What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is characterized by pain or aching in muscles (myalgia) and multiple points of tenderness to palpation, called trigger points. Fibromyalgia is often associated with multiple symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, fatigue, stiffness, headaches, and depression.

What is it like to have Fibromyalgia?

Common Symptoms Patients' Latest Severity My Current Severity  
Severity
Severe
Moderate
Mild
None
Balance problems None Mild Moderate Severe
Brain fog None Mild Moderate Severe
Headaches None Mild Moderate Severe
Muscle and joint pain None Mild Moderate Severe
Muscle spasms None Mild Moderate Severe
Pain in lower back None Mild Moderate Severe

What do patients take to treat Fibromyalgia and its symptoms?

Commonly prescribed and frequently used treatments

Treatment name Efficacy Overall rating of side effects # of Evaluations
Duloxetine
(Yentreve, Cymbalta)
936
Pregabalin
(Lyrica)
865
Milnacipran
(Ixel, Savella)
325
Gabapentin
(Gralise, DOM-Gabapentin, PMS-Gabatentin, APO-Gabapentin)
292
Tramadol
(Mabron, Tramium, Zydol SR, Ralivia)
172
Cyclobenzaprine
(APO-Cyclobenzaprine, Tensodox, PMS-Cyclobenzaprine, Fexmid)
161
Amitriptyline
(Laroxyl, Tryptanol, Tryptizol, Anapsique)
114
Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen
(Lortab 2.5/500, Zydone, Stagesic, Lortab 5/500)
110
Naltrexone
(Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN), ReVia)
51
Venlafaxine
(Odven SBK, Pracet, Zarelis, Venlor XR)
45
Zolpidem
(Zolpihexal, Stilnox, Stildem, Somnil)
43
Massage Therapy
(Cranio Facial Massage therapy, Myofascial release, Aromatherapy massage, Self deep tissue massage)
42
Carisoprodol
(Soma)
42
Meloxicam
(Teva-Meloxicam, Melox, Moxicam, Movalis)
38
Topiramate
(Topamax Sprinkle, Topamax, Topictal, Toprel)
34

These charts show data from Fibromyalgia patients' latest treatment evaluations

Who has Fibromyalgia at PatientsLikeMe?

<20 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70+
Current Age
Distribution of females vs. males
Gender
95% Females
5% Males
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom # of patients Proportion
0-19 yrs 2965
20-29 yrs 4276
30-39 yrs 5649
40-49 yrs 3738
50-59 yrs 1139
60-69 yrs 160
70+ yrs 26
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status # of patients Proportion
Diagnosed 19627
Not Officially Diagnosed 2174

These charts show data from Fibromyalgia patients who have completed their condition history