Which Antidepressants Work Best for Fibromyalgia Pain?

NEWSBRIEF: A review of literature on antidepressants as chronic pain treatments supports the use of these drugs for fibromyalgia. This survey was published in the journal Drugs.

Researchers said tricyclic antidepressants (such as amitriptyline, doxepin and nortriptyline) have the most solid evidence for being safe and effective for fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, low back pain, and cancer pain.

Less evidence supports serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs, such as Cymbalta and milnacipran), and evidence does not clearly demonstrate a pain-killing effect, they said. However, positive changes in well-being were reported consistently in people with fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, and migraines.

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