Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Savella:   

Are Drugs Your Answer?

Discover What Joyous Virginia Beach Area Fibromyalgia Sufferers Do Instead 

By Dr. Donald Liebell

   Lyrica is the brand name for the drug pregabalin.  It’s been marketed in the United States since 2004; however it was designed originally as an anti-seizure medicine, and a treatment for nerve pain of diabetes and shingles.  Lyrica became the first drug FDA approved for treatment of fibromyalgia.   

   But is taking prescription drugs such as Lyrica, Cymbalta, or Savella an intelligent approach to treating your fibromyalgia? 

   This is of course, a matter of opinion.  If you are the type of person, who simply follows “doctor’s orders,” and rarely (if ever) questions his or her treatment choices, the thought may have never crossed your mind. 

   And if you assume your doctor knows what he or she is doing, and is extremely knowledgeable about fibromyalgia and its treatment (including drug-free methods, as well as drugs) … you would not likely bat an eye at being prescribed Lyrica, Cymbalta, Savella, or other popular prescription medications.

   If you are content with the prescription medicine approach for your fibromyalgia syndrome, this article is not for you.  On the other hand, if you are seeking drug-free treatment approaches for fibromyalgia, and you understand that you are responsible for your own health—and health care choices… you might question the approach of using drugs as your primary means of dealing with your chronic pain and other symptoms, which have been labeled “fibromyalgia” or more accurately, fibromyalgia syndrome (The term “syndrome” is used in medicine typically for a condition for which no causes have been found, or there are several different but unrelated causes).

   I have been licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine since 1993, and have successfully treated countless patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome, using exclusively natural methods. 

   Have I instructed patients to discontinue taking their Lyrica, or other prescription drugs? 

   Never—it would be inappropriate, unethical, and out of my scope of practice to do so.  It is also not necessary; the best doctors use methods that are complementary to others, and have broad-based and open-minded knowledge of treatment approaches performed by a wide variety of medical disciplines.   

   Of course I’ve never denied that my goal is to safely and naturally guide my fibromyalgia patients to a healthier state, where they are able to feel great and function without the need for Lyrica or the other popular drugs.  I admit that I do not agree with the use of Lyrica as a front-line approach to treatment.  It goes against my deepest convictions and principles of health care, specifically, treating a PERSON, not a disease… and treating the underlying CAUSES of one’s health condition. 

   Most importantly, when spectacular clinical results are achieved WITHOUT using drugs… it’s hard to get excited about mass media campaigns designed to inform the suffering and desperate-for-health fibromyalgia public about new “wonder drugs.”

   If you’ve been prescribed Lyrica, Cymbalta, or Savella… have you asked your doctor if or how the drug will restore you to a healthier state? 

   Do you think these drugs can or will make you healthier? 

   Lyrica is widely advertised on television, radio, and the Internet.  You may have even been told about fibromyalgia and Lyrica by the media before your doctor has mentioned them to you.  Ads for Cymbalta and Savella, although less visible than Lyrica, have been in our faces too.  Pfizer says point blank in their magazine ads, "Start the Lyrica conversation with your doctor today."   They also say, "Get specific treatment (Lyrica) for your unique pain."  Perhaps you're like me, and you find it odd to suggest "unique pain" when selling an extremely generic treatment approach, which happens to also be for diabetes damaged nerves! 

   Their ad also warns that "Prescription Lyrica is not for everyone."  And maybe it's just me (call me biased, if you like), but I find it just a tad contradictory that their daunting warning of potential side effects includes several symptoms of FIBROMYALGIA! 

   Unfortunately for those who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome, there is no competing with “Big Pharma’s” presence in American health care.  Drugless methods can, and do deliver spectacular results for fibromyalgia patients… without side effects.  My patients and I know this to be true. 

   It is unfortunate that the majority of medical doctors seem to be looking to drugs like Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Savella, rather than natural approaches.  It is sad that the side effects that these drugs can and do commonly cause (I will not harp on them) are taken lightly.

   Furthermore, it is my opinion that most patients given the final diagnosis of fibromyalgia in the first place, have been given a disservice.  When fibromyalgia became a recognized and medically accepted diagnosis, it opened the doors for new uses for existing prescription drugs, and an easy way out from doing intense “detective work” into the causes for the chronic pain and other symptoms categorized as fibromyalgia syndrome or FMS.

      Although they are no doubt the minority, there are traditionally trained medical doctors in the United States, who advocate non-pharmaceutical approaches to treating people with fibromyalgia syndrome.  One group that deserves heavy applause is the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture.  Its members are medical doctors who practice acupuncture.  I am proud to be trained in Auricular Therapy (ear acupuncture specialty) by two of its past presidents—one an anesthesiologist, and the other a radiation oncologist! 

   Acupuncturists, homeopathic physicians, and doctors of chiropractic have been instrumental in helping fibromyalgia sufferers around the world.  I’m proud to have helped patients using a procedure called Atlas Orthogonal, along with various manual therapies, and homeopathic supplementation.

   Whether or not you’re currently taking Lyrica, a complementary or alternative approach to recovering from fibromyalgia syndrome is an attractive option.  I provide a comprehensive health approach, which is focused on the patient as a whole, rather than the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.