Study finds sodium oxybate might significantly improve pain, core symptoms of fibromyalgia

PALO ALTO, Calif. Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ sodium oxybate showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in pain and the core symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, according to phase 3 data.

Most patients with fibromyalgia suffer from widespread chronic pain, but the vast majority of patients also are affected by a broader spectrum of symptoms, including fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive dysfunction and impaired physical function.

"The data showed that sodium oxybate improves the key symptoms of fibromyalgia: pain, fatigue and sleep disturbances," said Todd Swick, one of the study's investigators, medical director of the Houston Sleep Center and assistant clinical professor of neurology at the University of Texas - Houston School of Medicine. "Millions of people are diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and there is a continuing unmet need for therapies that address the constellation of symptoms that can have a significant impact on patients' quality of life."

The 14-week study included 548 patients with fibromyalgia and was presented last week at the 2009 Associated Professional Sleep Societies meeting in Seattle.