BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J., May 28, 2026
Tonix Pharmaceuticals presented new real-world data at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (ASCP) Annual Meeting showing that opioid use remains widespread among U.S. adults living with fibromyalgia despite long-standing clinical guidelines discouraging their use. The retrospective analysis evaluated more than 261,000 adult fibromyalgia patients using Symphony Health claims data and revealed a substantial and persistent burden associated with opioid prescribing. The findings underscore the continued gap between evidence-based treatment recommendations and real-world clinical practice in managing chronic fibromyalgia pain.
Large U.S. Claims Analysis Reveals Extensive Opioid Prescribing
The study analyzed administrative medical and pharmacy claims collected between April 2021 and April 2024, with the primary focus on the third-year cohort covering April 2023 through March 2024. Among the 261,776 adult patients included, the average age was 52.3 years and more than 92% were women. Results showed that 40.2% of commercially insured and Medicare Advantage patients received at least one opioid prescription, while 38.8% of Medicaid patients were prescribed opioids.
Tramadol and oxycodone emerged as the most frequently prescribed opioid medications. Researchers also reported similar medication possession ratios across insurance groups, indicating consistent opioid exposure regardless of coverage type.
Older Fibromyalgia Patients Show Highest Rates of Opioid Use
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The analysis identified the highest prevalence of opioid prescribing among older adults. Patients aged 61–65 years recorded opioid utilization rates of 43.1%, followed by 39.2% among those aged 66–70 years and 38.5% among patients aged 71–75 years. Although usage was lower in younger populations, opioid prescribing remained common, affecting more than one-fifth of patients aged 18–25 years.
Investigators also found significant levels of concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use, occurring in approximately 19–20% of patients across commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid insurance categories. These findings highlight ongoing concerns regarding long-term opioid exposure and potential safety risks in fibromyalgia management.
TONMYA Positioned as a Non-Opioid Alternative for Fibromyalgia
Tonix executives emphasized that the findings reinforce the need for greater physician education and broader adoption of non-opioid treatment approaches. The company pointed to the recent commercial launch of TONMYA® (cyclobenzaprine HCl sublingual tablets), approved by the U.S. FDA in August 2025 as the first new fibromyalgia treatment introduced in more than 15 years.
According to Tonix, TONMYA is designed for daily bedtime administration and long-term use, offering a non-opioid treatment option for adults with fibromyalgia. The company believes the growing availability of evidence-based alternatives could help reduce reliance on opioids while improving symptom management and quality of life for patients affected by this chronic pain disorder.
Source: Tonix Pharmaceuticals press release
