This Video says it all!

This video by BrownEarth12 beautifully captures the frustration, pain and overall lack of credibility suffered by people who have fibromyalgia. Please send in any questions or comments.

Genetic Abnormality May Lead to New Relief for Fibromyalgia Sufferers

A boy in Pakistan who is able to walk on burning coals sparked a new concept for relieving pain in fibromyalgia and other pain syndromes. A geneticist at the University of Cambridge discovered this stunt boy as he was studying families in northern Pakistan. A genetic abnormality in which pain cannot be sensed was found within this boy's family. The results were written up in the journal Nature in the December 2006 issue.

The abnormality is in the Nav 1.7, sodium channel found in peripheral nerve cells. The channel is incomplete, and this blocks the transmission of pain from an outside stimulus to the spinal cord and brain. Nav 1.7 is only found in peripheral nerves outside the heart and central nervous system, so that blocking this channel will not affect the heart, brain, or spinal cord. This will result in fewer side effects than those found in presently marketed painkillers. Newron Pharmaceuticals SpA of Italy is already doing clinical tests in humans on a Nav 1.7 blocker. AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Merck are also studying Nav 1.7 blocking compounds that they hope to market in the future.

“It’s the ultimate target,” said John Wood, a professor of molecular neurobiology at University College London who co- wrote the Nature article with Woods in December 2006. “The people that don’t have the channel are not ill, they have no problems, so if you find a drug that blocks it, they should be pain-free and also free of side effects.”

Read more here.

What's the Scoop on Savella?

As you see in the link below, milnacipran, or Savella, made by Cypress Bioscience, Inc., has recently been approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Savella has been in use in Europe for many years now, so it is not a new drug. This is good news, indeed!

Both serotonin and norepinephrine have been shown to modulate pain processing. In people with fibromyalgia, lower levels of serotonin and norepinephrine metabolites are seen in the spinal fluid. Savella blocks the reuptake of both norepinephrine and serotonin to similar degrees. This raises the serum levels of both of these neurotransmitters. It is therefore similar to the tricyclic antidepressants, for example amitryptilene and nortriptylene, except that it doesn't inhibit cholinergic, histamine, and alpha-adrenergic pathways, so there are fewer side effects. Notably, Savella's ability to increase available norepinephrine helps combat some of the fatigue seen with fibromyalgia. Savella can be taken along with Lyrica. The clinical trial data show that Savella is significantly better than placebo for the treatment of fibromyalgia pain. I will share my clinical experience with this medication in this blog in the months to come.

Patients have been asking me about and for Savella recently. Because of its similarity to antidepressants, you may have to stop your antidepressant before starting Savella, but Savella already has an anti-depressant effect.

FDA OKs Fibromyalgia Drug Savella

FDA OKs Fibromyalgia Drug Savella

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