Fibromyalgia Study Involves Medication and Conversation

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana University Fibromyalgia Clinical Research Center is evaluating communication as a therapeutic tool in treating the often painful yet common disease.

This is the third in a continuing series of research studies for fibromyalgia entitled Drug and Talk Therapy for Fibromyalgia.

The IU center is conducting this study to better understand how talk therapies, such as education and cognitive behavioral therapy, can improve the therapeutic benefits of medications for fibromyalgia.

Savella®, also known as milnacipran, is an FDA approved drug for fibromyalgia. The safety and efficacy of Savella has been established in two nationwide clinical studies involving more than 2,000 patients with fibromyalgia. Since Savella has already been shown to be effective when used in isolation to treat fibromyalgia, IU researchers are conducting the study to determine whether combination treatment (Savella + talk therapy) is more effective than Savella alone or talk therapy alone.

Participants are randomly assigned to receive either Savella or a placebo (sugar pill) and will receive either cognitive behavior therapy or an educational phone series.

Those interested in learning more about this study should contact the Fibromyalgia Clinical Research Center at 317-278-3971.

The study is funded by National Institutes of Health.

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Media Contact:

Mary Hardin
(317) 274-7722
(317) 695-4090 (cell)
mhardin@iupui.edu