Research Brief
A drug that impacts the activity of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine has been found effective at treating symptoms of fibromyalgia, according to a new study.
Most drugs used for fibromyalgia, including two that are FDA approved for the condition, target either serotonin (another neurotransmitter) or both serotonin and norepinephrine. This study demonstrates that targeting only norepinephrine may be effective as well.
Researchers say the drug esreboxetine lowered pain levels by 30 percent or more, and also improved other symptoms such as physical function, difficulty working and depression.
The study says side effects were mostly mild to moderate and included insomnia, constipation, dry mouth, nausea, dizziness, hot flush, headache and heart palpitations. These are consistent with other medicines that alter norepinephrine activity.
Furthermore, results were similar whether participants were taking 4, 8 or 10 mg doses, suggesting that people may benefit from small doses, which minimizes risks.
The company that makes esreboxetine, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Inc., is currently not producing the drug. However, this study suggests a new avenue of research for treating fibromyalgia.
Is It Safer?
Esreboxetine is classified as a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Some researchers theorize that these drugs are less likely to cause side effects than their cousins, which effect serotonin (SSRIs) alone or both serotonin and norepinephrine (SNRIs.)
Studies of fibromyalgia drug Savella (milnacipran) seem to support this theory. This drug impacts norepinephrine more than serotonin, which is unusual for an SNRI.
Learn more:
- Norepinephrine Dysregulation in Fibromyalgia
- Risk of SSRIs/SNRIs for Fibromyalgia
- What is "Reuptake"?
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After trying some of the drugs like Lyrica, my daughter has decided that coping with the horrible symptoms is preferable to coping with more horrible side effects of the drugs, especially when the relief offered is so marginal. 30% sounds great, but when you consider that it leaves you with 70% of the pain, it doesn’t sound so good.
I expect we’ll stick with accupuncture for now.
This is why the supplements I took to boost my norepinephrine reversed the Fibromyalgia. I was onto this 5 years ago. Way to go scientists.
what supplements to boost did you use?
Thanks
I ended up in the ER with serotonin syndrome after taking Savella. Don’t think I’ll be a guinea pig for this one.
I have taken so many of the medications for my Fibro and ended up exorcist puking. Oh it took care of the pain well, I literally couldn’t function. I was so zoned out and throwing up. Even taking Hydro’s, Nucynta, etc. was horrible with the side effects. I have chosen to go with very little really. I take the pain for days until I just can’t take it anymore and need some decent sleep, then I take only 1 Tylenol 3. It just takes the edge off so I can get some sleep and we start all over again the next day. The Dr. says that I have a very sensitive stomach…..lucky me.
I have had reactions to most of the ” so called” Fibro drugs. I gained 25 lbs on Lyrica, lost 15 in a month throwing up on Savella and didn’t feel any effect really with Lyrica or Cymbalta. I am allergic to most narcotics so I now wear a patch and take Tramadol and Ibuprofen. Mostly I just live with it. I also have Osteoarthritis so I can get injections which help for awhile. It is worse when my Fibro is worse. Are there really any answers out there? Can’t take a hot bath which I used to love because can not get in and out of a tub. just quick showers for me now because they are not comforting. I take lots of vitamins every day. I even lost 50 lbs didn’t change a thing except I get stupid comments like ” oh you’ll look so good you must be feeling better!” Ugh! So I would rather be recognized for how this has impacted my life have the world know this is not a syndrome but a Disease! Have Doctors that don’t shrug their shoulders at you!
What supplements did you use redheadkelly??
Please beware when they up Lyrica because they kept upping mine and I began to have suicide symptoms. Pain began to get worse and I started seeing a neurologist who found I now have RSD. Ten times more painful then fibro. Drugs are worse. Be very cautious of increasing Lyrica, If you start having suicide thoughts please call your doctor right away, by reducing it or going off it will take the thoughts away within a few days.
for redheadkelly………………..what kind of supplements did you take
for Fibro, RSD patient…..
What does RSD stand for?
benadryl helps me sleep . helps with the muscle and leg cramps too …i am actually dreaming again which means i am getting some restorative rest since taking benadryl at bedtime
I tried Lyrica when it first came out and it made me a zombie and gain weight fast. I’ve also tried just Cymbalta then just Savella and independently they didn’t work very well/at all. I felt a bit better when I was taking both at the same time. Not sure why but they work so much better for me. I can think a little clearer and not so many side effects as the Lyrica, which also effected my asthma.
Most doctors won’t prescribe both at the same time but mine saw better results when I took both. I take 30 mg of Cymbalta at night and 50 mg of Savella twice a day.
I take Cymbalta, and found that it changed how I experienced pain, etc. It did help with my pain levels, though not overnight. I also experienced a slow increase in my brain function and decrease in my brain fog, as well as improvement in my recovery after exertion. I do not think it is a miracle drug, but it did help me.
I also take Lyrica – It did help my pain levels, but that’s about it, I think.
I do not find tylenol or ibuprofen to be at all useful. I take Meloxicam now, and find it only marginally useful.
I take both Lyrica and Savella, and this seems to be a good mix for me. The Lyrica cuts the pain, and the Savella makes it so I can take the Lyrica without mood side-effects.
I slept all the time when I was on Cymbalta – and my doctor explained that the Savella focused more on the norepinephrine and and that it might help. I tried both separately for a long enough time to know that separately neither gave sufficient relief.
I do feel that my last 25 pounds are due to the Lyrica, though, and am starting to have some weight-related problems with my joints. But, other than that, side-effects wore off in about a week. (Lots of sweating with Savella at first.) I do appreciate the relief this combo has given me.
IF I use Cyclobenzaprene- 1/2 tablet, at 9P; it keeps’ those TERRIBLE leg spasms away, and don’t wake up drowsy!
I have nightmares- probably because I am sleeping deeper.
This is a muscle relaxant/ anti-depressant, and is a drug to treat Fibro.
This medicine is better than most, because Lyrica gave me cloudy, brown vision, though it made me feel like on a vacation, because my nerves were not on edge! I still take one Lyrica during the day- to help with my HANDS! oh gosh, they HURT when it is going to rain, because I have arthritis in them, which Fibro makes ten times worse, and the ONLY thing that makes the pain stop!
I have a $460+ pain creme called Voltaren Gel, which with a discount card, because Medicare Drug plan I have will NOT cover it- is still $106.00!!! Hope YOU can get it, if need it to keep from taking NSAIDS, because my stomach is tore up from them. for arthritis, this creme is the bomb!
DID YOU ALL KNOW THAT FIBROMYALGIA IS CAUSED BY ONE OF THE FOUR ENTERO-VRUSES- one of which causes’ POLIO- THAT ENTER THROUGH THE STOMACH AND AFFECT IT, And SO….OUR NAILS GET THIN, OUR HAIR DOES NOT GROW, WE ARE TIRED BECAUSE, OUR FOOD DOES NOT GIVE US NUTRITION SO WE NEED VITAMINS?
During the day, when I have a headache and neck pain, I use Skelaxin type muscle relaxant, which targets’ the head, and is given by Dentists for TMJ. I use 1/4 of a Tramadol, if I wake up with bgack pain, otherwise, I am too chicken to do anything, because I have class four D.D.D. of spine.
I MUST move,to keep tha muscles from making Lactic acid which is PAINFUL! BUT- to walk FAST- or OVER-do ANYTHING, will trigger misery!
IF we get stressed our hormones make toxins which makes us get set-off! REMEMBER!!
Magnesium- tons of it, HELPS! NO SUGAR! I use
Sublingual B-12 to keep my nerves connected well and healthy with my body and brain -so that I don’t stumble through life and fall over!
My Mother shook me as a baby, and I got into the ant poison at age 1- Mom waited until my eyes were rolling back in my head, then I got stomach pumped. The damaged neck nerves and toxic nerve poison caused ME to get Fibromyalgia.
Cymbalta caused heat stroke, when I was in sun or in bathtub, because Fibro patients have Autonomic problems caused by a damaged Hypothalumus, so they cannot control their body temperature, and if too cold, get ill, NOT just chilled- and if too hot, get awfully bad. I jJUST learned, that- Menopausal hot-flashes are particularly awful for Fibros,, because of the autonomic problem- because persons’ body heats up 4 to 6 whole degrees! THAT is 103 to 105 degrees of body temperature, and I get So ill! I need Clonidine for it- BUT- Do NOT take at same time as a whole Tramadol! I take 1 at night, and 1/2 of a tablet in day, that is all. Gotta, because I get too sleepy.
i take Lyrica and Cymbalta which really helps me. I take the Cymbalta for major depressive disorder and the Lyrica for Fibro. i also take Baclofen (a muscle relaxer) and Norco for degenerative disk disease as well as Requip for restless leg syndrome. The combination of these 5 meds really takes care of my pain and helps me to sleep at night. I also have an autoimmune disease which I will be starting meds for next month. Right now this works for me and I am able to function and have a halfway normal life.
What works for me after 12 years of opioids and anti-depressants is quitting last August and began to change my lifestyle. Diet, exercise, mediation and yoga.
It will be a year next month and even though I have a high level of pain I’m more focused, haven’t had only 1 migraine this year, less stress and anxiety and have more endurance for coping.
It is good to know that drug companies are continuing to develop more drugs for those of us who suffer from severe chronic pain who chose to take them.
Remember there’s lots of treatment plans out there and pain treatments aren’t cookie cutters.
Try these supplements to “naturally” raise your norepinephrine levels L-tyrosine, L-phenylalanine or St. John’s wort. Almost no side effects, unless you take any antidepressants. Those will react to St. John’s wort.
I would like to know what supplements RedHeadKelly uses also. I have had Fibro for over 30 years and have tried just about everything. I finally retired two years ago and that helped reduce the stress. Still have lots of pain. I had gastric bypass thinking that losing the weight would help but it didn’t. I am so tired all the time. Have no energy and never finish and project.
How do we get in contact with “red head kelly”? i want to know about her reversal.
Oh… I just noticed all the questions addressed to me. I started with the Mood Cure book. They have a good quiz online to see which section applies to you. I also used the info in Dr Wilson’s Adrenal Fatigue book. I also started using EmPower+ from TrueHope. It was more geared to bipolar-type mood swings at the time, but it seemed to ease my nerve pain. I also cut all the allergens out of my diet & reduced my stress, as someone mentioned. There were a whole bunch of adjustments, but, in my case at lease, the Fibromyalgia symptoms really seemed to respond to the supplements.
Oh… I just noticed all the questions addressed to me. I started with the Mood Cure book. They have a good quiz online to see which section applies to you. I also used the info in Dr Wilson’s Adrenal Fatigue book. I also started using EmPower+ from TrueHope. It was more geared to bipolar-type mood swings at the time, but it seemed to ease my nerve pain. I also cut all the allergens out of my diet & reduced my stress, as someone mentioned. There were a whole bunch of adjustments, but, in my case at lease, the Fibromyalgia symptoms really seemed to respond to the supplements. For me, it was so about brain chemistry as this article suggests.