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ABSTRACT: Introduction
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic fluctuating, nociplastic pain condition. Naltrexone is a µ-opioid-receptor antagonist; preliminary studies have indicated a pain-relieving effect of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) in patients with FM. The impetus for studying LDN is the assumption of analgesic efficacy and thus reduction of adverse effects seen from conventional pharmacotherapy.Objectives
First, to examine if LDN is associated with analgesic efficacy compared with control in the treatment of patients with FM. Second, to ascertain the analgesic efficacy of LDN in an experimental pain model in patients with FM evaluating the competence of the descending inhibitory pathways compared with controls. Third, to examine the pharmacokinetics of LDN.Methods
The study used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design and had a 3-phase setup. The first phase included baseline assessment and a treatment period (days -3 to 21), the second phase a washout period (days 22-32), and the third phase a baseline assessment followed by a treatment period (days 33-56). Treatment was with either LDN 4.5 mg or an inactive placebo given orally once daily. The primary outcomes were Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire revised (FIQR) scores and summed pain intensity ratings (SPIR).Results
Fifty-eight patients with FM were randomized. The median difference (IQR) for FIQR scores between LDN and placebo treatment was -1.65 (18.55; effect size = 0.15; P = 0.3). The median difference for SPIR scores was -0.33 (6.33; effect size = 0.13; P = 0.4).Conclusion
Outcome data did not indicate any clinically relevant analgesic efficacy of the LDN treatment in patients with FM.
SUBMITTER: Bested K
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10789452 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul-Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Bested Kirsten K Jensen Lotte M LM Andresen Trine T Tarp Grete G Skovbjerg Louise L Johansen Torben S D TSD Schmedes Anne V AV Storgaard Ida K IK Madsen Jonna S JS Werner Mads U MU Bendiksen Anette A
Pain reports 20230615 4
<h4>Introduction</h4>Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic fluctuating, nociplastic pain condition. Naltrexone is a µ-opioid-receptor antagonist; preliminary studies have indicated a pain-relieving effect of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) in patients with FM. The impetus for studying LDN is the assumption of analgesic efficacy and thus reduction of adverse effects seen from conventional pharmacotherapy.<h4>Objectives</h4><i>First</i>, to examine if LDN is associated with analgesic efficacy compared with con ...[more]