Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and cognitive difficulties, affecting roughly 2–4% of the population. It is understood to involve central nervous system sensitization — the brain and spinal cord amplify pain signals — rather than tissue damage.
What's actually going on in research
Low-dose naltrexone is being studied for fibromyalgia based on evidence it modulates microglial activation and neuroinflammation. GLP-1 agonists are showing promise in early studies for pain reduction in fibromyalgia, and dedicated trials are beginning. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation targeting pain-processing regions of the brain are in trials, alongside digital cognitive-behavioral therapy programs.
Low-dose naltrexone
At much lower doses than used for opioid overdose, naltrexone may modulate microglial activity and central pain sensitization. Trials are testing it specifically for fibromyalgia pain and fatigue.
Brain stimulation
Transcranial magnetic stimulation targeting the motor cortex or DLPFC is showing modest pain and fatigue benefits in small fibromyalgia trials, and larger sham-controlled studies are underway.
Digital pain programs
App-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for pain, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness programs are being tested in fibromyalgia for scalable, sustained benefit.
What to know before you search
Eligibility requires a fibromyalgia diagnosis (ACR criteria), pain severity threshold, symptom duration, and often exclusion of inflammatory or structural conditions.
What types of trials are currently open
- Drug trials — Testing low-dose naltrexone, GLP-1 agonists, sodium channel blockers, and other novel pain medications.
- Brain stimulation trials — Evaluating TMS, tDCS, and other non-invasive brain modulation approaches for pain and fatigue.
- Behavioral therapy trials — Comparing cognitive-behavioral therapy, ACT, and mindfulness interventions delivered in-person and digitally.
- Exercise trials — Testing aerobic exercise, aquatic therapy, and tai chi protocols for pain, fatigue, and function.
- Combination trials — Testing simultaneous drug and behavioral therapy for greater fibromyalgia symptom relief.
Recently added Fibromyalgia trials
Receive magnetic brain stimulation targeting pain relief
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) of the motor cortex is a recognized analgesic technique for the treatment of fibromyalgia pain, which represents a largely unmet medical need. However, the effectiveness of motor cortex rTMS is inconsistent, being observed in only about 40% of patients and not always long-lasting. It has been previously shown that predictive factors for a lack of response to motor cortex rTMS include the presence of depressive symptoms, and that prefrontal cortex rTMS is not effective for pain, even though this treatment has proven efficacy in major depressive disorder. The hypothesis is that targeting both the motor and prefrontal cortices with rTMS will yield a particularly beneficial effect in fibromyalgia patients presenting with comorbid depressive symptoms. Given the absence of established biomarkers for predicting rTMS response, an additional aim will be to develop reliable indicators of rTMS efficacy, based on clinical phenotype and measurements of oscillatory patterns assessed by electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings.
Effect of Reflexology on Pain and Sleep Disorders in Females With Fibromyalgia
This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effect of foot reflexology on pain and sleep disorders in Egyptian female patients with fibromyalgia. Sixty female participants aged 18 to 65 years diagnosed with fibromyalgia will be randomly assigned into two equal groups. The control group will receive conventional physical therapy, including aerobic exercise, resistance training, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), while the experimental group will receive the same treatment in addition to foot reflexology. Interventions will be delivered twice weekly for six weeks. Pain, sleep quality, psychological distress, and functional activity will be evaluated at baseline and after treatment using validated Arabic assessment tools and pressure pain threshold measurements. The study aims to determine whether reflexology provides additional benefits when combined with conventional physical therapy in women with fibromyalgia.
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