Management of fibromyalgia syndrome in 2016

Abstract

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic pain disorder and defies definitively efficacious therapy. In this review, we summarize the results from the early treatment research as well as recent research evaluating the pharmacological, interventional and nonpharmacological therapies. We further discuss future directions of fibromyalgia syndrome management; we specifically focus on the issues that are associated with currently available treatments, such as the need for personalized approach, new technologically oriented and interventional treatments, the importance of understanding and harnessing placebo effects and enhancement of patient engagement in therapy.

Keywords: exercise; fibromyalgia; interventional treatment; multidisciplinary therapy; pharmacological treatment; placebo; treatment engagement.

Conflict of interest statement

Financial & competing interests disclosure A Okifuji has received a grant from the NIH (U34AR067378). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1.. Percentage of the patients reporting greater than 30% pain reduction by dose for pregabalin, duloxetine, and milnacipran.

b.i.d.: Twice daily; q.d.: Once daily. Data taken from [35,38,45].