| Chronic fatigue syndrome treatments involve lifestyle | | | | have an effect in circulating blood volume. |
| changes, exercise, drug therapy, cognitive therapy, | | | | Methylphenidate is a drug of choice for ADHD, but is |
| and bodywork. That's the conventional treatment. | | | | also used to increase blood pressure. Epoetin alfa is |
| Patients are advised to practice good sleep hygiene, | | | | injected to stimulate the growth of erythrocytes, |
| eat proper diet, do few movements as their | | | | thereby increasing the blood volume and blood |
| exercise, and do frequent rest in-between each | | | | pressure. Sometimes, beta blockers are used to |
| exercise session. Traditionally, they are also given | | | | increase blood pressure, although it is more common |
| sleeping pills, antidepressants, stimulants, muscle | | | | as an antihypertensive. Patients are also advised to |
| relaxants, beta blockers, anticonvulsants and | | | | increase their salt and water intake if they have low |
| vasopressors to manage symptoms accordingly. But | | | | blood pressures so that water may be retained in the |
| did you know that there are newer approaches to | | | | body, thus blood volume is increased. |
| treat chronic fatigue syndrome? | | | | Though these newer chronic fatigue syndrome |
| There is one antiviral drug that is approved by FDA | | | | treatments are available, they are still under research, |
| to combat cytomegalovirus. It is called Valcyte. It has | | | | therefore conventional treatment options should still |
| also shown to be effective against Epstein-Barr virus | | | | be used. Exercise is one part of the treatment |
| and herpes virus 6 which may account for a number | | | | options that should not be missed. People with CFS |
| of chronic fatigue syndrome cases. | | | | cannot tolerate usual exercise programs, thus their |
| Another drug that is used for narcolepsy is being | | | | program should be individualized. They should also |
| used now as one of the chronic fatigue syndrome | | | | avoid extremes, which mean that they cannot |
| treatments. Provigil is a central nervous system (CNS) | | | | overdo or totally avoid exercise. A matter of balance |
| acting drug, and CFS patients who take it feel that | | | | between their daily activities is all they need. They |
| they are more alert. Some reports also claim that | | | | must divide their exercise into 2-3 sessions per day |
| they have increased tolerance to exercise with the | | | | so that they can take rests in between. |
| use of Provigil. | | | | Counseling and cognitive therapy is another part of |
| Since patients with chronic fatigue syndrome tend to | | | | chronic fatigue syndrome treatments that should not |
| have lower blood volume, they experience | | | | be disregarded. Usually, this chronic condition is related |
| hypotension and rapid heart rate as their body | | | | to a patient's psychological health. Therefore, issues |
| compensates. To address this, certain measures are | | | | about grief or anger should be identified and properly |
| done. Before, only vasopressors like midodrine are | | | | managed. Doctors also have to correct ill beliefs and |
| prescribed to increase one's blood pressure. | | | | behaviors of patients so this therapy is really needed |
| Nowadays, methylphenidate, epoetin alfa and | | | | so that they can cope with stress. Support groups |
| tyrosine may also be prescribed along with | | | | are always available for chronic fatigue patients to |
| vasopressors. Tyrosine is an amino acid found to | | | | help them with their social needs. |