TY - JOUR
T1 - Self-reported medication and herb/supplement use by women with and without fibromyalgia
AU - Shaver, Joan L.
AU - Wilbur, Joellen
AU - Lee, Hyeongkyeong
AU - Robinson, F. Patrick
AU - Wang, Edward
PY - 2009/5/1
Y1 - 2009/5/1
N2 - Methods: Using a telephone survey of 434 women who self-reported having and 198 women, who denied having fibromyalgia (FM) (aged 18-80 years), we compared women on self-reported number, major types, and effectiveness of currently taken conventional medications and herbs/supplements. Results: Ninety-three percent of women with FM reported taking at least one medication (1855 total, 499 types, on average 4.6per person) compared with 56% of women without FM (269 total, 172 types, 1.4per person on average). Half (n=217) of the women with FM reported taking antidepressant drugs; more reported selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)-type with moderate effectiveness than tricyclic amines deemed to have strong effectiveness. Few were taking dual uptake inhibitors or the now approved pregabalin. Nearly 30% reported taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), which have weak efficacy evidence. Less than 8% of controls reported taking either antidepressants or NSAID. Having FM was associated with these medications plus guaifenesen, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, narcotics, other analgesics, and benzodiazepines. Highest effectiveness scores were for opioid narcotics and guaifenesin. Forty-three percent of women with FM reported taking at least one herb/supplement compared with 23% of control women. The most common types were omega esterified fatty acids, glucosamine, and gingko. No particular type distinguished between the groups. Both groups tended to rate overall effectiveness lower for herbs/supplements than for conventional medications. Conclusions: Substantial numbers of women with FM were taking pain medications that often lacked evidence for effectiveness. The variety of medications being taken by women with FM compared with women without FM indicates that there are few medications that consistently provide symptom alleviation for this condition.
AB - Methods: Using a telephone survey of 434 women who self-reported having and 198 women, who denied having fibromyalgia (FM) (aged 18-80 years), we compared women on self-reported number, major types, and effectiveness of currently taken conventional medications and herbs/supplements. Results: Ninety-three percent of women with FM reported taking at least one medication (1855 total, 499 types, on average 4.6per person) compared with 56% of women without FM (269 total, 172 types, 1.4per person on average). Half (n=217) of the women with FM reported taking antidepressant drugs; more reported selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)-type with moderate effectiveness than tricyclic amines deemed to have strong effectiveness. Few were taking dual uptake inhibitors or the now approved pregabalin. Nearly 30% reported taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), which have weak efficacy evidence. Less than 8% of controls reported taking either antidepressants or NSAID. Having FM was associated with these medications plus guaifenesen, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, narcotics, other analgesics, and benzodiazepines. Highest effectiveness scores were for opioid narcotics and guaifenesin. Forty-three percent of women with FM reported taking at least one herb/supplement compared with 23% of control women. The most common types were omega esterified fatty acids, glucosamine, and gingko. No particular type distinguished between the groups. Both groups tended to rate overall effectiveness lower for herbs/supplements than for conventional medications. Conclusions: Substantial numbers of women with FM were taking pain medications that often lacked evidence for effectiveness. The variety of medications being taken by women with FM compared with women without FM indicates that there are few medications that consistently provide symptom alleviation for this condition.
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U2 - 10.1089/jwh.2008.1194
DO - 10.1089/jwh.2008.1194
M3 - Article
C2 - 19445618
AN - SCOPUS:68349156007
SN - 1540-9996
VL - 18
SP - 709
EP - 716
JO - Journal of Women's Health
JF - Journal of Women's Health
IS - 5
ER -