Narcolepsy sleeping pill Xyrem seems to improve fibromyalgia symptoms as well

It is great when a medication currently used to treat one condition is found to have properties that positively affect another health problem.  This is because much of the research has already been conducted and most of the side effects of the drug have been detailed.  Finally, the FDA has already given its stamp of approval for the use of the drug and doctors have been able to evaluate how individuals respond to taking the medication.  Such is the case with the sleeping pill Xyrem, which has been FDA approved to treat narcolepsy, but has been recently discovered to improve fibromyalgia symptoms as well.  It may also help with symptoms of fatigue, stiffness, and other varied symptoms, according to WebMD.

In a study of 334 patients suffering with fibromyalgia, researchers found that over half of the individuals taking Xyrem reported a thirty percent improvement in their pain.  The participants were initially split into two groups.  One group took Xyrem while the other participants took a placebo over a period of fourteen weeks.  At the conclusion of the study, fifty-four percent of participants taking a lower dose of the drug and fifty-six percent of participants taking a higher dose reported a thirty percent reduction in pain, WebMD reports.  This is compared with thirty-five percent of patients taking the placebo reporting less pain.  The researchers noted that the thirty percent reduction in pain showed an average improvement of pain, whereas the fifty percent reduction indicated a significant improvement.  What’s more is that many of the participants taking Xyrem noted that they felt an improvement in pain as early as the first week.

Participants did, however, report some side effects such as headache, nausea, and dizziness.  Additionally, the drug is made up of GHB, otherwise known as the “date rape drug,” and has the potential to be abused.  The researchers and doctors, however, argue that there are enough systems in place to prevent such abuse, and since its inception and use for narcolepsy, no abuse has been reported.

What is very interesting about this particular drug is that, according to this study, it outperforms the other drugs on the market specifically for fibromyalgia.  Xyrem is not a narcotic type drug like those marketed for fibromyalgia treatment, and that may be an added benefit for patients.  This study shows that there is the possibility of more drugs for the treatment of fibromyalgia, as well as the possibility of combining certain drugs, including Xyrem, to elicit an effective and quick response.  Despite the apparent success of this study, the FDA has still not approved the sleeping pill for use in fibromyalgia patients.  As with all new treatments, make sure to discuss using Xyrem in your daily treatment for the disorder.

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