Fibromyalgia is characterized by the primary symptoms of persistent diffuse pain,fatigue,sleep disturbance and cognitive dysfunction.Persistent pain conditions,such as fibromyalgia,are often refractory to current available therapies.An involvement of K+channels in the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia is emerging and supported by drug treatments for this condition exhibiting action at these molecular processes.K+channels constitute potential novel target candidates for pain therapy offering peripheral and/or central actions.The Kv7 channel activators,flupirtine and retigabine,have exhibited pharmacological profiles compatible to the requirements needed for use as a therapeutic approach to fibromyalgia.Clinical trials to address the multidimensional challenges of fibromyalgia with flupirtine and retigabine will provide important insight to the role of K^+channels in this condition.
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