Fibromyalgia Resource Center News

• FDA Approves Milnacipran for Fibromyalgia Forest Laboratories and Cypress Bioscience announced that the FDA has approved milnacipran, a dual serotonin- and norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitor, for the management of fibromyalgia.
  Medscape Medical News, January 2009
• Fibromyalgia Associated With Functional Brain Abnormalities Researchers have uncovered evidence that fibromyalgia is linked to brain-perfusion abnormalities that relate to the disability of the disease.
  Medscape Medical News, November 2008
• Aerobic Exercise Program Is Beneficial in Children With Fibromyalgia It is safe and feasible for children with fibromyalgia to participate in an aerobic exercise program, according to findings published in the October 15th issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism. Aerobic exercise improves quality of life and physical function in this population.
  Reuters Health Information, November 2008
• Hippocampal Dysfunction May Explain Fibromyalgia Syndrome Symptoms A paper in the July issue of the Journal of Rheumatology suggests that hippocampus dysfunction may explain some symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome.
  Reuters Health Information, August 2008
• Sleep Problems Exacerbate Symptoms of Fibromyalgia Syndrome Results of a study published in the July 15th issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism suggest that patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a chronic musculoskeletal pain disorder, have a high prevalence of sleep disturbances, and these problems play an important role in exacerbating their symptoms.
  Reuters Health Information, July 2008
• Fibromyalgia Diagnosis Often Delayed Patients with symptoms suggestive of fibromyalgia generally wait from 5 months to 1.5 years (depending on the country) to make an appointment with their physician, according to the results of a survey released here to coincide with the European Union League Against Rheumatism Congress (EULAR) 2008.
  Reuters Health Information, June 2008
• Milnacipran Shows Promise for Fibromyalgia In a phase 3 European study, the investigational agent milnacipran displayed activity against multiple symptoms of fibromyalgia.
  Medscape Medical News, June 2008
• Marijuana-Based Drug May Ease Fibromyalgia Pain In a placebo-controlled 1-month trial, the marijuana-based synthetic drug nabilone showed promise for temporary pain relief for fibromyalgia patients.
  Medscape Medical News, February 2008
• Duloxetine Reduces Pain Severity in Fibromyalgia Patients Randomized trial results suggest that duloxetine hydrochloride treats fibromyalgia safely and effectively.
  Medscape Medical News, February 2008
• First Treatment Approved for Fibromyalgia The FDA has approved pregabalin (Lyrica, Pfizer) as the first treatment for fibromyalgia.
  Medscape Medical News, June 2007
• Pregabalin May Relieve Fibromyalgia Pain In a double-blind study that followed an initial open-label washout period, time to loss of therapeutic response was significantly longer for patients treated with pregabalin compared with those receiving placebo.
  Medscape Medical News, November 2006
• Fibromyalgia seen as a neuropathic pain syndrome A number of new lines of research suggest that fibromyalgia is at least in part a neuropathic pain syndrome. (Martinez-Lavin M. 2006; 33:827-829.)
  Medscape Medical News, April 2006
• Development of milnacipran for fibromyalgia hits a snag Although preliminary results from a pivotal phase 3 study failed to reach statistical significance, the data are "strongly suggestive" of efficacy of milnacipran in fibromyalgia, say the companies. Meanwhile, results from a successful phase 2 study have been published. (Gendreau RM et al. 2005; 32:1975-1985.)
  Medscape Medical News, October 2005
• Pramipexole in fibromyalgia "offers hope to patients" A drug for Parkinson's disease, the dopamine agonist pramipexole, "offers hope to patients with fibromyalgia," say researchers reporting the first trial of the drug in this condition. (Holman AJ and Myers RR. 2005; 52:2492-2505.)
  Medscape Medical News, August 2005
• Acupuncture does not reduce pain in fibromyalgia patients A study in 100 patients with fibromyalgia found no benefit from acupuncture when compared with several versions of sham acupuncture in control groups. (Buchwald DS et al. 2005, 143,10-19.)
  Medscape Medical News, July 2005
• Rheumatologists are NOT the doctors to deal with fibromyalgia The recent Rheumanation about fibromyalgia, written by Dr David Pisetsky, has stimulated quite a response from readers, with some agreeing but others disagreeing with how the condition fits into rheumatology. Here, Dr John Luetkemeyer, who runs a rheumatology practice in Pensacola, FL, puts forward his argument for why fibromyalgia patients should be directed elsewhere.
  Medscape Medical News, March 2005
• Fibromyalgia: the choice is yours Dr David Pisetsky reflects on fibromyalgia and whether it can be a reason to avoid choosing rheumatology as a professionor a prime reason for choosing it.
  Medscape Medical News, February 2005
• One-year follow-up shows sustained benefits from aerobic exercise in fibromyalgia A 1-year follow-up of fibromyalgia patients who had participated in a 6-month aerobic exercise program found improved physical function in those who kept exercising and improved mood even in those who stopped. (Gowans SE et al. 2004; 51:890-898.)
  Medscape Medical News, December 2004
• Dopamine Agonist Pramipexole "Most Promising" in Fibromyalgia A dopamine agonist used for Parkinson's disease, pramipexole, has demonstrated efficacy in a trial of 60 patients with fibromyalgia and is a "promising treatment option," says the lead investigator. (American College of Rheumatology 2004 meeting.)
  Medscape Medical News, November 2004
• More neural changes reported in fibromyalgia Alterations in brain function and a suggestive genetic polymorphism have been identified in some fibromyalgia patients. (American College of Rheumatology 2004 meeting.)
  Medscape Medical News, November 2004