Dopamine is a chemical in your brain that is used to send messages to the nerve cells or neurons in your brain that control your muscles. James Parkinson figured out in 1817 that the tremors and speech problems seen in what we now call "Parkinson's disease" were improved by giving dopamine. Before that, people with Parkinson's disease were sent to mental hospitals (because doctors then thought if you can't figure out the cause for a disease, it must be "all in your head").
Fibromyalgia patients still find that doctors think their symptoms are "all in their heads." Andrew J. Holman, M.D., an assistant clinical professor at the University of Washington in clinical rheumatology, did some studies with medications that increase dopamine in your brain. Since it cannot be easily measured, dopamine has not attracted much attention from doctors before. Dr. Holman wondered if the sleep problems and other muscle problems that fibromyalgia patients have could be improved by the same medicine that is used for patients with restless leg syndrome. Mirapex, or pramipexole, was given to fibromyalgia patients. Patients found a tremendous benefit, and it also seems to help with depression.
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