Elavil (Amitryptiline) vs. Physical Therapy - What Works Better for Fibromyalgia?

In a recently published study entitled Effect of amitriptyline vs. physiotherapy in management of fibromyalgia syndrome: What predicts a clinical benefit?, researchers in Maharashtra, India, compared the efficacy of treating fibromyalgia with amitriptyline (Elavil) versus physiotherapy. The research subjects were 175 fibromyalgia patients at a rural hostpial in Central India. After six months of treatment with physical therapy or amitryptiline, they conducted a follow-up in which they assessed the benefits of the two different approaches. They used the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) score as their primary measure. They found a "significant but similar (P=0.82) improvement in disability in both groups." They found that a "high FIQ score at baseline and low socioeconomic status scores were significant predictors of benefit," and concluded that amitryptiline and physical therapy are of equal efficacy in improving fibromyalgia symptoms over a 6-month period.

Study details: PMID: 19884743. J Postgrad Med. 2009 Jul-Sep;55(3):159-60.