Opiates are a controversial treatment for fibromyalgia.
According to the Mayo Clinic, at least 2 percent of Americans---mostly women---suffer from fibromyalgia. This debilitating condition can make you feel tired all the time and cause your whole body to ache, yet can be difficult to diagnose and treat. Low doses of opiate medications are a treatment option, but there's some debate over their use.
What are Opiates?
Opiates are drugs used to manage pain, such as oxycodone and morphine. They work by targeting the parts of your brain that process pain messages.
Usage
New guidelines from the American Pain Society and the American Academy of Pain Medication encourage doctors to explore other treatments before resorting to opioid medications, even low doses, for treating non-cancer, chronic pain. The guidelines advise doctors to assess individual patients for several factors, including the potential for abuse.
Success
Studies suggest that low doses of opiates have limited effectiveness in treating fibromyalgia, but some patients report significant benefits.
Risks
The main concerns about opiate treatment of fibromyalgia are risks of abuse and withdrawal. In addition, some studies suggest that long-term use of opiates could actually make you more sensitive to pain.
Alternatives
Pregabalin was the first FDA-approved drug for fibromyalgia treatment. Other common alternatives include antidepressants such as Cymbalta, anti-seizure medications and physical therapy.
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