As there is no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome, the treatment tends to about handling the symptoms and pain that can come with. If you’re diagnosed within the first two years you will respond better to the treatments. The treatments are different for each patient and no single therapy works to help all the symptoms.
Medication
- Antidepressants — these help with sleep, pain and other psychological problems and include medication such as bupropion (Wellbutrin), sertraline (Zoloft), and other antidepressants.
- Supplements — some doctors might recommend vitamin D, B6, B12, lysine, and glutathione supplements.
- Antibiotics — if you have high levels of antibodies that react with C pneumoniae and other organisms your doctor might proscribe antibiotics such as metronidazole (Flagyl) or amoxicillin and clavulanic acid (Augmentin).
Therapy
- Psychological therapy — this can help with the day-to-day life of chronic fatigue syndrome where the burden can become a problem in their lives.
- Physical therapy — it might be recommended to seek a physical therapist in order to impart some mild guided exercise into your life. They will be careful to make sure you don’t over exert yourself or give exercises that are too strenuous.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) — this will help your outlook on the problem and change the way you think and feel despite the chronic fatigue. This works best for younger patients.
Other Treatments and Things to do at Home
Due to the fact that there is no cure, there are several steps you could do to reduce the symptoms and pain that come with it. Perform some of these steps along with taking medication and therapy to get the best effect:
- Healthy diet — follow a healthy fruit and vegetable prominent diet to keep nutrients in your body. Avoid fatty food that are hard to digest.
- Intellectual stimulation — allow your brain to work by reading, writing. Why not try some puzzles to make your brain work? If you take cognitive behavioral disorder this might help to achieve this.
- Sleep apnea — test for sleep apnea which could be the cause for your chronic fatigue. It’s also recommended to seek sleep-management therapy to find exercises to help you to sleep.
- Pain management — it might be recommended for you to take medication such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol).
- Anti-anxiety and anti-depressants — having chronic fatigue can make you both anxious and/or depressed so you might be recommended to take these medications to help with these symptoms.
- Exercise — make sure to follow your exercise plan that you devised with your physical therapist every day.