Fibromyalgia is a difficult condition to treat, and doctors often employ
a complex regimen of physical therapy, psychotherapy, biofeedback and
medicines. Fatigue is one of the most common complaints of those with
fibromyalgia. Provigil appears to be a new tool in the arsenal for addressing
this condition.
Investigators saw that Provigil has good results treating patients with
multiple sclerosis and depression as well as narcolepsy as mental fatigue.
They reasoned that it might help with fibromyalgia, and a study was conducted.
The results, announced at the American Pyschyiatric Association 2006 meeting,
were good.
By studying the records of 98 patients with fibromyalgia whose treatment
regimen included modafinil (200 to 400 mg/day), the authors concluded
that Provigil is a viable option for treatment of this condition and that
it can help a lot of people. An earlier study examined a different group
of people who took Provigil twice a day, and found similar results.
Use of Provigil by working doctors would reflect an acknowledgement that
the physical obligates of daily life also induce an important psychological
component of disease-related fatigue.
