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Allergies

Is fibromyalgia related to allergies?

03/11/2008

Question:

I have Fibro and though I have never been tested for specific allergies my doctor has my on Zytrec and Singular. I was wondering if allergies could make the Fibro worse? Or is my pain caused by allergies?

Answer:

There is no scientific data to suggest a direct relationship between allergies causing fibromyalgia or allergies making fibromyalgia worse. Allergies can make you feel tired and achy and are often associated with tension headaches. Chronic rhinitis sufferers also appear to suffer from migraine headaches more frequently than the normal population. Thus it is possible if you do have chronic rhinitis (nasal congestion, post-nasal drainage triggered by allergens, odorants/irritants or both), your underlying fibromyalgia can be aggravated indirectly. I would not be taking Singulair and Zyrtec unless you have been definitively diagnosed by an allergist with "allergic rhinitis".

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Response by:

Jonathan Bernstein, MD Jonathan Bernstein, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati