Flurbiprofen for Fibromyalgia — August 2023

In August 2023 we published a focused post on whether flurbiprofen can ease fibromyalgia pain. If you're dealing with constant aching, you want straight answers: what flurbiprofen is, when it might help, and what to watch for. This summary pulls the practical points together so you can talk to your doctor armed with the right questions.

What flurbiprofen does and who might notice a benefit

Flurbiprofen is an NSAID — a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. That means it lowers the chemicals your body makes that cause pain and swelling. For problems driven by inflammation, NSAIDs often help. Fibromyalgia, however, usually involves changes in how the nervous system processes pain rather than clear inflammation. That’s why NSAIDs like flurbiprofen don’t reliably fix the widespread pain of fibromyalgia.

That said, people with fibromyalgia sometimes have other issues too — joint arthritis, tendinitis, or localized flare-ups. In those cases, flurbiprofen can ease the specific source of pain. The August post pointed out that a few smaller trials and many clinical reports show only modest benefits for overall fibromyalgia symptoms, but clearer relief when another painful condition is present alongside fibromyalgia.

Safety, practical tips, and alternatives

Before trying flurbiprofen, check your health history. NSAIDs can cause stomach upset, ulcers, higher bleeding risk, kidney stress, and small increases in heart problems. They can also interact with blood thinners and some blood pressure medicines. The site recommended using the lowest effective dose for the shortest time, and consulting your provider if you have heart disease, kidney trouble, or are on multiple medications.

Don’t expect flurbiprofen to be a cure for core fibromyalgia symptoms like tiredness, sleep problems, or widespread sensitivity. If you and your clinician try it, treat it as a short trial to see if it helps specific pain points. Track how much relief you get, any side effects, and whether it improves your function, not just pain scores.

There are other proven options for fibromyalgia that focus on the nervous system and daily function: graded exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy, better sleep habits, and certain prescription meds such as SNRIs or gabapentinoids. Combining a targeted NSAID for localized pain with these approaches often gives better results than relying on an NSAID alone.

If you're thinking about flurbiprofen, bring this: your symptom pattern, other medical conditions, current meds, and a clear short trial plan. That makes the conversation with your prescriber quicker and safer, and helps you see whether flurbiprofen is actually worth it for your situation.