rTMS for Fibromyalgia

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: McMaster University

Disqualifiers: TMS contraindications, other chronic pain

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 10

Duration: 2 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) affects pain in individuals with fibromyalgia, a condition causing chronic pain and fatigue. Researchers aim to compare brain responses in people with fibromyalgia to those in healthy individuals and determine if rTMS can reduce their pain. Participants will receive either real rTMS or a sham treatment (a placebo that mimics the real procedure) over two weeks. Suitable candidates have fibromyalgia without other chronic pain conditions. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to groundbreaking research that could lead to new pain management strategies for fibromyalgia.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that rTMS is safe for fibromyalgia?

Research shows that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is generally safe for people with fibromyalgia. Studies indicate it has a low rate of mild-to-moderate side effects, which are usually not serious. These side effects might include headaches or lightheadedness and often resolve on their own. Some research suggests that rTMS can help reduce pain and anxiety while improving overall quality of life for those with fibromyalgia. However, more studies with larger participant groups and longer follow-up are needed to fully understand its long-term safety. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Most treatments for fibromyalgia focus on pain relief using medications like duloxetine, pregabalin, or milnacipran. However, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) offers a unique approach by targeting the brain directly. This technique uses magnetic fields to stimulate the hand area of the left primary motor cortex, which might modulate pain perception differently from traditional drugs. Researchers are excited because rTMS could provide relief without the side effects often associated with medication. Plus, it has the potential to offer faster results, with effects possibly noticeable in just a couple of weeks.

What evidence suggests that rTMS might be an effective treatment for fibromyalgia?

Research has shown that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can help reduce pain in people with fibromyalgia. In this trial, participants will receive either active rTMS or sham rTMS, which serves as a placebo control. One study found that women who received rTMS experienced pain relief for up to eight weeks after treatment. Another study discovered that those who received real rTMS reported significantly less pain compared to those who received a placebo. However, results vary because different studies use different methods. Some research also suggests that rTMS might improve mood and other symptoms of fibromyalgia. Overall, these findings indicate that rTMS may help relieve the chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia. ^{5 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults aged 18-65 who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a condition causing fatigue and chronic pain. It's not open to those with other chronic pain conditions or who can't safely undergo Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) due to certain health risks.

Exclusion Criteria

I have no health conditions that prevent me from undergoing TMS.

I have chronic pain not caused by fibromyalgia.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive rTMS treatment for fibromyalgia, with active and sham groups receiving 10 Hz rTMS approximately 5 days per week for 2 weeks

2 weeks

10 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in neurophysiological responses and pain levels after treatment

2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Active Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
• Sham Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)

Trial Overview The study tests how Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, affects the neurophysiology of fibromyalgia patients compared to inactive treatment. Participants will receive two weeks of either active rTMS or sham (inactive) therapy.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Active rTMS Active Control 1 Intervention

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) will be delivered at 10 Hz, 1500 pulses targeting the hand representation of the left primary motor cortex. rTMS delivery will require \~11 min to complete. In Experiment 1, this intervention will be performed for 1 session (\~11min). In Experiment 2, this intervention will be performed approximately 5 days per week for 2 weeks. In addition, participants will experience their standard medical care.

Group II: Sham rTMS Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Sham rTMS will be delivered at as a placebo control. It is important to note that from the participant perspective, the sham stimulation will feel and sound identical to active rTMS. In Experiment 2, this intervention will be performed approximately 5 days per week for 2 weeks. In addition, participants will experience their standard medical care.

Active Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is already approved in United States, European Union, Canada for the following indications:

Approved in United States as rTMS for:

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Migraines

Approved in European Union as rTMS for:

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Anxiety Disorders

Approved in Canada as rTMS for:

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

McMaster University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

936

Recruited

2,630,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 30 female patients with fibromyalgia, both high-frequency rTMS protocols (targeting the primary motor cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) led to significant improvements in pain, quality of life, and depression compared to a sham treatment.

The group receiving rTMS targeting the primary motor cortex showed the greatest reduction in pain, while the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex group had more significant improvements in physical role functioning, highlighting the potential of rTMS as an effective intervention for fibromyalgia symptoms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the left primary motor cortex superior to the stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in fibromyalgia syndrome? Altas, EU., Askin, A., Beşiroğlu, L., et al.[2020]

A systematic review of 7 high-quality randomized controlled trials involving 217 patients found that 10-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) significantly reduced pain and improved quality of life in individuals with fibromyalgia compared to sham stimulation.

