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By Carol & Richard Eustice, About.com Guides to Arthritis since 1997

Cymbalta Decreases Pain in Fibromyalgia Patients

Thursday August 30, 2007
Recent study results, presented at the 2007 Congress of the International MYOPAIN Society, indicate that fibromyalgia patients treated with 60 mg. or 120 mg. of Cymbalta (duloxetine) experienced greater reduction in pain severity one week after starting the medication compared to patients receiving placebo. At 3 and 6 months, patients on Cymbalta also showed improvement in how they felt overall since starting the medication when compared to placebo. The study included fibromyalgia patients with and without depression.

Cymbalta, generic drug name duloxetine, is a dual-reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder, the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, and generalized anxiety disorder in adults over 18 years old. Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Cymbalta, has submitted a supplemental new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the management of fibromyalgia as well, based on the results of 5 clinical trials.

Cymbalta may be the next medicine FDA-approved for fibromyalgia treatment. On June 21, 2007, Lyrica (pregabalin) was approved by the FDA for treating fibromyalgia in adults 18 years and older. Until the approval of Lyrica capsules, no medicine was specifically approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

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Comments

May 11, 2008 at 12:40 pm
(1) Renee Church says:

I am unemployed and without any nmedical insurance to cover my cymbalta that has been very effective fior the last three years for reducing the pain from my fibromyalgia and my depression. Who do I contack to see it I can get help in getting this prescription for free or less. Rehee J. Church

May 11, 2008 at 2:37 pm
(2) arthritis says:

Here are 2 programs you might contact:

1) Lilly Cares

The Lilly Cares program was created to offer free medication, through physicians, to eligible patients. It assists patients who are uninsured and whose incomes are less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

http://www.lillycares.com/index.jsp

2.)Partnership for Prescription Assistance, PPARx

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance, PPARx Web site, http://PPARx.com, provides a list of member companies that provide patient assistance programs along with Web links through http://helpingpatients.com.

My best,
Rick

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