Finding a new treatment for chronic pain from Fibromyalgia.

Chronic pain is a global health emergency impacting 1/5 Americans and requires research and innovation to discover new treatment approaches.  Recent data suggests MDMA-AT for PTSD may be effective for reducing chronic pain among those with PTSD.

Our research aims to provide proof of concept for the treatment of chronic pain from Fibromyalgia with standardized MDMA-assisted therapy.

Co-Investigators Dr. Devon Christie and Dr. Pam Kryskow are planning to conduct an open-label exploratory study of MDMA-assisted therapy for Fibromyalgia. This research is supported by People Science and Vancouver Island University.

 

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Why Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia affects 7.7% of women and 4.9% of men in the US, and 2% of the global population. It is the most common central sensitivity syndrome, involving pain processing changes in the brain.

 

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Best Practices

Combinations of medication, psychotherapy, and/or physical therapy offer the best chance of improved outcomes in the treatment of Fibromyalgia.

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MDMA-AT

MDMA-assisted therapy combines a program of manualized psychotherapy with MDMA in a clinically monitored setting. 

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Pain & PTSD

Chronic pain and PTSD are frequently comorbid. Increasing evidence demonstrates MDMA-AT may be a safe and effective treatment for PTSD.

HOW TO DONATE: 

Donate through our Partner, Vancouver Island University. 

On the 'Give Now' page, select "Other" in the Designation field and enter:

"MDMA Study for Fibromyalgia"

References

Boomershine CS. Fibromyalgia: the prototypical central sensitivity syndrome. Curr Rheumatol Rev. 2015;11(2):131-45. doi: 10.2174/1573397111666150619095007. PMID: 2608821

Christie D, Yazar-Klosinski B, Nosova E, Kryskow P, Siu W, Lessor D, Argento E. MDMA-AT is associated with a reduction in chronic pain among people with PTSD. Front Psychiatry. 2022 Nov 3; 13:939302 doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.939302. PMID: 36405923

Dahlhamer J, Lucas J, Zelaya C, Nahin R, Mackey S, DeBar L, et al. Prevalence of chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain among adults – United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. (2018) 67:1001–6. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6736a2

Häuser, W.; Bernardy, K.; Arnold, B.; Offenbächer, M.; Schiltenwolf, M. Efficacy of multicomponent treatment in fibromyalgia syndrome: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. Arthritis Rheum. 2009, 61, 216–224.

Leadley, R.M.; Armstrong, N.; Lee, Y.C.; Allen, A.; Kleijnen, J. Chronic diseases in the European Union: The prevalence and health cost implications of chronic pain. J. Pain Palliat. Care Pharm. 2012, 26, 310–325.

Mitchell JM, Bogenschutz M, Lilienstein A, Harrison C, Kleiman S, Parker-Guilbert K, et al. MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nat Med. (2021) 27:1025–33. doi: 10.1038/s41591-021-01336-3

Vincent A, Lahr BD, Wolfe F, Clauw DJ, Whipple MO, Oh TH, Barton DL, St Sauver J. Prevalence of fibromyalgia: a population-based study in Olmsted County, Minnesota, utilizing the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2013 May;65(5):786-92. doi: 10.1002/acr.21896. PMID: 23203795; PMCID: PMC3935235.

Help us improve the lives of people suffering from chronic pain. Your gift makes finding better treatments possible.