(dailyRx News) Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome who take antidepressant medications make have less pain, sleep better and experience other improvements in their quality of life.

These findings came from an analysis of previous studies, which is published in the January 14 issue of JAMA.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) consists of chronic widespread pain and tenderness with other symptoms, including fatigue and sleep difficulties. In North America and Europe, an estimated 0.5 percent to 5.8 percent of the populations suffer from FMS.

"Patients with FMS experience disability and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Fibromyalgia syndrome is also associated with high direct and indirect disease-related costs. Effective treatment of FMS is therefore necessary for medical and economic reasons," the authors write.

Winfried H