| The efficacy and tolerability of 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP) were
studied in an open 90-day study in 50 patients affected by primary
fibromyalgia syndrome. When all the clinical variables studied
throughout the trial (number of tender points, anxiety, pain
intensity, quality of sleep, fatigue) were compared with baseline
results, they all showed a significant improvement (P less than
0.001). The overall evaluation of the patient condition assessed by
the patient and the investigator indicated a 'good' or 'fair'
clinical improvement in nearly 50% of the patients during the
treatment period. A total of 15 (30%) patients reported side-effects
but only one patient was withdrawn from the treatment for this
reason. No abnormality in the laboratory evaluation was observed. It
is concluded that 5-HTP is effective in improving the symptoms of
primary fibromyalgia syndrome and that it maintains its efficacy
throughout the 90-day period of treatment.
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