Living with fibromyalgia can be a pain, both literally and figuratively. This is especially true if you’re trying to find treatments that help with the pain and fatigue. Although fibromyalgia can’t be cured, treatment options can make the condition easier to manage.

In this article, we’ll talk about some of the latest treatments for fibromyalgia. We’ll discuss some of the medications commonly used to manage fibromyalgia symptoms, including antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs. We’ll also cover how psychotherapy, lifestyle changes, and other treatments can help improve fibromyalgia symptoms.

Medications for Fibromyalgia

Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved just four drugs to treat fibromyalgia. However, many others are prescribed off-label. This means that even though the medication isn’t specifically approved for fibromyalgia, doctors prescribe it because it may help with symptoms.

Fibromyalgia medications fall into three main categories: antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, and pain medications. Other types may also be used to help treat specific symptoms.

Antidepressants

Some antidepressants have been shown to ease chronic pain, especially nerve pain. Of course, antidepressants also help treat depression, another common symptom of fibromyalgia.

All antidepressants work by changing the balance of neurotransmitters — brain chemicals that transmit nerve signals. Each class of antidepressants works in a slightly different way. Common side effects of most antidepressants include drowsiness and sexual dysfunction, especially for the first few weeks or months of treatment.

SNRI Antidepressants

Two of the FDA-approved drugs for fibromyalgia — duloxetine (Cymbalta, Drizalma Sprinkle) and milnacipran (Savella) — belong to the norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) class of antidepressants. Doctors often use these medications as the first treatment for fibromyalgia in people with severe fatigue (extreme tiredness or lack of energy) or depression.

Tricyclic Antidepressants

Other antidepressants are often prescribed off-label to treat fibromyalgia symptoms. Before the FDA had approved any medications for fibromyalgia, researchers found that tricyclic antidepressants could help manage symptoms. Doctors continue using tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline off-label as an initial treatment for fibromyalgia.

SSRI Antidepressants

Sometimes, doctors recommend selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This type of antidepressant is usually prescribed for people who can’t take it or for those whose symptoms don’t improve with other treatments. However, research isn’t as clear about how well these medications work for fibromyalgia. Examples of SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Brisdelle, Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft).

Anti-Seizure Medications

Although seizures aren’t a common symptom of fibromyalgia, some anti-seizure medications (also called anticonvulsants or antiepileptic drugs) can be effective in treating fibromyalgia. Anti-seizure drugs are believed to help by calming overactive nerves and reducing the transmission of pain signals. Common side effects include drowsiness and mood changes, such as depression.

Another FDA-approved drug for fibromyalgia is an anti-seizure medication called pregabalin (Lyrica). Research shows that pregabalin helps reduce pain and improve sleep and quality of life for people with fibromyalgia. Besides being used to treat fibromyalgia, pregabalin can be used for neuropathic pain and generalized anxiety disorder. Pregabalin is also prescribed off-label to treat restless legs syndrome, a disorder common in people with fibromyalgia.

Other antiepilepsy drugs may also be prescribed off-label to treat fibromyalgia. One example is gabapentin (Gralise, Horizant, Neurontin).

Muscle Relaxants

In August 2025, the FDA approved the first new fibromyalgia medication in more than 16 years — a new formulation of cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride (Tonmya). This muscle relaxant has been in use since the 1970s. Unlike previous forms of cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride, Tonmya is a sublingual tablet, meaning it dissolves under the tongue. Dissolving rather than swallowing allows the medication to work quickly, stay effective over time, and minimize side effects.

Other muscle relaxants are used off-label. For example, carisoprodol (Soma) and orphenadrine can improve stiffness in some people with fibromyalgia. However, these medications can be used only for a short time and not on a regular basis.

Pain Management Medications

Pain is the most common symptom of fibromyalgia, and it can be severe. Medications for fibromyalgia pain management include over-the-counter pain relievers and prescription medications. Several of the medications described above can help with fibromyalgia pain.

Opioids are no longer recommended for fibromyalgia because of their associated risks. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, regular use of opioids — even as prescribed by a doctor — can lead to dependence. If misused, opioids can result in overdose and death.

Some people with fibromyalgia try medical cannabis (medical marijuana) to help with pain or sleep. A few studies suggest it may help some symptoms in the short term. However, the evidence is limited and not strong enough for most medical guidelines to recommend it. More high-quality research on the safety and effectiveness of medical cannabis is needed.