While 10-Hz rTMS effectively alleviated pain (SMD=-0.72) and enhanced quality of life (SMD=-0.70), it did not show a significant impact on depression levels (SMD=-0.23), indicating its primary benefit lies in pain management rather than mood improvement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation at 10 Hz in Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Zhu, PA., Xie, JY., Liu, H., et al.[2023]

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have been shown to significantly reduce pain in fibromyalgia patients, with 80% of rTMS studies and 100% of tDCS studies reporting positive outcomes.

Excitatory rTMS/tDCS targeting the primary motor cortex (M1) not only provided effective pain relief but also had fewer side effects compared to traditional fibromyalgia medications, making it a promising alternative for patients seeking relief.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treating fibromyalgia syndrome: a systematic review. Marlow, NM., Bonilha, HS., Short, EB.[2022]

In a study involving 33 patients undergoing rTMS treatment, the sham condition used was effective as most participants could not distinguish between real and sham stimulation, indicating its suitability for clinical trials.

Both groups, those receiving real stimulation and those receiving sham, showed a high willingness to recommend rTMS to others, suggesting that the treatment is perceived positively regardless of the actual stimulation received.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sham or real--post hoc estimation of stimulation condition in a randomized transcranial magnetic stimulation trial. Herwig, U., Cardenas-Morales, L., Connemann, BJ., et al.[2015]

In a study of 38 fibromyalgia patients, those receiving high-frequency rTMS showed significant improvements in quality of life (QoL) after 10 weeks compared to those receiving sham stimulation, particularly in emotional and social aspects.

The improvement in QoL was linked to increased metabolism in the right medial temporal area of the brain, suggesting a neural basis for the emotional benefits of rTMS treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

rTMS in fibromyalgia: a randomized trial evaluating QoL and its brain metabolic substrate. Boyer, L., Dousset, A., Roussel, P., et al.[2022]

In a meta-analysis of 93 randomized controlled trials involving repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the overall incidence of adverse events (AEs) was found to be higher in the active TMS group (29.3%) compared to the placebo group (13.6%), indicating a 2.60 times greater risk of experiencing AEs with active treatment.

Despite the higher incidence of AEs, TMS is considered a safe and well-tolerated intervention, with common side effects including headache and dizziness, highlighting the importance of recognizing nocebo effects in both clinical trials and practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety, Tolerability, and Nocebo Phenomena During Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials. Zis, P., Shafique, F., Hadjivassiliou, M., et al.[2022]

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) significantly reduces fibromyalgia symptoms, with a standardized mean difference of -0.700, indicating its efficacy in managing the disease's impact, especially in older patients.

The benefits of rTMS, including reductions in pain, depression, and anxiety, were observed to last for at least two weeks after treatment, and no serious adverse events were reported, highlighting its safety as a therapeutic option.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Su, YC., Guo, YH., Hsieh, PC., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11732646/

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for fibromyalgia Evidence for its efficacy is currently inconclusive, mainly due to heterogeneity of stimulation parameters used in trials available to date.

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007091225001023

Motor cortex repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in ... Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation produced pain relief in women with fibromyalgia up to 8 weeks after treatment, with an excellent effect size and ...

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03909009

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in ... This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of 10 Hz neuronavigated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to the left dorsolateral prefrontal ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9139594/

Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on the ... There was a significant improvement in the experimental group receiving rTMS on the M1 compared to the patients receiving sham rTMS. The results analyzed using ...

5. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/pain-research/articles/10.3389/fpain.2025.1558175/full

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation at low ... Low-frequency rTMS over the DLPFC shows promise as a safe and effective treatment for FM, improving pain, mood, and impact of FM symptoms.

6. neurology.org neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.90.15_supplement.P2.106

An open label clinical trial (P2.106) Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia (FM).

7. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03658694

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of Relief ... Hence, our aim is to conduct a multicentric international clinical trial on the influence of rTMS in the control of pain in a consecutive adaptive trial design ...

8. erar.springeropen.com erar.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s43166-025-00302-y

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation as a modality of ... This study demonstrated that rTMS relieved pain, reduced anxiety, depression, and fatigue and enhanced quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia.

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11204413/

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Fibromyalgia This meta-analysis demonstrated the safety and efficacy of rTMS in treating various aspects of fibromyalgia symptoms, including quality of life, pain, and, ...