title: Intravenous lidocaine for fibromyalgia syndrome: an open trial.
abstract: Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain. In this study, we investigated the effect of intravenous infusions of lidocaine in pain and quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia. Twenty-three consecutive patients were included in the study, which consisted on five sequential intravenous 2% lidocaine infusions with rising dosages (2-5 mg/kg, days 1-5). Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Health Assessment Questionnaire, and a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain were applied before the first lidocaine infusion, immediately after the fifth infusion and 30 days after the fifth infusion. A significant improvement was observed in the FIQ scores after the fifth infusion (73.52 +/- 16.56 vs 63.29 +/- 21.21, p = 0.02), which was maintained after 30 days (73.52 +/- 16.56 vs 63.85 +/- 24.59, p = 0.04). Similar results were seen concerning the VAS: 8.19 +/- 1.76 vs 6.84 +/- 2.44, p = 0.01 and 8.19 +/- 1.76 vs 7.17 +/- 2.35, p = 0.05, respectively. Intravenous lidocaine infusions are safe and effective in the management of fibromyalgia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Santa Casa de Misericórdia, Rua Carlos Osternack, 111, 84010-120, Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil. marceloschafranski@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Marcelo Derbli
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Schafranski
authors.forename: Tiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Malucelli
authors.forename: Fabíola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Hélcio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeshi
authors.forename: Flávia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kaiber
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Fabielle
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Harth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine