FDA Approves First Drug To Treat Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a mysterious & painful disease. An estimated 3 to 6 million people in the US suffer from the chronic fatigue, muscle aches and pain. Pfizer has received FDA approval for their drug Lyrica, the first drug approved for fibro sufferers.

For fibromyalgia sufferers, just getting out of bed can be a challenge. The fatigue is at times overwhelming. The chronic muscle aches, pain and tenderness wears away at your sense of well being. There is very little known about the disease itself. Experts are uncertain of it's cause, and there is no cure. Sufferers use a myriad of medicines to treat the pain and discomfort, none of which have been approved specifically for the treatment of Fibromyalgia. Pfizer has now won FDA approval for it's drug Lyrica, generically known as pregabalin. Initially the medication was approved to treat partial seizures, pain following the rash of shingles and pain associated with diabetes nerve damage. The FDA has warned that the use of the drug carries with it side effects which include mild to moderate dizziness and sleepiness. They also are quick to point out that though some fibromyalgia sufferers experienced relief from pain and saw an increase in daily function, others did not derive any benefit from use of the drug. So, why exactly did this drug get specific approval from the FDA for treatment of fibromyalgia when the study indicates that the studies showed only some of patients using the drug saw relief? I guess with 3 to 6 million potential users out there, the income factor was sufficient enough for Pfizer and the FDA to wave the magic wand and offer this 50/50 shot at relief to the public. Give me a break.