Self-reported medication and herb/supplement use by women with and without fibromyalgia.
METHODS
Using a telephone survey of 434 women who self-reported having and 198 women, who denied having fibromyalgia (FM) (aged 18-80 years), we compared women on self-reported number, major types, and effectiveness of currently taken conventional medications and herbs/supplements.


RESULTS
Ninety-three percent of women with FM reported taking at least one medication (1855 total, 499 types, on average 4.6 per person) compared with 56% of women without FM (269 total, 172 types, 1.4 per person on average). Half (n = 217) of the women with FM reported taking antidepressant drugs; more reported selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)-type with moderate effectiveness than tricyclic amines deemed to have strong effectiveness. Few were taking dual uptake inhibitors or the now approved pregabalin. Nearly 30% reported taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), which have weak efficacy evidence. Less than 8% of controls reported taking either antidepressants or NSAID. Having FM was associated with these medications plus guaifenesen, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, narcotics, other analgesics, and benzodiazepines. Highest effectiveness scores were for opioid narcotics and guaifenesin. Forty-three percent of women with FM reported taking at least one herb/supplement compared with 23% of control women. The most common types were omega esterified fatty acids, glucosamine, and gingko. No particular type distinguished between the groups. Both groups tended to rate overall effectiveness lower for herbs/supplements than for conventional medications.


CONCLUSIONS
Substantial numbers of women with FM were taking pain medications that often lacked evidence for effectiveness. The variety of medications being taken by women with FM compared with women without FM indicates that there are few medications that consistently provide symptom alleviation for this condition.
Shaver
Joan L
JL
University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, 845 S. Damen M/C 802, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. jshaver@uic.edu
Wilbur
JoEllen
J
Lee
Hyeongkyeong
H
Robinson
F Patrick
FP
Wang
Edward
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors