Effect | Decrease |
Values | Brief Pain Inventory. Mean and SD. Duloxetine: before 8.09 (1.62), after 7.88 (1.02). Saffron: before 6.24 (2.21), after 5.67 (1.63). |
Trial Design | Randomized trial |
Trial Length | 1-6 months |
Number of Subjects | 54 |
Sex | Both Genders |
Age Range | 18-29, 30-44, 45-64 |
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 54 participants with fibromyalgia took 15 mg of saffron (ethanolic extract with 1.65-1.75 mg of crocin) or 30 mg of duloxetine daily for 1 week, then doubled the dose from 2 weeks until the end of 8.
Depression, fibromyalgia score (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire), pain, fatigue, and anxiety were reduced comparably in both groups.
Adverse events weren't statistically significantly different.
The trial was preregistered IRCT201604261556N91