Dr. Skip Pridgen, a surgeon in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, believes that a herpes simplex virus - 1 (HSV-1) infection that affects the nerves across the body is causing fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
Pridgen created a novel treatment protocol that targeting HSV-1 using an antiviral (Famvir), a anti-inflammatory (Celebrex) and, at times, an antidepressant. He mustered the finances for a successful Phase II trial and has the go-ahead from the FDA for a phase III trial once the finances are secured. That trial will hopefully begin in 2018.![]()
Check out the fascinating story of a Tuscaloosa surgeon who's trying to upend our understanding of fibromyalgia and ultimately chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
Blogs
Studies
- Big Antiviral Trial Could Usher in New Treatment Era for Fibromyalgia
- Brief Report From Dr. Prigden on the Fibromyalgia Antiviral Trial – and the Future Chronic Fatigue Syndrome One
- Pridgen Reports Fibromyalgia Antiviral Trial Results “Very Positive” : Predicts New Approach Will Be “Game-Changer”
- Drug Combo in Pridgen Antiviral Fibromyalgia Trial Identified – Some Results Available
- Pridgen Talks! About the Results of the His Antiviral Fibromyalgia Study
- The Pridgen Revolution? Dr. Pridgen on Bringing His Antiviral Approach to Fibromyalgia To Market
- Dr. Pridgen on Doses, Fixing Broken Bodies and Why the Next Fibromyalgia Trials Will Be Better
- Through the "Valley of Death": Dr. Pridgen, Fibromyalgia and the Looming Trials
Pridgen's Startup
- A famciclovir + celecoxib combination treatment is safe and efficacious in the treatment of fibromyalgia - results from Phase II study.

The Pridgen Protocol: A Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Resource Center
Herpes simplex virus protocol threatens to upend understanding and treatment of Fibromyalgia