Management of fibromyalgia: what are the best treatment choices?

Abstract

Fibromyalgia still represents an enigma to modern medicine and the aetiopathogenesis is far from explored. The management of patients with fibromyalgia is thus mostly based on empirical research, and only a few controlled studies have been performed. Basic drug therapy rests on the administration of amitriptyline and conventional analgesics. Such therapy should be initiated only after careful patient information and delineation of therapeutic goals are provided. Any drug therapy should be administered in combination with physical treatment and cognitive behavioural therapy. Because of the appearing contours of pathogenic mechanisms, hopefully a number of new drugs will be available to the patients with this complex pain syndrome in the near future.