The Truth About Fibromyalgia Drugs

Although drugs such as Pfizer’s Lyrica are often prescribed to treat fibromyalgia, these medications are really only addressing pain-related symptoms of this debilitating disease. Why? Fibromyalgia is caused by a neurological problem, not a muscular condition. In fact, research studies have shown that the brains of fibromyalgia sufferers exhibit abnormalities, such as premature aging.

The symptoms of fibromyalgia, including muscle pain, acid-reflux and heart palpitations, are actually the end-result of an out-of-control midbrain, the uppermost part of the brainstem. Think of the midbrain as an unruly child that is normally restrained by other areas of the brain. In a fibromyalgia patient, those areas, for whatever reasons, lose the ability to manage the midbrain. This imbalance affects, for example:

• Circadian rhythm (that regulates the sleep-wake cycle)
• Sensitivity to light
• Heart rate
• Digestion
• Circulation
• Concentration
• Memory
• Mood

Depending on the severity of the symptoms, fibromyalgia can be extremely debilitating and can leave an individual feeling like they exist in a foggy, flu-like state 24-hours a day. Some fibromyalgia sufferers are unable to work; others manage to function on the job but collapse at the end of the day. Quality of life is severely diminished as fibromyalgia symptoms affect a person’s ability to enjoy hobbies, and maintain friendships. Many become completely. In short, fibromyalgia takes a toll on every aspect of daily life.

At our clinic, we’ve treated 175 fibromyalgia patients. These patients had visited a number of medical professionals, tried Lyrica and other pain and anti-depression drugs, and were still suffering. This is because doctors weren’t looking at the brain and nervous system. In contrast, we look at each patient individually. By looking at factors like metabolism, blood chemistry, and the nervous system, we aim to rehabilitate—without drugs or surgery—the parts of the brain that are slacking off on their parenting duties, so-to-speak. The end result is you get your life back.