Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Treatments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Since researchers do not yet fully understand the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and people with the illness can experience a wide variety of symptoms, multiple treatments exist. Treatments are aimed at managing and reducing the severity of CFS/ME symptoms, rather than at curing the illness.

Medications

Currently, there are no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved prescription medications Trusted Source U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. View Source for CFS/ME. However, the FDA is actively seeking research trials for CFS/ME drugs. Also, studies of potential CFS/ME medications Trusted Source ClinicalTrials.gov ClinicalTrials.gov is a database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies conducted around the world. View Source are currently underway.

As a first recommendation, doctors may ask people with CFS/ME to try over-the-counter medications Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. View Source . For example, a doctor may recommend sleep aids or pain medications, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen. Doctors may also recommend nutritional supplements, including vitamins or minerals the doctor suspects a person could benefit from, such as magnesium and vitamin B-12. Supplements may also include essential fatty acids, the amino acid L-carnitine, Coenzyme Q-10, and other antioxidants.

When over-the-counter medications and supplements do not adequately lessen CFS/ME symptoms, doctors might prescribe drugs for the disorder. These are considered “off-label” prescriptions, meaning the medications are being prescribed for purposes other than what the FDA originally approved them for. Medications prescribed off-label for CFS/ME include:

• Anti-seizure medications
• Antidepressants
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)
• Pain medications
• Antiviral medications
• Corticosteroids
• Thyroid hormones
• Medications affecting the immune system
• Beta blockers
• Alpha blockers
• Antihistamines
• Stimulants
• Sleep medications
• Muscle relaxants
• Medical cannabis
• Antibiotics (if small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is present)

The type of medication a doctor prescribes for CFS/ME depends on the specific symptoms a particular person experiences.

In addition to or instead of writing a prescription, a doctor may recommend a fecal microbiota transplant (FMT). In this procedure, feces from a healthy individual are inserted into the intestines of someone with CFS/ME with the hopes of changing the types of bacteria present. Fecal transplants for CFS/ME are still being studied Trusted Source ClinicalTrials.gov ClinicalTrials.gov is a database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies conducted around the world. View Source , are currently considered experimental, and therefore may not be offered as treatments at this time.

Therapy

Medical professionals often recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a treatment for CFS/ME. This recommendation can be controversial, since some give it out of the discredited belief that CFS/ME symptoms are largely perpetuated by a person’s fear and personal choices regarding their symptoms rather than a physical cause. Some experts consider CBT an outdated treatment recommendation and have questioned the designs of previous CBT studies of people with CFS/ME.

Others argue that CBT should not be a primary CFS/ME treatment but can help with illness management and associated emotional problems. Between 25% and 40% of people with CFS/ME also experience anxiety or depression, and therapy can potentially treat those issues. Seeing a therapist can also help a person cope with the way CFS/ME impacts their life.

Lifestyle Changes

Medical professionals frequently recommend a variety of lifestyle changes to people with CFS/ME:

• Gentle Exercise: Exercising may help some people with CFS/ME, but it comes with risks. Too much exercise can trigger post-exertional malaise (PEM), or extreme fatigue. Some medical professionals recommend graded exercise therapy (GET), which involves exercising only as much as a person can without triggering post-exertional malaise, then slowly increasing the amount of exercise they engage in over time. Other experts, however, view graded exercise therapy as an outdated treatment that can potentially worsen symptoms.

• Pacing: The purpose of pacing is to carefully plan and limit activities a person with CFS/ME engages in, so they don’t trigger post-exertional malaise. A person with this illness can pace independently by recognizing what prompts flare-ups and reducing their activity accordingly. Professionals can also help with pacing through adaptive pacing therapy (APT). Some, but not all, people with CFS/ME can handle more activity over time if they pace themselves and avoid flare-ups.

• Assistive Devices: Certain devices can help with pacing by reducing the amount of energy a person expends. For example, a shower chair allows a person to take a shower without standing for an extended time, and a motorized scooter allows for travel throughout a store without standing. Devices like pedometers and heart rate monitors can also help with pacing by encouraging people to be mindful of the energy they’re using.

• Decreased Sensory Stimulation: Many people with CFS/ME are more sensitive than average to stimuli, so avoiding certain sensory stimuli helps some people with symptom management. For example, people might wear sunglasses or eye masks to reduce light exposure and earplugs to reduce sound. They may also try to remain in spaces that are free from perfumes or other strong odors.

• Good Sleep Hygiene: Since CFS/ME often involves sleep difficulties, healthy sleep hygiene practices are essential. Wearing an eye mask and earplugs can help reduce sleep disruptions. Other common sleep hygiene tips Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. View Source involve going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, avoiding electronic devices and large meals before sleep, and keeping the bedroom cool, quiet, and dark.
• A Healthy Diet: Like everyone, people with CFS/ME might benefit from eating a balanced diet. Ideally, this diet should include a variety of different types of foods, but few that are processed. People with CFS/ME who have gastrointestinal symptoms might find they do better when they avoid certain types of foods, such as spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, sugar and sugar substitutes, dairy, or gluten.

Alternative or Complementary Medicine

Since there is no standard treatment for CFS/ME, people often consider alternatives to traditional medicine or use non-traditional treatments to complement their other medications. Commonly used alternative and complementary treatments Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source include:

• Mind-body treatments, like qigong, tai chi, and meditation
• Massage
• Homeopathy
• Supplements, like ginseng and melatonin
• Light therapy
• Heating pads or cold packs
• Acupuncture
• Trigger point therapy, called myofascial release
• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic treatments

Complementary therapies have received mixed results when scientifically studied. Before beginning an alternative or complementary treatment, talk with your doctor to ensure that you aren’t trying something potentially dangerous.
 

Talking with Your Doctor About Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

If you are experiencing fatigue on an ongoing basis despite getting adequate sleep Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. View Source , talk to your doctor. While you could be facing chronic fatigue syndrome, many illnesses ranging from obstructive sleep apnea to iron-deficiency anemia can cause fatigue. Your doctor will need to ask questions and order tests to determine what is causing fatigue in your personal situation. Preparing for your appointment can help it go more smoothly.

Keep Track of Your Symptoms and Their Onset

Tracking the frequency, timing, and severity of your symptoms might help your doctor better understand what you’re experiencing. Tracking your activity level and symptoms can also help you draw connections and learn your limits so that you can reduce flare-ups.

When tracking your symptoms, remember to write down everything ailing you, not just fatigue. People with CFS/ME often also have issues with pain, cognition, such as memory and concentration, and sleep. You might also consider keeping a sleep diary Trusted Source National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) The NHLBI is the nation's leader in the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders. View Source , so your doctor can see how well you’re sleeping and determine if sleep might play a role in your symptoms.

Identify Treatments You’ve Tried

In addition to tracking the symptoms you have experienced, keep a list of treatments you have tried. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a medications and supplements list Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. View Source you can use to track your medications, their dosage, how well they help, and if you experienced side effects. Write a separate list of other treatments you have tried beyond medications and supplements, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, exercise, acupuncture, or meditation.

Have a List of Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Compile a list of questions you would like to ask your doctor so you do not forget anything you want to say. This list might include questions about possible tests, diagnoses, treatments, or medication side effects.

Living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Although experts have not yet found a cure for CFS/ME, many people who have the illness are able to make lifestyle changes and find treatments that allow them to reduce or manage their symptoms. Improvement is possible by living within your limits and working with a doctor to find treatments that help you. There are also many CFS/ME support groups Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source both online and in-person. Meeting with such a group might prove to be helpful.