Other Medications

Other medications can also be used to manage specific symptoms. Fibromyalgia often causes problems with sleep, and certain medications can help. These include prescription sleeping pills and supplements of melatonin, a natural sleep hormone. Sometimes, benzodiazepines like lorazepam (Ativan, Lorazepam Intensol, Loreev XR), diazepam (Diazepam Intensol, Valium), and alprazolam (Xanax) can also be used to help with sleep problems, although these drugs are more often prescribed to treat anxiety. Anxiety is a common trigger for fibromyalgia pain.

Doctors are careful when prescribing these drugs because they can lead to dependence or side effects. Newer guidelines suggest first trying nondrug treatments for sleep, such as keeping a regular bedtime, avoiding screens before sleep, or using therapy to improve sleep habits.

Finally, medications called stimulants can help with fatigue and cognitive dysfunction (difficulty thinking) related to fibromyalgia. These stimulants include modafinil (Provigil) and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall).

Psychotherapy

Doctors also recommend that people with fibromyalgia have psychotherapy to help manage their disease. Physical and psychological pain can be closely linked. There’s a correlation between a history of depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the development of fibromyalgia.

Psychotherapy can help people with fibromyalgia work through traumatic memories and find healthy ways to cope with stress. In particular, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and relaxation can be helpful. These therapies can help change thoughts and behaviors that directly contribute to physical symptoms such as pain.

Lifestyle Changes

Making positive lifestyle changes can greatly improve the lives of people who have fibromyalgia. In fact, doctors highly recommend exercise as one of the initial treatments.

Exercise

Exercise can be difficult if you have fibromyalgia. Pain, stiffness, and fatigue lead many people with fibromyalgia to give up on exercise. However, a lack of physical activity can increase pain and stiffness, which can make fibromyalgia symptoms worse. Lack of regular exercise also raises the risk of other serious medical conditions like osteoporosis (brittle bones), heart disease, and diabetes. Research has shown that regular exercise helps people with fibromyalgia maintain a healthy weight, keep joints flexible, and reduce inflammation and stress.

When starting a new exercise routine, you may feel more pain at first. The best way to manage this is to start with short, low-intensity exercise, increasing the duration and intensity when you can handle it. For fibromyalgia, aerobic exercise is specifically recommended. Your doctor or physical therapist can recommend the right exercises for you.

Diet

There’s no specific diet shown to help manage fibromyalgia. Like everyone else, people with fibromyalgia feel better when they eat a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, and unsaturated fats. Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight is extremely important for people with fibromyalgia. Studies have shown that having a higher body weight is linked to worse fibromyalgia symptoms. Eating a nutritious, balanced diet can make a significant difference in managing the condition.

While there are no diets specifically for fibromyalgia, some people with fibromyalgia can benefit from changing their diet. For example, researchers have found that nutrient deficiencies are common in people with fibromyalgia. A blood test can find deficiencies, and a doctor can provide advice on which foods and supplements will help.

Other studies have found an overlap between fibromyalgia and gluten intolerance. Some people with fibromyalgia feel better when they stop eating gluten. Others report reduced symptoms after changing to an anti-inflammatory diet. Eating a plant-based diet may also help improve symptoms. It’s important to check with your doctor before changing how you eat, since some trendy diets and supplements can interfere with medication or cause side effects.

Stress Management

Stress is a common trigger for fibromyalgia flares, so reducing stress may be beneficial. Some ways to manage stress include deep breathing, meditation, prayer, yoga, and tai chi. Connecting with family and friends, undergoing psychotherapy, and taking antidepressant medication (if prescribed) can also help. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about managing your stress.

Natural or Complementary Treatments

Some people with fibromyalgia feel better after trying various complementary or alternative therapies. Trigger point injections and massage therapy can help manage pain.

Some research findings suggest benefits from acupuncture, biofeedback therapy, chiropractic therapy, or peripheral nerve stimulation. However, these studies had mixed results or weren’t well designed. More research is needed to see if these therapies can help with fibromyalgia.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyFibroTeam, people share their experiences with fibromyalgia, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Have you used any of these treatments to manage your fibromyalgia? Which treatments worked best for you? Let others know in the comments below.