FDA Approved Lyrica for Fybromyalgia

Whether or not fibromyalgia exists has been debated by doctors, but for a disease the may not exist, it seems the FDA is ready to approve Lyrica for people who suffer from the affliction. The new drug Lyrica will give fibromyalgia sufferers relief in more more ways then one. First, it will vindicate those who have been told the disease is in their head all along and secondly it will ease the pain associated with the disease.

Many patients before the disease was diagnosed and recognized doctors would be told that the pain caused by their fybromyalgia was simply in their heads. The FDA approval of lyrica as a fybromyalgia treatment not only gives legitimacy to the disease but also gives a nudge to insurance companies who have in the past been reluctant to approve treatment or medications for the condition.

Fibromyalgia, according to the Mayo Clinic's website is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Muscle weakness and multiple weak points often accompany the condition. Fatigue and sleep disturbances; irritable bowel syndrome; headaches and facial pain; and heightened sensitivity are also seen frequently in fribomyalgia sufferers.

The drug Lyrica, recently approved to treat the symptoms of the disease has been used in the past to treat nerve pain related to diabetes and the nerve pain associated with the painful adult condition known as shingles. The causes of fibromyalgia are not known, but the current speculation revolves around patients having a lower threshold for pain due to increased sensitivity in the brain itself due to pain signals. Doctors believe fibromyalgia sufferers' responses to the pain cause changes in the brain.

More women suffer from fibromyalgia than men. Lyrica may not work for everyone in the condition, but it will improve the symptoms for some and others will not respond to the drug. If nothing else, the fact that the FDA has approved the drug for the diesease's sufferers will be wlecome news for those who continually suffer from the disease.

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fibromyalgia/DS00079/DSECTION=2

"FDA Approves drug for once-dismissed disease." Tracey Wheeler. Tuesday, September 4, 2007. The Daily Item. Sunbury, PA