Supplements for fibromyalgia?!
Question:
Supplements for fibromyalgia?
What supplement should I take and what other meds do you find helpful?
Answers:
Unfortunately what works for person may not work for another. And if you have any food allergies or intolerance you need to be ultra careful with supplements.
Working with your doctor or Rheumatologist is important, to keep a breast with new medications etc. I can tell you that the FDA has just recently approved pregabalin (Lyrica) for treating fibromyalgia.
From the Physician's First Watch newsletter
The drug is the first treatment for the condition; it was approved in 2004 for use in diabetic peripheral neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia. The expanded approval was based on two double-blind controlled trials involving about 1800 patients. Lyrica "reduces pain and improves daily functions for some patients," according to the FDA. The agency says that the drug's mechanism is unknown.
The most common side effects are mild-to-moderate dizziness and sleepiness
I take Neurontin which helps a little with the pain, this drug is a neuropathic pain killer, and is also used as a anti-epileptic. I only use this if the pain is persistent, I will also use heat packs. I am pleased to see that it is one of the drugs suggested by the Fibromyalgia Network.
And if If your sleep is very poor, speak to your doctor about taking a good sleeping tablet, but try not to use it every night. I take Stilnox but only if I have work the next day, so I can at lest have some sort of brain function (I hope).
Any sort of medication needs to be monitored closely.
I find that a balanced diet is vital, with plenty of fresh fruit and veggies, and I avoid alcohol and coffee, which seems to exacerbate symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Also keeping up fluids seems to help too with pain, dehydration certainly causes pain levels to increase.
I can not sit in the sun for more than five minutes, because it causes itchy rashes, headaches, and fatigue. So I have low blood levels of vitamin D. I take vitamin D3 tablets, which helps a little. It is not uncommon for some Fibromyalgia sufferers to have low levels of vitamin D.
The Fibromyalgia Network and National Fibromyalgia Association are very informative web sites, I have included the links for you if you don't already have them.