A randomized, controlled trial of amitriptyline and naproxen in the treatment of patients with fibromyalgia

Arthritis Rheum. 1986 Nov;29(11):1371-7. doi: 10.1002/art.1780291110.

Abstract

Sixty-two patients with fibromyalgia were randomly assigned to receive 25 mg of amitriptyline at night, 500 mg of naproxen twice daily, both amitriptyline and naproxen, or placebo in a 6-week, double-blind trial. Amitriptyline was associated with significant improvement in all outcome parameters, including patient and physician global assessments, patient pain, sleep difficulties, fatigue on awakening, and tender point score. Patients taking the combined naproxen-amitriptyline regimen experienced minor, but not significant, improvement in pain when compared with patients who took amitriptyline alone. Amitriptyline, or amitriptyline and naproxen, is an effective therapeutic regimen for patients with fibromyalgia.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amitriptyline / therapeutic use*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Fibromyalgia / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Naproxen / therapeutic use*
  • Placebos
  • Random Allocation
  • Terminology as Topic

Substances

  • Placebos
  • Amitriptyline
  • Naproxen