Acetyl l-carnitine for Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a very common condition (affecting nearly 5.8 million Americans), which can be a very frustrating and debilitating condition for patients who suffer from it. Fibromyalgia can be difficult to diagnosis as the criteria for diagnosis is still not widely agreed upon by physicians. As of yet, there is no clear understanding of what actually causes fibromyalgia, though there are some theories on its etiology including a carnitine deficiency or abnormal production of pain-related chemicals. Women are more commonly affected with fibromyalgia than men.
If you’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you may have tried analgesics, muscle relaxants, or antidepressants with varying results. A recent study suggests that 2 capsules of 500 mg of acetyl l-carnitine taken daily may be of benefit to those who suffer from this condition.
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia Syndrome:
- Widespread pain
- Pain in specific areas where pressure is applied, “pressure points.”
Diagnosis: widespread aching pain for at least three months and have a minimum of 11 locations on your body that are abnormally tender under relatively mild, firm pressure. Fatigue and sleep disturbances.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Constipation/bloating, abdominal pain.
- Headaches and facial pain
- Heightened sensitivity.
- Depression/Anxiety
Conventional Treatment:
- Analgesics
- Antidepressants
- Muscle relaxants
- Lyrica (pregabalin)—First FDA approved drug for fibromyalgia.
Recent Study on Acetyl l-carnitine:
“OBJECTIVE: Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a chronic syndrome characterized by widespread pain, troubled sleep, disturbed mood, and fatigue. Several analgesic strategies have been evaluated but the results are moderate and inconsistent. Antidepressant agents are now considered the treatment of choice in most patients. It has been recently suggested that FMS may be associated with metabolic alterations including a deficit of carnitine. In this multicenter randomized clinical trial we evaluated the efficacy of acetyl L-carnitine (LAC) in patients with overt FMS.”
“CONCLUSION: Although this experience deserves further studies, these results indicate that LAC may be of benefit in patients with FMS, providing improvement in pain as well as the general and mental health of these patients.”
In short, the results of this recent study suggest that acetyl-l-carnitine is beneficial to patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.
Reference:
- Rossini M, Di Munno O, Valentini G, Bianchi G, Biasi G, Cacace E, Malesci D, La Montagna G, Viapiana O, Adami S. Double-blind, multicenter trial comparing acetyl l-carnitine with placebo in the treatment of fibromyalgia patients. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2007 Mar-Apr;25(2):182-8.
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6 Comments
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ltty
I have had FMS along with lupus for 15 yrs, and I finally received Lyrica when it was FDA approved, needless to say I have gotten my life back! I still get flare ups, and pain, but I am no longer in bed 4 days a week. What a miracle medication it has been for me, I just hope it work for most of us.
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Jarret Morrow
Itty, thank you for commenting on my blog site. Though my site focuses on dietary supplements, I try to include some info on conventional medication treatment options as well. I am sure that my readers will find your feedback on lyrica to be quite useful. cheers, Jarret
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Julia Hosack
Thank you for the link. I will look into the carnitine. I am assuming that if I go into the drug store and ask for this, they will be able to point me to it?
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Jarret Morrow
Hi Julia, thank you for your comment. I am assuming that you live in the United States. If so, you shouldn't have any problems finding acetyl l-carnitine. I've recently just checked and it's available at Walgreens (.com) at least. Cheers, Jarret
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Heriberto Mou
I have damage to my cervical spine also, from arthritis. The arthritis continually eats the vertebrae away and the discs slowly fall out (bulging) and have to be addressed with surgery. There are options if it isn’t to bad but don’t expect miracles. If the headaches, I also get spasms down my right arm) get to bad I take Re quip for the migraines.
Comments are closed.
heidi
Fibromyalgia sounds awful. I never realized it affected so many people. Hopefully this new information can help those suffering. I love your cartoon again!