Fibromyalgia Treatments

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to relieve or control the symptoms. Treatments include:

Physical and Behavioral Therapies

Physical therapy (gradual aerobic exercise and stretching regimen)
Heated pool treatments—Aquatic training in warm water (eg, strength, aerobic, and relaxation exercises) may help improve symptoms.
Application of heat to painful areas
Alternative treatments, such as massage , acupuncture , relaxation training , trigger point therapy, biofeedback
Cognitive behavioral therapy

Lifestyle Changes

Eating a healthful diet
Learning to cope with physical and mental stress
Doing regular, moderate, low-impact exercise with your doctor's approval
- Try gentle exercise that does not strain painful areas, such as:
  - Walking
  - Biking
  - Swimming, preferably in warmer water
Doing regular stretching exercises
Maintaining a regular sleep schedule

Medications

These medications may help to improve symptoms:

Weak opioids (eg, tramadol , paracetamol)
Antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline , fluoxetine , duloxetine , milnacipran, moclobemide , pirlindole)
Pain relievers (eg, tropisetron, pramipexole , pregabalin )
Sodium oxybate (eg, Xyrem), a central nervous system depressant

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2026 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.