Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: Compare effectiveness of amitriptyline and pregabalin on symptoms of fibromyalgia patients.METHODS: 71 female patients aged ≥ 18 years were included in this study. The patients were divided into 2 groups. Pregabalin (n=36), and amitriptyline (n=35) were initiated at daily oral doses of 450 mg, and 25 mg, respectively for indicated number of patients. The patients were re-evaluated at the start of treatment and at the end of 12 weeks. Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Modified Fatigue Impact Scale. (MFIS), Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HAD), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Mini Mental State Test (MMST), and LANSS (Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs) were applied on all study participants. For measurement of pain from all tender points were estimated using a pressure algometer. RESULTS: Significant improvements were obtained in both groups after the treatment (p < 0.05). Percent change in LANSS was at a higher level in the pregabalin group when compared with the amitriptyline group. Tender point PPTs, and total myalgic scores improved significantly in both groups after treatment (p < 0.05). With treatment higher percent changes of these parameters were achieved in the amitriptyline group when compared with the pregabalin group (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Effectiveness of both drugs on pain, fatigue, sleep disorder, disability, psychologic evaluation, and cognitive functions did not differ; however, on experimentally measured pain amitriptyline, and on neuropathic pain amitriptyline were more effective. According to these results, in FM patients who more prominently complain of neuropathic pain priorly preference of pregabalin can be recommended.

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