Useful treatments for fibromyalgia syndrome
The Journal of Family Practice. 2005 February;54(2):105-113
February 1, 2005|The Journal of Family Practice
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- CLINICAL QUESTION: What treatment modalities are most effective for fibromyalgia syndrome?
- STUDY DESIGN: Meta-analysis (other)
- SETTING: Various (meta-analysis)
- SYNOPSIS: The optimal method for treating fibromyalgia syndrome is unclear. The investigators thoroughly searched multiple sources—including Medline, EMBASE, Science Citation Index, and the Cochrane Collaboration—for trials evaluating the effectiveness of treatment for fibromyalgia syndrome. A total of 505 articles were reviewed and classified according to their level of evidence. The authors don’t state whether the articles were reviewed independently and do not discuss the potential for publication bias.
BOTTOM LINE
Treatments for fibromyalgia syndrome with the strongest evidence for efficacy include amitriptyline (Elavil), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy, patient education, and multidisciplinary therapy. (Level of evidence [LOE]=1a–)
