Possible Fibromyalgia Treatment Enters Phase II Trials
NEWSBRIEF: Chelsea Therapeutics International has announced that its starting Phase II trials of the drug droxidopa as a fibromyalgia treatment, both alone and in combination with carbidopa. Trials are taking place in the U.K.
Droxidopa is a synthetic version of a substance your body uses to produce the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which is frequently low in people with fibromyalgia. It's also used as a treatment for orthostatic hypotension (a tendency to get dizzy upon standing), which is a common fibromyalgia symptom. Droxidopa was first developed in Japan and has been approved there for orthostatic hypotension (OH) since 1989. In the U.S., droxidopa has Orphan Drug Status and currently is in Phase III trials for OH associated with Parkinson's disease, Pure Autonomic Failure and Multiple System Atrophy.
Carbidopa is approved in the U.S. for Parkinson's disease. When taken along with a drug that increases dopamine levels, carbidopa helps alleviate side effects and helps maintain the dopamine increase.
Related Content: Fibromyalgia Drugs; The Role of Norepinephrine in Fibromyalgia
Comments
Exciting news!
My doctor explained to me that Cymbalta was supposed to work because it increases norepinephrine, which helps to inhibit pain.
I really want to see the side-effects profile. I hope it is less likely to cause problems than Cymbalta!
I took Cymbalta for 5 years and over a course of time I could feel no improvement with pain, not really. I did however feel like a zombie with no desire to clean my home, get dressed or be with family members. So my doctor upped the dose from 60 to 90 and I had serious thought of taking my own life. I got off this med and will NEVER EVER recommend this drug to another FIBRO patient. Plus, it makes you so constipated it created all kind of GI problems, like belching for 3 years just about non-stop and to the tune of very known test done looking for the cause. GI doctor found nothing all that notable. However, I get off Cymbalta and my bowels now can move and I am no longer belching over and over again for hours! This is just more drugs companies pushing us to take a drug that may or may not help us. All in the name of greed!! We are just guinea pigs and the side effect my dear are NOT worth it!