Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that is associated with a number of symptoms. Although symptoms vary from patient to patient, common symptoms include chronic muscle aches throughout the whole body, often accompanied by fatigue and/or sleep disorders. The medical cause of fibromyalgia is unknown as of 2009, but much progress has made---including the development of new drug therapies.
Duloxetine
As of 2009, duloxetine is one of the most recently developed fibromyalgia drugs. Duloxetine, under the trade name Cymbalta, hit the market in 2004 as an antidepressant but has proved effective at relieving fibromyalgia pain in 30 percent to 50 percent of patients. The drug works by causing higher levels of serotonin and norepinephrine to be released by the brain, and these neurotransmitters act as natural pain relievers.
Pregabalin
As of 2009, pregabalin is available in Europe and by prescription for select patients within the United States. Approximately 50 percent of fibromyalgia patients prescribed pregabalin reported a 30 percent reduction in pain, as well as a general reduction in symptoms, including insomnia and/or other sleep disorders. Pregabalin, which is marketed as Lyrica, works by impacting the way nerve cells respond to pain.
Pramipexole
Pramipexole (marketed as Mirapex) is effective for eight out of 10 fibromyalgia patients, reducing pain by as much as 30 percent, according to Fibromyalgia Symptoms.org. Four out of 10 patients reported up to a 50 percent reduction in pain. Pramipexole works by helping the brain to produce more dopamine, which is a natural pain reliever.
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