyline and placebo in patients with fibromyalgia (An analysis of outcome measures). Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2001;19(6):697–702
  19. Share NN, McFarlane CS. Cyclobenzaprine: a novel centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant. Neuropharmacology. 1975;14(9):675–684
  20. Bennett RM, Gatter RA, Campbell SM, et al. A comparison of cyclobenzaprine and placebo in the management of fibrositis (A double-blind controlled study). Arthritis Rheum. 1988;31(12):1535–1542
  21. Gatter RA. Pharmacotherapeutics in fibrositis. Am J Med. 1986;81(3A):63–66
  22. Quimby LG, Gratwick GM, Whitney CD, Block SR. A randomized trial of cyclobenzaprine for the treatment of fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol Suppl. 1989;19:140–143
  23. Reynolds WJ, Moldofsky H, Saskin P, Lue FA. The effects of cyclobenzaprine on sleep physiology and symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol. 1991;18(3):452–454
  24. Tofferi JK, Jackson JL, O'Malley PG. Treatment of fibromyalgia with cyclobenzaprine: a meta-analysis. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;51(1):9–13
  25. Wolfe F, Cathey MA, Hawley DJ. A double-blind placebo controlled trial of fluoxetine in fibromyalgia. Scand J Rheumatol. 1994;23(5):255–259
  26. Goldenberg D, Mayskiy M, Mossey C, et al. A randomized, double-blind crossover trial of fluoxetine and amitriptyline in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Arthritis Rheum. 1996;39(11):1852–1859
  27. Arnold LM, Hess EV, Hudson JI, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, flexible-dose study of fluoxetine in the treatment of women with fibromyalgia. Am J Med. 2002;112(3):191–197
  28. Ozerbil O, Okudan N, Gokbel H, Levendoglu F. Comparison of the effects of two antidepressants on exercise performance of the female patients with fibromyalgia. Clin Rheumatol. 2006;25(4):495–497
  29. Anderberg UM, Marteinsdottir I, von Knorring L. Citalopram in patients with fibromyalgia—a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Eur J Pain. 2000;4(1):27–35
  30. Patkar AA, Masand PS, Krulewicz S, et al. A randomized, controlled, trial of controlled release paroxetine in fibromyalgia. Am J Med. 2007;120(5):448–454
  31. Arnold LM, Lu Y, Crofford LJ, et al. A double-blind, multicenter trial comparing duloxetine with placebo in the treatment of fibromyalgia patients with or without major depressive disorder. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;50(9):2974–2984
  32. Gendreau RM, Thorn MD, Gendreau JF, et al. Efficacy of milnacipran in patients with fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol. 2005;32(10):1975–1985
  33. Crofford LJ, Rowbotham MC, Mease PJ, et al. Pregabalin for the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;52(4):1264–1273
  34. Crofford LJ, Simpson S, Young JP, et al. A six-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled, durability of effect study of pregabalin for pain associated with fibromyalgia. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:4118
  35. Arnold LM, Goldenberg DL, Stanford SB, et al. Gabapentin in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;56(4):1336–1344
  36. Yunus MB, Masi AT, Aldag JC. Short term effects of ibuprofen in primary fibromyalgia syndrome: a double blind, placebo controlled trial. J Rheumatol. 1989;16(4):527–532
  37. Clark S, Tindall E, Bennett RM. A double blind crossover trial of prednisone versus placebo in the treatment of fibrositis. J Rheumatol. 1985;12(5):980–983
  38. Bennett RM, Kamin M, Karim R, Rosenthal N. Tramadol and acetaminophen combination tablets in the treatment of fibromyalgia pain: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Am J Med. 2003;114(7):537–545
  39. Farrar JT, Young JP, LaMoreaux L, et al. Clinical importance of changes in chronic pain intensity measured on an 11-point numerical pain rating scale. Pain. 2001;94(2):149–158
  40. Bennett RM, Schein J, Kosinski MR, et al. Impact of fibromyalgia pain on health-related quality of life before and after treatment with tramadol/acetaminophen. Arthritis Rheum. 2005;53(4):519–527
  41. Bennett R, Degarmo P, Clark S. A one year double blind placebo controlled study of guaifenesin in fibromyalgia. Arthritis Rheum. 1996;39:S212
  42. Russell IJ, Fletcher EM, Michalek JE, et al. Treatment of primary fibrositis/fibromyalgia syndrome with ibuprofen and alprazolam (A double-blind, placebo-controlled study). Arthritis Rheum. 1991;34(5):552–560
