Study looks at the use of a Parkinson’s drug in the treatment of FMS
Story originally posted on August 4, 2005
An interesting study has recently investigated into the possible use of a common Parkinson drug in the fight against fibromyalgia, a neuromuscular disorder that affects many ICers and many non-ICers alike. This study looked at the drug Mirapex (a dopamine receptor prescription drug which triggers/stimulates the brain’s natural production of dopamine), and found that those who took Mirapex in conjunction with their regular fibro meds had a noticeable decrease in pain levels.
Four in ten people said they felt a fifty percent or higher reduction in pain. Sixty people participated in the study all-total, and forty nine of those stayed with the study till the end. Many of the participants were fibro suffers who experience fibro at a level so severe it disables them to some extent. As well as pain relief those patients taking the drug (as opposed to the placebo) reported decreases in fatigue and an improvement in mobility. The most common side affects were nausea and slight weight loss.
Some researchers feel that these result point more and more towards the possibility that fibro may be occurring as a result of abnormal signaling between the central nervous system and the brain (which is also a possibility for the cause of IC). Thusly by focusing on how these two systems work together (how the pain signals get to the brain and how the your grey matter construes those signals) may lead to new directions in fibromyalgia care. Though scientist are quick to point out that further studies are needed to properly determine if Mirapex would make a suitable fibromyalgia pain treatment or not.
It's worth noting that none of the patients who were involved experience any negative side affects that we strong enough to cause them to withdrawal from the study. Important too was the fact that the researchers allowed the fibro patients to continue taking all their usual medications during the study. But perhaps most interesting in terms of unexpected results was that unlike many Parkinson's patients no one in the study group reported having any sleep attacks (nightmares, etc) and hallucinations – two side affects that are reported by some Parkinson's suffers who take Mirapex.
Information resources:
Holman, A. Arthritis & Rheumatism, August 2005; vol 52: pp 2495-2505. News release, Wiley InterScience.