Fibromyalgia For Dummies Cheat Sheet

This Cheat Sheet includes key information on the gamut of medications you may need to help you vanquish the pain of fibromyalgia — or at least calm it down. Whether it’s prescribed medications that may turn down the invisible pain knob, over-the-counter remedies to give you some relief, or alternative remedies that help, this Cheat Sheet has you covered. You can also uncover the differences between the different drug schedules and explore measured replies to comments you receive about fibromyalgia.

Considering prescribed and over-the-counter topical remedies for fibromyalgia

Many over-the-counter creams and massage rubs relax the muscle and tension of fibromyalgia. Prescribed skin patches (such as Lidoderm) can greatly ease muscle pain. Consider the following suggestions on topical remedies:

• If you have an over-the-counter massage cream, make sure whoever rubs in the cream is gentle rather than heavy-handed. Extreme pressure will take away the benefit of the cream.
• Check whether your favorite drugstore chain has a topical cream with the same ingredients as expensive brands. Major drugstore chains often have their own versions of over-the-counter medications.
• If you use prescription Lidoderm, try cutting the patch into smaller pieces to place over the hurting areas. You may not need multiple patches, and you can save money by cutting one patch into pieces.

Looking at alternative remedies for fibromyalgia

Alternative remedies may work for you and can be useful when layered with your current medical treatment plan. Always ask your doctor about adding these to your current regimen:

• Sedating remedies (such as valerian and chamomile) may improve the chronic insomnia that many fibromyalgia sufferers experience.
• Acupuncture often provides temporary relief from the muscle pain of fibromyalgia.
• Yoga is another great remedy many have found helps.  
• Some patients get relief from tai chi exercises.

Demystifying drug schedules

Under the Controlled Substances Act, passed by Congress in 1970, controlled drugs fall into five schedules (or categories) of drugs, based on the risk for addictiveness, with Schedule I having the highest risk of addiction and Schedule V the lowest risk of this group:

• Schedule I: Drugs categorized as having major potential for drug abuse. Drugs such as heroin and LSD are in Schedule I. These drugs have no value to patients who have fibromyalgia. They are all illegal drugs.
• Schedule II: These drugs also have potential for abuse, albeit less than the drugs in Schedule I. Cocaine is included on the Schedule II list (some doctors have legitimate uses for the drug), as is methadone. Some fibromyalgia patients may take methadone for pain control, and others take Percocet or Percodan (both are forms of oxycodone). Some people with fibromyalgia have also used Duragesic patches and found them beneficial, in large part because of their timed-release benefit. Unfortunately, Duragesic has become a popular drug for people wanting to abuse drugs to get high. As a result of this problem, legitimate patients sometimes have a hard time getting prescriptions for Duragesic patches.
• Schedule III: This category includes medications such as Tylenol 3 (Tylenol with codeine), Vicodin or Lortab (two forms of hydrocodone), and barbiturate medications, such as Fioricet (butalbital). Some fibromyalgia patients take these drugs for pain control.
• Schedule IV: Patients with fibromyalgia needing an anti-anxiety drug may take Valium (generic name: diazepam) or Xanax (generic name: alprazolam), which both fall under this schedule, as do other anti-anxiety medications.
• Schedule V: Some medications that include codeine, such as cough syrups with codeine, are categorized by the DEA as scheduled drugs. These drugs are generally less helpful for people with fibromyalgia.

How to respond to hurtful comments about fibromyalgia

You may often run into hurtful comments about fibromyalgia. Although most people are trying to be kind when discussing FMS with you, some comments can send you through the roof. So to save your relationships and sanity (not to mention your stress level), keep this list handy.