Research Proves Melatonin Effective in Treating Fibromyalgia Pain | Natural Fibromyalgia Treatments

Could melatonin be a natural fibromyalgia treatment for chronic pain sufferers? Keep reading to learn more about the effect of melatonin on fibromyalgia symptoms.

Could Melatonin be a Natural Fibromyalgia Treatment?

New findings published in the BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology journal show that melatonin significantly reduced symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia pain. This research also found that melatonin appeared to effectively reduce pain associated with fibromyalgia when used alone or when combined with the antidepressant amitriptyline (Elavil).

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia symptoms include muscle tenderness, pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and mental fatigue. It affects roughly 8-10 times more women than men. With no current known cure, fibromyalgia can last months, years, or even a lifetime. However, research shows melatonin may be a natural treatment to ease symptoms!

Fibromyalgia Symptoms

• Muscle tenderness
• Muscle stiffness
• Chronic pain
• Chronic fatigue
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Mental fatigue

Melatonin Treatment for Fibromyalgia Pain Research!

For this study, researchers divided confirmed fibromyalgia patients into three groups. One group received amitriptyline, one received 10 mg of melatonin, and one received both amitriptyline and melatonin before bed.

After six weeks the patients were asked to rate pain on a scale of 0 to 10. They found that the melatonin group and the melatonin/amitriptyline group claimed fewer pain symptoms than the group that received just amitriptyline. The melatonin/amitriptyline group reported the highest amount of decreased pain symptoms.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Pain Relief!

These findings offer hope to the nearly 3 million patients who suffer from fibromyalgia each year. Since sleep disturbances are one of the most common reported symptoms of fibromyalgia, researchers who study the role of the hormone melatonin are testing to see how effective it is in returning the body’s circadian rhythm to normal.

For years, melatonin has been associated with improvement in various types of chronic, long-term pain like inflammation, but researchers still have much to prove. Researchers hope to further show that melatonin can increase the effectiveness and function of the body’s natural pain modulating systems, and could be used as a natural medication and treatment for these chronic issues. Further research may even prove helpful in other cases such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, too.

Although further research is needed, researchers are hopeful that melatonin might be a better, more effective treatment option than what currently exists.

Do you or someone you know suffer from Fibromyalgia symptoms? Consider this natural remedy to ease your ailments! Let us know how melatonin has benefited you in the comments below. 

UP NEXT: Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Overview of the Chronic Condition

Editors Note: This article was originally published on March 15, 2016, and has been updated for relevancy and accuracy.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. None of the nutritional products mentioned are intended to Diagnose, Treat, Cure or Prevent Any Disease.