| For some patients with fibromyalgia, high blood | | | | medications commonly prescribed for fibromyalgia, |
| pressure concerns are being raised. A recent | | | | the risk of developing high blood pressure |
| study published in the Archives of Internal | | | | increases and it doesn't stop with analgesics. |
| Medicine in February 2007 showed that common | | | | SSRIs and some anti-depressant medications |
| pain medications may increase the risk of high | | | | prescribed for fibromyalgia may also lead to high |
| blood pressure in men. These medications include | | | | blood pressure, often as a result of complications |
| acetaminophen, aspirin and NSAIDs (non-steroidal | | | | or side effects. COX-II inhibitors are another type |
| anti-inflammatory drugs). The gloomy news for | | | | of fibromyalgia drug used to fight inflammation. |
| fibromyalgia patients is that these medications are | | | | It's especially effective when joint swelling and |
| also commonly prescribed to those suffering with | | | | muscle pain are present. COX-II inhibitors block |
| this painful, debilitating condition. | | | | COX-II enzymes that regulate the production of |
| The study in question involved 16,031 men, all | | | | substances called prostaglandins. |
| health professionals with an average age of 64.6 | | | | Prostaglandins are produced by the |
| years. In 2000 at the beginning of the study, they | | | | cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme and are |
| all did not have a history of hypertension. During | | | | responsible for the promotion of the inflammatory |
| the two years that followed, they began taking | | | | reaction within the body. When prostaglandins are |
| pain medications. Four years later during a | | | | blocked as a result of the action of COX-II |
| follow-up, more than 1,900 of those involved in | | | | inhibitors, pain and swelling are stopped. The only |
| the study had developed high blood pressure. | | | | problem is that COX-II inhibitors have side effects |
| The study further showed that those who took | | | | that include high blood pressure. |
| acetaminophen for at least six days out of a | | | | For information on natural ways to treat |
| week increased the high blood pressure risk to | | | | fibromyalgia symptoms without side effects, sign |
| 34%, while those who took aspirin with the same | | | | up for the newsletter below. |
| frequency increased theirs to 26%. The men who | | | | The consequence of living pain-free |
| took NSAIDs increased their high blood pressure | | | | Despite the extreme discomfort and pain it |
| risk to 38%. | | | | causes, fibromyalgia is not a degenerative disease, |
| According to the researchers, their data support | | | | nor is it a fatal disorder. However, it is a chronic |
| the hypothesis that analgesics can increase the | | | | ailment that produces pain and fatigue that can |
| risk of high blood pressure even when taken | | | | last for months or even years, so it's not |
| independently. This places fibromyalgia patients in | | | | uncommon to see fibromyalgia patients taking |
| a tricky position, considering that the first line of | | | | medications regularly for long periods of time. |
| defense against the disorder is often pain | | | | Drugs used to treat fibromyalgia symptoms have |
| relievers. | | | | had varying degrees of success, but the main |
| Is your fibromyalgia medication putting you at risk | | | | challenge for many patients at risk of developing |
| for high blood pressure? | | | | hypertension is how to manage fibromyalgia high |
| It is an accepted fact that every medication has | | | | blood pressure symptoms simultaneously. This |
| at least one side effect, which can vary in | | | | makes it even more important that patients |
| severity depending on the patient. Some | | | | educate themselves about potential risks and |
| medications, specifically NSAIDs, can cause a | | | | benefits of any treatment they consider, and |
| problem when taken with drugs for blood | | | | take a proactive role in the management of their |
| pressure that contain ACE inhibitors. With | | | | disorder. |