March 4, 2008
Is Fibromyalgia Real?
Q: Fibromyalgia: fact or myth? I have it and have sometimes been in severe pain for long periods of time until I received help from a first-rate pain clinic. I am male, have always been in excellent shape and never been prone to hypochondriacal thinking. So what's the truth here? I want to say to the doctors who are disbelievers, "Spend a day in my body, then tell me if it's a bona fide disorder.” - Marcus
A: Rest assured, Fibromyalgia is a very real disorder with the scientific evidence to back it up. The validity of FM has been acknowledged by authorities such as the American College of Rheumatology, the American Medical Association, the Social Security Administration, the Veterans Administration and, most recently, the FDA. Why a few doctors still refuse to accept that FM is real, we can only guess. Thanks to the FDA’s recent approval of LyricaR as the first-ever drug to treat Fibromyalgia, more and more doctors are acknowledging its legitimacy. For more information about Fibromyalgia facts and myths, read: “Fibromyalgia Myth Busting” by Karen Lee Richards.
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"Pill-popping Complainers"?
Q: How in this day and age, with all the research going on concerning Fibromyalgia, are we still being referred to as "Pill-popping Complainers"? Yes, I read this article on a news site just a few days ago. A professor at the University of North Carolina has made the decision that this disease should have never been given a name, as it now gives we patients more to complain about. – Terrie
A: The article we think you are referring to originally appeared on the front page of The New York Times a few weeks ago (titled “Drug Approved. Is Disease Real?”) and was picked up by news organizations all over the country. It unleashed a firestorm of complaints to the NYT.
Although on the surface the article appeared to be detrimental to FM patients, in the end it may have actually helped us. The National Fibromyalgia Association reported that the FM community was being embraced by healthcare providers, researchers, and even other advocacy organizations not directly involved with Fibromyalgia. These people expressed concern that what is supposed to be a reputable news organization like the NYT would print something so blatantly biased. They also offered to do whatever they could to help the NFA in its work on behalf of the FM community.
There may always be some disbelievers out there, but fortunately, they are finally becoming the minority, not the majority.
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CoQ10 Without Soy?
Q: I am just wondering why you do not carry any CoQ10 that does not contain soy? I have an allergy and also take bio-identical hormones and was told to stay away from soy. – Linda
A: Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We are working to make a CoQ10 product without soy available soon.
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LyricaR and Weight Gain?
Q: I was placed on Lyrica several months ago and a miracle occurred in my life after many years of pain. But it doesn't come without side effects. I gained 9 pounds in 2 months. This is not good and I decided the pain relief was not worth the weight gain. I have been on a diet since Jan. 2 and walk nearly every day. How can I keep my weight under control and still take this medication that has changed my life? (Since Jan 2, I have not lost a pound, but rather gained one) – Lynn
A: In clinical trials, nine percent of patients receiving Lyrica experienced a weight gain of seven percent or more. The weight gain seemed to be related to dose and duration of exposure. Some patients also reported edema (water retention), but not all who experienced weight gain also had edema, so that’s apparently not the sole cause. Talk to your doctor to see of adjusting the dose of Lyrica might make a difference for you. He/she may also have other suggestions to help you at least minimize the weight gain so you can enjoy the pain-relief benefits you were receiving from Lyrica.
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Taper Off AmbienTM?
Q: Should you gradually stop taking Ambien when you want to quit or can you just stop?
A: If you’ve been taking the sleep drug Ambien for several days in a row, you should talk to your doctor, as you may need to taper off gradually. In addition to your sleeping problems possibly returning, other withdrawal symptoms may include behavior changes, stomach pain, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, sweating, anxiety, panic, tremors, and convulsions. If you have been taking the extended-release version (Ambien CR), DO NOT break the tablet in two as a tapering-off method. These are specially made to release the medicine in your body slowly. Breaking the tablet would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time and could be very dangerous.
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Note: This information has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is generic and is not meant to prevent, diagnose, treat or cure any illness, condition, or disease. It is very important that you make no change in your healthcare plan or health support regimen without researching and discussing it in collaboration with your professional healthcare team.
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