  43. Moldofsky H, Lue F, Mously C, et al. The effect of zolpidem in fibromyalgia: a dose-ranging, double-blind, placebo-controlled modified crossover study. J Rheumatol. 1997;24:1012–1013
  44. Russell IJ, Michalek JE, Flechas JD, Abraham GE. Treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome with Super Malic: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover pilot study. J Rheumatol. 1995;22(5):953–958
  45. Bibolotti E, Borghi C, Paculli E. The management of fibrositis: a double-blind comparison of maprotiline, chlorimipramine, and placebo. Clin Trials J. 1986;23:269–280
  46. Karjalainen K, Malmivaara A, van Tulder M, et al. Multidisciplinary rehabilitation for fibromyalgia and musculoskeletal pain in working age adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;2:CD001984
  47. Sim J, Adams N. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials of nonpharmacological interventions for fibromyalgia. Clin J Pain. 2002;18(5):324–336
  48. Mengshoel AM, Vollestad NK, Forre O. Pain and fatigue induced by exercise in fibromyalgia patients and sedentary healthy subjects. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 1995;13(4):477–482
  49. Moldofsky H, Scarisbrick P, England R, Smythe H. Musculosketal symptoms and non-REM sleep disturbance in patients with “fibrositis syndrome” and healthy subjects. Psychosom Med. 1975;37(4):341–351
  50. Bennett RM. Physical fitness and muscle metabolism in the fibromyalgia syndrome: an overview. J Rheumatol Suppl. 1989;19:28–29
  51. McCain GA, Bell DA, Mai FM, Halliday PD. A controlled study of the effects of a supervised cardiovascular fitness training program on the manifestations of primary fibromyalgia. Arthritis Rheum. 1988;31(9):1135–1141
  52. Burckhardt CS, Mannerkorpi K, Hedenberg L, Bjelle A. A randomized, controlled clinical trial of education and physical training for women with fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol. 1994;21(4):714–720
  53. Martin L, Nutting A, MacIntosh BR, et al. An exercise program in the treatment of fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol. 1996;23(6):1050–1053
  54. Staud R, Robinson ME, Price DD. Isometric exercise has opposite effects on central pain mechanisms in fibromyalgia patients compared to normal controls. Pain. 2005;118(1-2):176–184
  55. Gusi N, Tomas-Carus P, Hakkinen A, et al. Exercise in waist-high warm water decreases pain and improves health-related quality of life and strength in the lower extremities in women with fibromyalgia. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;55(1):66–73
  56. Assis MR, Silva LE, Alves AM, et al. A randomized controlled trial of deep water running: clinical effectiveness of aquatic exercise to treat fibromyalgia. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;55(1):57–65
  57. Edinger JD, Wohlgemuth WK, Krystal AD, Rice JR. Behavioral insomnia therapy for fibromyalgia patients: a randomized clinical trial. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165(21):2527–2535
  58. Kaplan KH, Goldenberg DL, Galvin-Nadeau M. The impact of a meditation-based stress reduction program on fibromyalgia. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 1993;15(5):284–289
  59. Finckh A, Berner IC, Aubry-Rozier B, So AK. A randomized controlled trial of dehydroepiandrosterone in postmenopausal women with fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol. 2005;32(7):1336–1340
  60. Citera G, Arias MA, Maldonado-Cocco JA, et al. The effect of melatonin in patients with fibromyalgia: a pilot study. Clin Rheumatol. 2000;19(1):9–13
  61. Assefi NP, Sherman KJ, Jacobsen C, et al. A randomized clinical trial of acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture in fibromyalgia. Ann Intern Med. 2005;143(1):10–19
  62. Martin DP, Sletten CD, Williams BA, Berger IH. Improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms with acupuncture: results of a randomized controlled trial. Mayo Clin Proc. 2006;81(6):749–757
  63. Deluze C, Bosia L, Zirbs A, et al. Electroacupuncture in fibromyalgia: results of a controlled trial. BMJ. 1992;305(6864):1249–1252
  64. Fibromyalgia Awareness. 2005;8:Dec. 2004-March

PII: S0002-9343(08)00264-7

doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2008.02.036

The American Journal of Medicine
Volume 121, Issue 7 , Pages 555-561 , July 2008