New Approach to Treating Fibromyalgia by Addressing Sleep Problems Leads to Patient Improvement

The National Institutes of Health estimates that there are five million Americans with fibromyalgia.

Dr. Lederman, of Tonix Pharmaceuticals, says that by treating sleep problems in fibromyalgia patients, symptoms of the entire syndrome improve.

He pointed out that opiate addiction is a major problem among chronic pain sufferers and acknowledged that fibromyalgia has not been optimally treated by the medical community.

He added that the growing drug market for fibromyalgia is $1.2 billion a year and that only the U.S. and Canada have approved drugs to treat fibromyalgia. 

Only three drugs are indicated for fibromyalgia, none of which have been shown to address the underlying sleep disturbance that is a hallmark of the disorder. 

TONIX plans to use a low dose formulation of cyclobenzaprine in a new treatment for fibromyalgia and post-traumatic stress disorder. Cyclobenzaprine is the active ingredient in two prescription muscle relaxants that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are marketed by other companies.

Read full article.

Find out about my own experiences with cyclobenzaprine here

Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome (Book Review)

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome : A Survival Manual by Mary Ellen Copeland & Devin Starlanyl.

If you can only buy one book on fibromyalgia, you have found it. Look no further!
When I got my copy, I stayed up all night until I had read the whole thing (not recommended by the authors, by the way.) This and 170 other reader reviews of this book and I think only 1 negative review at Amazon.

This book was written by two Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) sufferers, one an M.D. and the other a psychologist. It covers both the technical medical theories and treatment approaches and the coping aspects in a readable and lively format. 

A whole section on coping strategies useful in one's relationships with family, friends, workplace and doctors is included. Other chapters deal with meditation, the body-mind connection, and how to cope with the cognitive dysfunction familiar to CFIDS patients, termed "fibrofog". The personal experiences of the authors are included in boxes along the margins of this large soft-cover book.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome is discussed in detail in this book. 

Myofascia provide a tough film of connective tissue that surround muscle fibers and hold them in place. At the ends of the muscles, the myofascia band together to form the tendons and ligaments. The system of myofascia connect muscle groups, so that pressing on a sore area, called a trigger point, causes referred pain in another muscle trigger point. Fibromyalgia experts disagree as to the relationship between FMS and MPS, but it is clear that they often occur together in the same patient.

 Reading Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Survival Manual felt like sitting down with two people who truly understood what I was going through — not just the pain, but the confusion, the exhaustion, the emotional toll. I devoured it in one night (not recommended, but I couldn’t put it down), and I kept thinking, “Finally, someone gets it.” The way Copeland and Starlanyl weave together medical insight with lived experience is rare and deeply validating. Their honesty, clarity, and compassion made me feel less alone and more equipped to advocate for myself. If you’re looking for a guide that speaks to both your body and your spirit, this book is it. It’s not just informative — it’s empowering.

Have you read Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Survival Manual too? I’d love to hear what stood out for you — whether it was a moment of recognition, a practical tip, or simply the comfort of being understood. As Copeland and Starlanyl write: “You are not crazy. You are not lazy. You are not imagining things.” That kind of validation can be life-changing. Let’s keep sharing what helps — because healing is never just medical and we can help each other. 

Read more reviews.

You can buy this book for as little as $7.49 (second hand)

This book review is linked up at The Book Nook and Read With Me and Booknificent Thursdays