Is antidepression drugs the only answer for fibromyalgia?

I have fibromyalgia from since 93 and i have never taken antidepressants....

My mom took Vioxx until the drug was discontinued or whatever. It helped her.

Antidepressants are an adjuvant to the therapy of fibromyalgia syndrome. A syndrome is a group of symptoms and usually the causes are obscure and so the treatment is difficult and time consuming. More than anywhere else the doctor -patient relationship comes into play in treatment of this condition. There are discrete tender spots on the patients body just under the skin of which the patient is often not aware until the doctor points them out. Local injection with local anesthetics of these spots relieves the pain immediately but then there are many such points and some more may be discovered during subsequent visits. Consult a good and 'Patient -Rheumatologist'

No. Recently, the FDA approved Lyrica (pregabalin) for the pain of fibro. I don't see fibro patients, but I've seen many patients get good relief from neuropathic pain from Lyrica.

We have cards for a free trial. Ask your doctor.

Good luck.

No, not at all. Some (myself included) use narcotic painkillers along with muscle relaxers such as one called Skelaxin (which I like it because I can take it and have it not make me sleepy like some other kinds of muscle relaxers can do). On the alternative treatment front sometimes Massage Therapy can be very helpful. I have tried it in the past for my fibro and found it very useful to me and hope to try and do it again soon once I know what my insurance benefits on it are (my insurance will cover if offered by a Pain Management doctor if they offer the service as part of their practice-mine used to not sure if that's still the case).

A couple of great books about Fibromyalgia are:

Fibromyalgia for Dummies (I don't have the author name right now) and Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual by: Devin Starlanyl (she has fibromyalgia) and Maryellen Copeland (she has Chronic Myofascial Pain)

I don't think it's the only answer. It can help if depression has become part of your "Fibro Smorg". We are all different and if your and your health care team think antidepressants are something to try then do it. For me after having to stop working and being home most of the time I became depressed. I have always been a people person. My "social life" died after a short time and I felt like life was over. After struggling for a few months I had a really bad ten minutes when I lost it and pitched dishes etc and screamed cried and made no sense at all. My husband got me calmed down and I called my Dr. and said I HAD to talk to her. So we decided to try antidepressants. I started feeling better after a short time and antidepressants are part of my sane life.