A PLACEBO-CONTROLLED CROSSOVER TRIAL OF SUBCUTANEOUS SALMON-CALCITONIN IN THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH FIBROMYALGIA

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relative efficacy and tolerability of subcutaneously (sc) administered salmon calcitonin (sC T) in the treatment of patients with fibromyalgia. Eleven patients who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology classification criteri a for fibromyalgia were studied in a double-blind, crossover trial in which they alternatively received salmon calcitonin (100 IU st) and is otonic saline (1 cc sc) for four weeks, with a four weeks wash-out per iod between the treatments. None of the 11 outcomes measures (seven an alog scales, dolorimetry score, and three SLP scores) showed a signifi cant improvement with sCT. The principal side effect observed with sCT was nausea in ten patients and erythema in four patients. These data suggest that sCT given at a dose of 100 IU daily for one month is not effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia.