Which Drugs Work Best?

I’ll keen to know what drugs you guys are taking and are they helping? I’ve only been diagnosed two days ago (but reckon I’ve had it for years) when I went to a private consultant as the waiting list to see a rheumatologist with the NHS was approx 5 years! I have been prescribed Lyrica but won’t get my prescription from my GP until next week. Please please tell me that this is going to end the relentless pains in my entire body and I’ll be able to get my life back and enjoy a good nights sleep once again?

[Lanadc88]

It’s usually takes a cocktails off different drugs and much swapping and changing to get manageable depending on the severity of your pain. Even then on the strongest of drugs sometimes the pain can break though... everyone is different some people can manage without medication, others with very little yet many struggle to control the pain with a cocktail of strong meds (like me) it really depends on the person and working with your doctor to limit your symptoms is the best advice no 2 people are the same so hopefullly the pregablin will do the trick for you as they are a very good drug for fibro

[Hidden in reply to Lanadc88]

Thank you.

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

Hi and welcome to our community. Here you will find information, support, friendship and laughter too. You will find more general information on fibromyalgia on our main website fmauk.org and can order a patient information pack at fmauk.org/resources

Re medication, there are a few that some people find help their symptoms including lyrica (pregabalin). Amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin and tramadol are also commonly used.

However, it can be trial and error finding a medication that works for you, and some people need a combination. Also medication may help to reduce the pain but is not guaranteed to take the pain away. Also for some people medication does not help at all, or they cannot tolerate it due to side effects.

For me personally, I take pregabalin, mirtazapine, tramadol and paracetamol for my fibro pain. This helps take the edge off ECoG for me to function. I also use CBD oil and self/pain management techniques such as pacing, exercise/activity, mindfulness, relaxation, meditation, distraction techniques. I also use reiki, crystals, aromatherapy etc and when I can, I enjoy a hot stone massage.

With chronic pain, it is finding the ways that help you to live with the pain that are most effective, not just expecting medication to take the pain away xxx

[Hidden in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

Thanks for your reply - wow, that’s a lot of drugs. How long have you been on these and are they addictive?

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff in reply to Hidden]

I've had fibro for 26 years, so been trying various combinations of different meds over that time. Been on this combination for several years now.

Any drug can be addictive - but my thoughts are that if you are taking medication as prescribed and it helps you to live you life more fully then you may become dependent on the meds but that is not the same as being addicted.

[YASMINTINA FMA UK Volunteer]

healthunlocked.com/fibromya..., , yes as members will say lots of trial and error until we feel comfortable . I currently take duloxtene, codiene only days when pain is higher( doc says not to be used on a regular basis as addictive) I try and have a soak in the bath with Epsom salts and rest in bed at nite when I can to relax aching muscles, normally sets me up for a better nites sleep, I do use lavender pillow mist, and lavender pulse point/temples roll on , find the smell relaxing. If we can lessen pain that’s a good start and don’t be worried to keep going back to doctor if current meds dosent sit right with you after a trial period. The forum is a good place to read posts , friendly advice , helpful tips, so welcome xx

[Djemima in reply to YASMINTINA]

I take a few different tablets gabapanten solpodol naproxen high doses of them all they do take the edge off but I'm still in a lot af pain I hope u feel better soon

[Hidden in reply to YASMINTINA]

Thank you so much for your welcome and reply. 😊

[Hidden in reply to YASMINTINA]

Thank you so much - this all sounds like good sound advice to me. I really don’t think that family and friends really understand the horrendous pain and fatigue and anxiety this causes us!

[YASMINTINA FMA UK Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Yes your right can be hard work sometimes making them see, xx

[Hidden]

Thank you so much, this makes perfect sense to me. I’ve been in pain for years and I have only been diagnosed on Thursday 5th March so I haven’t started the Lyrica yet but am already worried that I’d get addicted to it! Amitriptyline, Tramadol, 30/500 Co-Codamol x 8 per day, Fluoxetine or the occasional diazepam have all been tried over the last lot of years and weren’t doing any good so I stopped taking them. I will however give Lyrica a go as nothing ventured nothing gained. 😀

[Flyby7]

I am on a lot of meds 15 in fact for different ailments doctor had to keep swapping meds around to see what suited and touch wood doing well as can be sometimes have bad days but have to carry on