It must be stated here that a medication that works for one person may not work
for another person. The same goes for any type of "alternative" treatment, such as
acupuncture, massage, exercise, aquatic therapy, physical therapy, etc., etc. And
you should NEVER take any medication that is not specifically prescribed for you!!
This is from David Nye, M.D. --
"A number of medications have been used to improve sleep in fibromyalgia. The
oldest of these is amitriptyline (Elavil), a medication first used to treat depression.
Amitriptyline and related medications probably work by improving the quality and
depth of deep sleep rather than by any effect on mood. Although it probably works
as well as any of the other medications, amitriptyline causes frequent bothersome
side effects such as weight gain, dry mouth, daytime tiredness, and trouble
concentrating more often than other medications with durations of action more
appropriate for sleep so I usually try these other medications first. They include
trazodone (Desyrel), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril),
alprazolam (Xanax), and carisoprodol (Soma).
Medication is started at a low dose and gradually increased until you sleep well at
night and feel good during the day, encounter unacceptable side effects, or reach
the prescribed maximum dose. Starting low and slow helps minimize initial side
effects such as dizziness, nausea, and morning grogginess. By two to four weeks,
most patients find that the side effects are settling down and the fibromyalgia
symptoms are starting to improve.
It often takes a lot of fiddling with the dose to get it exactly right. It may be
necessary to try several medications in succession or sometimes in combination.
Some patients find that certain of these medications cause stimulation rather than
sedation, as if one has had too many cups of coffee. When this "paradoxical effect"
occurs it will be necessary to switch to another medication. Some medications may
become less effective over time and the dose may then need to be increased slightly.
Most patients will need to continue medication indefinitely, although sometimes the
dose can be reduced once a good response to treatment has been achieved."
NOW, here are a couple of sites where you can look up your meds:
RxLIST - Comprehensive drug info
Pharmaceutical Information Network