Jennifer Matthews: A few years ago, Jean Fuller wasn't able to enjoy one of her favorite hobbies.
Jean Fuller: It was real hard to stoop over like this and weed.
Jennifer Matthews: A condition called fibromyalgia caused chronic pain in her muscles and joints.
Jean Fuller: So much pain in the muscles of my arms that I would have to quit.
Jennifer Matthews: But thanks to a new treatment, Jean has her life back.
Jean Fuller: If I couldn't take it, I think I'd cry.
Jennifer Matthews: For five years, Jean has taken the drug mirapex every night. Now, research confirms what she already knows -- it can significantly reduce pain and fatigue in patients with fibromyalgia.
Andrew Holman: It's completely transformed the treatment of fibromyalgia.
Jennifer Matthews: A new study shows mirapex reduces fibromyalgia pain better than any other drug.
Andrew Holman: The number of pages I get after hours, the misery the patients have has diminished dramatically.
Jennifer Matthews: Nearly half of patients who took mirapex reported 42% less pain compared to about only 14% of those on placebo. Overall, 82% of patients on mirapex had some improvement in pain.
Andrew Holman: This is the medicine that may provide a completely new way of approaching fibromyalgia.
Jennifer Matthews: Instead of inducing sleep like current drugs do, mirapex lets you sleep by stimulating dopamine receptors. That also decreases pain.
Pain patients like Jean gladly live without. This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
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