Does trazodone help fibromyalgia?(+3 preventions)
By
Ivan Kahwa
Author bio
Mr Ivan Kahwa is a chemist and phytopharmaceutical scientist with expertise in chemistry, pharmacology, phytochemistry, and Nanobiotechnology. He writes and reviews content on these topics.
Mr Ivan Kahwa’s Highlights:
Guest Researcher at the University of Leipzig, Senior Research Fellow/Scientist, and Lecturer at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Professional Experience:
Mr Ivan joined PHARMBIOTRAC as a research fellow/scientist during his master of science tenure. He contributed to the development of most of the phytopharmaceutical products in the project. Furthermore, he participated in carrying out the pharmacological activities of the developed products in laboratory animals such as mice and rats in order to develop proper doses hence leading to pre-clinical studies.
With the above relevant research experience, Ivan started to work with the University of Leipzig on collaborative projects with Mbarara University to develop the chemistry of Ugandan Medicinal plants and their pharmacological activities. This was coupled with several consultative positions by different German NGOs. Mr. Kahwa is also a supporting in the teaching and learning at the Departments of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
With the increase in antimicrobial resistance globally, Ivan retooled his thinking towards developing new naturally derived antibiotic regimens from Ugandan propolis with the assistance of nanotechnology to improve their delivery to microbial cells. Kahwa has also published over 28 articles in peer-reviewed journals and he is currently reviewing for many journals.
Education:
2023-2027: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (ongoing) with a focus on Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Nanobiology at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
2022: 2Msc. in Pharmacognosy and Natural Medicine Science at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
2018: Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Publications:
▪ Iqbal, S., Jabeen, F., Kahwa, I., & Omara, T. 2023. Suberosin Alleviates Thiazolidinedione-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Diabetic Rats by Inhibiting Ferroptosis via Modulation of ACSL4-LPCAT3 and PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathways. Cardiovascular Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-023-09804-7
▪ Gupta, A. K., Yadav, R., Sharma, S., Sawale, J., & Kahwa, I. 2023. Anti-ageing Activity and Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Extracts of Leaves and Flowers of Salvia officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis. Journal of Young Pharmacists, 15(3), 448–455. https://doi.org/10.5530/jyp.2023.15.60
▪ Tolo, C.U., Kahwa, I., Nuwagira, U., Weisheit, A. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Medicinal plants used in treatment of various diseases in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 25, pp.1-16.
https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/4683
▪ Kahwa, I., Ajayi, C.O., Yadav, R., Chauhan, N.S., Shah, K., Abdelgadir, A.A., Shegena, E.A., Daniel, S., Omara, T., Asiimwe, J.B. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies as an invaluable approach for correct identification of medicinal plants: The case of Artemisia vulgaris L. substituted for Artemisia annua L. in Western Uganda. TMR Integr Med, 7, p.e23004.
https://doi.org/10.53388/TMRIM202307004
▪ Nalimu, F., Oloro, J., Kahwa, I. and Ogwang, P.E., 2021. Review on the phytochemistry and toxicological profiles of Aloe vera and Aloe ferox. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 7, pp.1-21.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-021-00296-2
▪ Elamin, O.H.S., Ali, M.A., Elgezuli, I.A.A., Bashir, M.A. and Kahwa, I., 2021. Diagnosis of pre-and post-treatment of echinococcus granulosus with counter current immune electrophoresis and bacterial co-agglutination. Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 11(02), pp.88-94.
https://doi.org/10.5799/jmid.951600
Published book Chapter
▪ Kahwa, I., Ayesiga, I., Nakalema, S., Alinaiswe, R., Mbabazi, R. and Iqbal, S., 2023. Natural products in the management of onchocerciasis. In Natural Products in Vector-Borne Disease Management (pp. 63-80). Academic Press. Book Chapter.
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91942-5.00012-4
Submitted manuscripts Under Review:
▪ Comparison of the Wound Healing Activity of the Leaf and Leaf Ash Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina in Rats. Journal name: Clinical Phytoscience
▪ Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal plants used in the management of cancer in Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Herbal Medicine
▪ Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemical screening of medicinal plants used in treatment of epilepsy by PROMETRA-Uganda Traditional Health Practitioners in Mpigi District, Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Submitted book chapters under review
1.Book title: Algae as a Natural Solution for Water-Food-Energy Nexus, Section 4: Microalgae and cyanobacteria for food applications, Chapter 4.6: Safety, toxicological and allergenic aspects of using algae for food. Authors: Christine Kyarimpa, Tom Omute, Caroline K. Nakiguli, Alice V. Khanakwa4, Christopher Angiro, Ivan Kahwa, Fortunate Ahumuza, Timothy Omara*. Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore.
2.Book title: Nutraceuticals Inspiring the Contemporary Therapy for Lifestyle Diseases. Chapter: Nutraceutical applications of Seaweeds and their Phytocompounds in Nutrition and Treatment of Diseases. Authors: Ivan Kahwa, Timothy Omara , Innocent Ayesiga , Gael Noel Neh Neba Ambe , Zehbanaz Javidbhai Panwala , Rachel Mbabazi , Shabnoor Iqbal , Christine Kyarimpa , Christine Betty Nagawa , Kamal Shah ,Nagendra Singh Chauhan* Publisher: CRC Press
You can view my works on the following professional sites:
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ivan-Kahwa
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tOwrvqoAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6440-3437
Linkedin: https://de.linkedin.com/in/ivan-kahwa-865450159
In this article, we will discuss whether trazodone can help treat fibromyalgia or not. We will look at the approved research regarding the use of trazodone for treating fibromyalgia pain. We will also look at the risks and benefits associated with trazodone to treat fibromyalgia pain.
