Effects of mirtazapine on quality of life of Thai patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
Article Category: Original article
Published Online: Mar 31, 2017
Page range: 435 - 445
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5372/1905-7415.1005.506
Keywords
© 2016 Saithip Suttiruksa, Suwimon Yeephu, Pradit Prateepavanich, Chuthamanee Suthisisang
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.
Background
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a physical and mood disorder that affects quality of life (QoL). Mirtazapine, which improves monoaminergic neurotransmission, may benefit patients with FMS.
Objectives
To compare the QoL between Thai patients with FMS and healthy Thais, and investigate the effects of mirtazapine in a pilot study.
Methods
We compared the QoL between 76 Thai patients with FMS and 80 healthy Thai volunteers (HVs). A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial using 40 patients with FMS was conducted using a block design with parallel assignment. QoL data were obtained at week 0 (baseline), and repeatedly for 13 weeks after receiving placebo or mirtazapine 15 or 30 mg/day.
Results
The mean baseline of SF-36 QoL was significantly lower in all domains in patients with FMS than in HVs (bodily pain 33 vs 87, general health 36 vs 84, mental health 63 vs 82, physical functioning 59 vs 96, role limitation because of emotional problems 41 vs 92, role limitation because of physical problems 30 vs 96, social functioning 53 vs 93, and vitality 48 vs 75 (scale 0-100,
Conclusions
The QoL of patients with FMS is lower than for healthy Thais. Mirtazapine is effective for reducing pain and improving QoL in patients with FMS.
Trail registration
ClinicalTrials.gov; Identifier: NCT00919295.
Funding
Office of the Higher Education Commission, Thailand.