ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
I have tried several different types of anti-inflammatory medications including Relafen, Voltram, Celebrex, and Vioxx. I now use Ibuprofen. The Relafen didn't work; the Votram worked for about a year, but I needed something stronger; the Celebrex caused me to have stomach irritation. Since the Vioxx costs so much, Ibuprofen works just as well.
ANTI-DEPRESSANT
I have tried Prozac, but it caused me to have more problems. The Paxil works great for my sister and my mom. I have found that Zoloft works best for me. It also helps with sleep. I take it in conjunction with Wellbutrin.
SEDATIVES
Trazodone (Desyrel) works well for me, but can make some people sleep too long. Everyone’s body is different. My sister has found that Ambien works best for her. Ambien is not something you need to take everyday. Our doctor suggests taking it during the week, and using a different sleeping aid on the weekends to give your body a break from the Ambien.
PAIN PILLS
Tramadol (Ultram) is what I started out with, and it has always worked well, but I needed something stronger when my pain started getting worse. I started out taking 4 a day, and then moved to 8 a day. Now I take 3 Tramadols in the morning and 1 Hydrocodone (Lortab) in the afternoon. This seems to be working well for now. Sometimes I need more than 1 Hydrocodone to make it through bad days.
MUSCLE RELAXERS
I only take this when I am tense and just need something to help my stiffness. Flexeril and Soma are two good ones.
OTHER
One medication I take for the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is Provigil. It is basically made for people with FMS and CFS to give the person more energy. Another medication I take is Synthroid for my Hypothyroidism. Some vitamins that can help FMS include Magnesium, Calcium, Flaxseed Oil, Vitamin E, Evening Primrose Oil, and Selenium.
One way to help relieve some of the stiffness and pain is stretching. Strength training can help improve the pain and fatigue. Ask your doctor about what types of stretches to do. Another reliever is a heating pad. I wouldn’t suggest using a cold pack for anything when dealing with Fibromyalgia. Heat is the best thing (heating pad, hot bath, etc.).