Does trazodone help fibromyalgia?
Yes, trazodone helps in treating fibromyalgia pain. However, it is not an FDA-approved medication for the treatment of fibromyalgia but it is sometimes prescribed off-label for treating fibromyalgia.
Trazodone belongs to the serotonin antagonists and reuptake inhibitors class of medications. It is an FDA-approved medication for major depressive disorder. The off-label uses of trazodone include anxiety, Alzheimer’s, substance abuse, bulimia, and fibromyalgia (1).
Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal pain that is characterized by fatigue, cognitive, and psychiatric disturbances. It is considered a neurosensory pain because the patient cannot process pain in the brain (2,3).
Consult your doctor for the symptoms associated with pain and get yourself assessed for fibromyalgia. If your doctor recommends then, start taking trazodone at the prescribed dosage and frequency under your doctor’s supervision.
What does research suggest?
A research study was conducted on 66 fibromyalgia patients for 12 weeks. These patients were given trazodone doses at a flexible range between 50-300mg/day (4).
According to this study, it was observed that these patients showed remarkable improvement in sleep quality, duration, and efficiency. Since disturbed sleep is a prominent feature of fibromyalgia, trazodone showed quite impressive results in improving sleep-related disturbances associated with fibromyalgia (4).
Some prominent symptoms of fibromyalgia such as depression and anxiety were treated with trazodone due to its properties as an antidepressant and a hypnotic (4).
The results of this study after week 12 showed that trazodone did not markedly improve pain intensity associated with fibromyalgia, but rather affected pain interference with regular daily activities (4).
Among the patients who participated in this study, 18.6% of patients displayed satisfying results, 46.5% of patients showed slight improvement, 18.6% showed no results whereas, 16.3% of patients reported worsening conditions (4).
How long does trazodone take to start working for fibromyalgia?
Just like other psychotropic medications, trazodone might also take about 2-4 weeks to start showing its efficacy for treating fibromyalgia pain. However, the appropriate time for trazodone to show its efficacy varies from patient to patient depending on the condition they are taking trazodone for.
It is essential to continue taking trazodone for as long as your doctor has prescribed even if the symptoms start to fade away. Do not abruptly stop the medication, as it may cause withdrawal symptoms.
Always consult your doctor before starting or stopping the dosage of trazodone to avoid potential adverse effects. If the side effects are severe, consult your doctor for a drug switch to a safer drug for treating fibromyalgia pain.
What precautions will improve fibromyalgia with trazodone?
Along with taking trazodone, you might also need to take some extra precautions to improve fibromyalgia. Some precautions required may include:
- Lifestyle adjustments- You must put in extra effort to improve your lifestyle such as taking a healthy diet and stress management which is crucial for fibromyalgia.
- Sleep management- Ensure to have an improved and consistent sleep schedule. Fibromyalgia tends to disturb sleep quality and you need to practice good sleep hygiene habits along with taking trazodone to improve fibromyalgia.
- Physical activities- You must inculcate regular physical exercises and activities in your life which can be beneficial for fibromyalgia pain.
You may discuss other precautionary measures with your healthcare provider. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment along with precautionary measures help in improving fibromyalgia pain and related symptoms in a shorter span of time.
What to do if trazodone does not help in fibromyalgia?
Trazodone is not an approved medication for fibromyalgia, so if trazodone is not relieving fibromyalgia pain, you can contact your doctor to switch to an appropriate medication with better therapeutic outcomes for fibromyalgia pain.
Your doctor may suggest FDA-approved medications for treating fibromyalgia which include (5):
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
- Pregablin (Lyrica)
- Milnacipran (Savella)
- Amitriptyline (Elavil)
Your doctor may also suggest you explore non-pharmacological approaches for fibromyalgia such as physical therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), acupuncture, or mindfulness-based approaches.
However, in my opinion, you should maintain a healthy and transparent relationship with your practitioner so that they can provide you with appropriate treatment regarding fibromyalgia.
Through honest communication, they may help in relieving your symptoms with pharmacological or non-pharmacological approaches in the shortest possible time.
Was this helpful?
References
1.-
Shin JJ, Saadabadi A. Trazodone. [Updated 2022 Jul 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470560/
2.-
Bhargava J, Hurley JA. Fibromyalgia. 2023 Jun 11. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 31082018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31082018/
3.-
Siracusa R, Paola RD, Cuzzocrea S, Impellizzeri D. Fibromyalgia: Pathogenesis, Mechanisms, Diagnosis and Treatment Options Update. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Apr 9;22(8):3891. doi: 10.3390/ijms22083891. PMID: 33918736; PMCID: PMC8068842. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33918736/
4.-
Morillas-Arques, P., Rodriguez-Lopez, C. M., Molina-Barea, R., Rico-Villademoros, F., & Calandre, E. P. (2010). Trazodone for the treatment of fibromyalgia: An open-label, 12-week study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 11, 204. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-11-204
5.-
InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Medication for the treatment of fibromyalgia. 2018 Mar 8. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK492992/
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