AP IMPACT: Drugmakers' push boosts 'murky' ailment

[efilon]

And this is what we deal with "STILL"



Two drugmakers spent hundreds of millions of dollars last year to raise awareness of a murky illness, helping boost sales of pills recently approved as treatments and drowning out unresolved questions — including whether it's a real disease at all.

Fibromyalgia draws skepticism for several reasons. The cause is unknown. There are no tests to confirm a diagnosis. Many patients also fit the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome and other pain ailments.

Experts don't doubt the patients are in pain. They differ on what to call it and how to treat it.

Many doctors and patients say the drugmakers are educating the medical establishment about a misunderstood illness, much as they did with depression in the 1980s. Those with fibromyalgia have often had to fight perceptions that they are hypochondriacs, or even faking their pain.




http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090208/ap_on_bi_ge/fibromyalgia_drug_companies

[mopinko]

1. i'll tell you one thing- fibros don't take meds that don't work. so if lyrica

is selling, it is because it is working. but we have all tried many meds that didn't help. we don't take them if they don't. we are pros at throwing out the garbage.

[Warpy]

2. No kidding. I have a stash of SSRIs

that I only take if the doc hasn't refilled my Ultram in a timely manner. Taking an SSRI cuts down on the brain zaps from stopping Ultram suddenly.

However, I haven't been tempted to try the Lyrica. As long as the Ultram is dulling the pain to where I can function without fogging me out mentally, I'm a happy camper.

[mopinko]

3. ya know, it has worked well, but

lately i have had the feeling that my trains of thought have just been bursting like soap bubbles. could be just old-timers setting in, but i think i might back it out soon, and make sure i still like it.
thinking about seeing a sleep doc, maybe, too. tired of spending half my days in bed.