What you need to know about Trazodone and fibromyalgia.
Trazodone is a medication used to treat depression and other related disorders. It is used “off label” for fibromyalgia and other conditions meaning the use of this medication is not approved by the FDA for treatment. Patient reports regarding symptom control with use of Trazodone is positive. Some smaller studies have been done which support the use Trazodone for these other conditions. A larger study is needed to verify these results.
The Research
Off-Label Trazodone Prescription: Evidence, Benefits and Risks.
Bossini L1, Coluccia A, Casolaro I, Benbow J, Amodeo G, De Giorgi R, Fagiolini A.
Author information:
1Department of Molecular Medicine, Psychiatry Division, University of Siena, Italy. Viale Bracci 1, 53100 Siena, Italy. letizia.bossini@gmail.com.
Abstract
Although trazodone is approved and marketed in most countries worldwide for the sole treatment of Major Depressive Disorder, the use for this medication is very common for many other conditions, such as primary or secondary insomnia, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder. Other, not officially approved, uses of trazodone include: the treatment of bulimia, benzodiazepine and/or alcohol dependence or abuse, fibromyalgia, degenerative diseases of the central nervous system such as dementia and other organic disorders, schizophrenia, chronic pain, and diabetic neuropathy. In addition, due to its 5HT2A receptor antagonistic action, trazodone may be used to prevent the occurrence of initial and long-term side effects of SSRI, such as anxiety, insomnia and sexual dysfunction. Despite the favorable clinical experience and the encouraging results from the studies that have tested the efficacy of trazodone for some of its off-label indications, it is paramount that large, randomized and controlled clinical trials be conducted in the near future to evaluate which of the many off-label indications are supported by a strong scientific evidence.
PMID: 26088119 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
