Mirapex Stimulates Dopamine Receptors In Brain

October 18, 2005(10News.com) - A drug used to treat patients with
Parkinson's Disease may ease the pain of patients with severe
symptoms from fibromyalgia.
New research shows the pain associated with this disease may be due
to abnormal sensory processing in the central nervous system.

Michelle Kennington, a former dance instructor, is in constant pain.
She suffers from fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder marked by
widespread muscular and joint pain. As of yet, there is no real
effective treatment, 10News reported.

"There are days when I know I am going to be in bed most of the day,"
Kennington told 10News. "If somebody had the magic bullet for this
they would get the Nobel prize."

"At the beginning, it hurt in my legs only and slowly it went to my
arms, shoulders and my back and now it's my whole body," Kennington
added.

Dr. Joseph Shurman runs the pain clinic at Scripps Memorial Hospital
in La Jolla. He said fibromyalgia patients like Kennington are
desperate for relief.

"They have tried every drug, every anti-depressant, opoids, physical
therapy, bio-feedback," Shurman said.

Now, a little pill currently used to treat patients suffering from
Parkinson's disease may ease the pain for patients with fibromyalgia.

The drug, called Mirapex, stimulates dopamine receptors in the brain.

(The medicine) works on the dopamine receptor and affects muscle
stiffness, behavior patterns, pain and sleep. In this particular
study, patients lose weight, 10News reported.

In a small study, fibromyalgia patients who were given Mirapex
experienced at least a 50 percent reduction in pain compared with 14
percent of those in the placebo group.

Kennington, who is taking the drug for another medical problem, said
her pain doesn't seem as severe lately. She hopes this medication
will ease pain for others with this fibromyalgia.

The Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved Mirapex for
treatment of fibromyalgia and there are some significant side
effects, including weight loss, increased anxiety and sleeplessness.