Fw: 1998 ACR FMS Therapies

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Abstract: 1365

A SURVEY OF THE USE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CONVENTIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE

THERAPIES FOR FIBROMYALGIA

Sumedha S. Dalvi, Bankes, H. Pritchard

Abington Memorial Hospital, Abington, PA 19001, USA

Fibromyalgia (FM) pts may explore alternative therapies due to

suboptimal results with conventional medications. We conducted a survey

of FM pts to gain understanding of alternative modality utilization

rates and efficacy of conventional and alternative therapies in

relieving common symptoms.

Pts were provided a checklist of nonprescription medications and

nonpharmacological treatments (NPT) used for the treatment of FM and

asked to grade the impact of each modality on pain, fatigue, sleep,

well-being and function, using a Likert scale.

Of the 117 surveys obtained (111 females, 6 males), majority of the pts

(93%) had used alternative therapies: vitamins 68%, ointments 41%, herbs

38%, magnesium 35%, malic acid 25%, CoQ 21%, lecithin 15%, manganese

15%, selenium 13% and Gingko 12%.

Use of NPT was noted; exercise 70%, meditation 34%, massage 54%,

chiropractic 41% and acupuncture 20%. Melatonin, homeopathic/ayurvedic

medications, magnets, myofascial release therapy etc. were used by <10%

pts.

Pain relief was provided by acetaminophen, NSAIDs, tramadol, aspirin,

cyclobenzaprine and narcotics. Narcotics provided more pain relief than

acetaminophen and had higher well-being scores than NSAIDs,

acetaminophen and tramadol. Tricyclic antidepressants and

cyclobenzaprine had higher sleep scores than SSRIs.

Exercise and massage offered higher pain relief, sleep, well-being and

function scores than acupuncture and better function scores than

chiropractic treatments. Meditation and malic acid achieved higher

scores with regard to well-being than acupuncture.

As a significant proportion of FM pts use alternative therapies, more

data is needed regarding benefits and risks. NPTs such as exercise,

massage and meditation may offer significant symptom relief.

Chiropractic manipulations have limited usefulness. Malic acid may be of

some benefit. Acupuncture does not offer any significant benefit. No

conclusions can be drawn on the usefulness of magnets, ointments, herbs,

homeopathic and ayurvedic medications due to a small sample size.

Disclosure: work reported in this abstract was supported by:

Dept. of Medicine, Abington Memorial Hospital, Abington, PA.