An open label study adding creatine monohydrate to ongoing medical regimens in fibromyalgia

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009 Sep;1173:829-36.

An open-label study adding creatine monohydrate to ongoing medical regimens in patients with the fibromyalgia syndrome.

Leader A, Amital D, Rubinow A, Amital H. Department of Medicine D, Meir Medical Center, Tel-Aviv University, Kfar Saba, Israel.

Fibromyalgia is an ill-defined condition that causes pain and disability but still lacks effective treatment. The aim of this open-label study was to assess the efficacy of administering a food supplement, creatine monohydrate, in an "add on" to existing therapies in patients with fibromyalgia. This study included 30 patients with fibromyalgia. After 8 weeks of receiving creatine, we witnessed a significant improvement in parameters reflecting severity of fibromyalgia, quality of life and sleep, disability, and pain. These results deteriorated 4 weeks after stopping creatine therapy. The findings of this study are preliminary and limited due to the small sample and relatively high rate of dropouts.

PMID: 19758235 [PubMed - in process]