Low Dose Naltrexone in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia.
BACKGROUND
ConclusionFibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder characterized by diffuse musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance and cognitive impairment.


OBJECTIVE
A significant number of fibromyalgia patients do not respond adequately to the current drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for fibromyalgia treatment including pregabalin, milnacipran, duloxetine. Thus, there is still a need for adjunctive therapies.


METHODS
Naltrexone is an opioid receptor antagonist used to treat alcohol and opioid dependence. It is hypothesized that low dose naltrexone causes transient blockade of opioid receptors centrally resulting in a rebound of endorphin function which may attenuate pain in fibromyalgia.


RESULTS
Two small prospective pilot studies have previously shown that treatment with low dose naltrexone may be an effective, safe, and inexpensive treatment for fibromyalgia.


CONCLUSIONS
This prospective study lends further support to the preliminary body of evidence that naltrexone is a well tolerated and likely effective treatment option in the community setting. Further large prospective controlled trials are still needed.
Rheumatology, University of Southern California - Keck School of Medicine, Covina, United States.
Samy
S
Metyas
Rheumatology, University of Southern California - Keck School of Medicine, Covina, United States.
Christina L
CL
Chen
Rheumatology, University of Southern California - Keck School of Medicine, Covina, United States.
Karen
K
Yeter
Rheumatology, Research Associate, Covina, United States.
John
J
Solyman
Rheumatology, University of Southern California - Keck School of Medicine, Covina, United States.
Daniel G
DG
Arkfeld
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone
CAMs; Fibromyalgia; endorphin function; fatigue; low dose naltrexone; treatment.