As with symptoms, response and reactions to medications are also very individualized among fibromyalgia patients. Below I have listed the medications that I have tried and how my body responded to each.
Pregnenolone & DHEA: Slight improvement in energy, however I lost a significant amount of hair, developed pimples, and my period lasted a week longer than normal.
Provigil: Did help fatigue and fibro fog quite a bit but stopped working after a year.
Cymbalta: Initially my pain and fatigue were much better, then eventually my fatigue returned and I developed clinical depression which would not resolve until I stopped taking the Cymbalta.
Prozac: Initially food cravings decreased, I lost 10 pounds, I felt less depressed, my PMS improved remarkably and I became more energetic. Prozac did nothing for my widespread body pain or severe fibro fog. After about nine months on Prozac my fatigue gradually increased until it was the same level as before and I gained back the ten pounds plus more.
Neurontin: This medication caused a lot of weight gain, intense food cravings, irritability, personality change and serious constipation. My energy level did increase slightly and I slept better but the side effects out weighed the benefit for me.
Lyrica: This medication caused me to have suicidal idealizations and caused negative personality changes. I could not take it even at a low dose without these side effects.
Lunesta: Did not help insomnia for me.
Ambien: Did help sleep, however, it only worked for six hours and then I would be wide awake at 3 am. And for some reason it worked better some nights than others.
Prednisone: Don’t even ask!!! Disaster drug as far as side effects go! So not worth it! I will have to be dying before I will take it again!
Flexeril: I was able to take this drug for almost two years before I had to stop taking it because of memory loss. When I was taking it, I could tell a huge difference if I went over one day without it. It also helped me relax so that I could sleep better. I really liked it . If it didn’t aggravate my memory problem I would be taking it now. FYI one company makes white Flexeril and another makes an orange colored one. In my experience the white pills are not as effective and cause stomach upset. I always requested the orange and my pharmacist didn’t mind.
Skelaxin: Not quite as effective as Flexeril but does not aggravate my memory problem at all. The only way I can tolerate this med is if I take it with prescription ranitide. It has to be taken together and it cannot be OTC.
Ibuprofen 800 mg: this med really helped me for years before my symptoms progressed to the point that they were too severe for Ibuprofen to tackle. I took it daily( at bedtime) - sometimes I took it as often as three times a day if I had a lot of pain. It helped my pain and also helped me sleep. The only side effect I experienced was water retention. I recommend it for mild fibro or those in the early stages. It is a good idea to try it before you begin trying narcotic pain killers and antidepressants because they have more side effects.
Namenda: This drug has done wonders for my serious memory and cognition problems and confusion. I think it has also slightly improved my energy. I feel like it has saved me intellectually. It did take a couple of months for me to see the total effects and I am not able to take the full recommended dose because it makes me very irritable. I take 5 mg twice a day. I also used a starter pack to begin with that gradually works you up. I recommend using the starter pack. I wish I had not waited so long to decide to take this med.
Melatonin: I feel like it helps me get to sleep better sometimes and it is naturally found in the body so it can’t hurt you. There are no side effects. It will not help you, though if you have serious insomnia.
Tramadol: Has been helpful for pain.
Hydrocodone: Has been helpful for pain.
Information about Fibromyalgia Medications
