To assess the effectiveness of these therapies on pain reduction and quality of life improvement, study authors searched various databases for randomized or quasi-randomized clinical trials that evaluated these outcomes in fibromyalgia patients.
“In context of the recent rise in supply and demand of compounded preparations, lack of evidence regarding systemic absorption of ingredients used in compounded topical pain creams gives rise to a substantial public health concern,” the authors concluded.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approval of Cymbalta (duloxetine; Lilly) to include treatment of fibromyalgia in pediatric patients 13 to 17 years of age.
Various electronic databases were accessed to obtain randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating nonopioid agents in chronic pain patients. The review focused on 7 chronic pain conditions, including neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, low back pain, chronic headache, and sickle cell disease.
Greater decline seen in movement-evoked pain, fatigue; more improvement found on global impression of change
Researchers evaluated the safety and efficacy of a sublingual formulation of cyclobenzaprine in fibromyalgia.
The prevalences of both chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain were higher among women; older adults; adults who were previously, but not currently, employed; adults living in poverty; those with public health insurance; and rural residents.
The investigators hope that the BCG vaccine can increase anti-inflammatory cytokines, which are deficient in patients with fibromyalgia.
Mirtazapine is a central alpha-2 antagonist currently FDA-approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder.
Improvement in fibromyalgia impact questionnaire scores was greater for combined tai chi groups
