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Patients of CFS or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome respond differently to various

treatments. Some of them recover after drastic changes in lifestyle, some

of them are more responsive to pharmacological treatments. Here are the

most common treatment modalities to which CFS patients are subjected and to

which most of them respond well.

Self-Care/Management Techniques
Some patients can facilitate self-care treatments. This can be done by

monitoring the level and pacing of activities such that prolonged and

extreme levels of exhaustion are prevented. This can also be done by

preventing the urge to rest. Since CFS is not relieved through rest,

regardless of the duration, health care professionals do not advise the

patients to rest excessively. Some form of physical activity must be

maintained. This is oftentimes recommended by the physician. When trying to

manage the symptoms of the disorder by yourself, it is best to keep the

pacing and the level of the activities under control. Otherwise, symptoms

may occur at a more debilitating rate.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a psychological therapy that

delivers relief of symptoms but not necessarily cure. This helps the

patients understand their conditions and can therefore better guide them in

forming their beliefs, perception and attitudes towards the syndrome. It is

believed that through a more accurate depiction of the condition, the

patient can better respond to the symptoms and they can cause lesser

inhibition of the recurrence of their symptoms.

Graded Exercise Therapy
This therapy involves the introduction of incremental changes in the

patients’ levels of activity. While concrete evidence are yet to be

established, many experts believe that integration of activities is very

important in managing the disease. Under this therapy then, the patient

will have to monitor his own activities and exercises. As the therapy

progresses, he moves to higher intensities until he gets back to the doing

activities he normally participated in prior to the onset of the condition.

Pharmacological Treatments
Managements of the conditions through pharmacological treatments can

involve the following medications:

Antidepressants are primarily used to manage mood swings and secondary

depression. Low dosage antidepressants, on the other hand, are helpful in

managing sleep disturbance and pain.

Autonomic nervous system stimulants are used to help improve concentration

and short-term memory which are greatly affected by the disorder.

NSAIDs or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs are prescribed to CFS

patients to relieve them from muscle and joint pains.

Anxiolyticagents are used to target symptoms of anxiety.

CAM or Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The use of dietary supplements in managing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is

central in alleviating the symptoms of CFS. According to some pilot

studies, supplements of Carnitine, essential fatty acids, Magnesium and

polynutrient supplements have shown strong indications of symptom reduction

among patients.

Because the origins of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are not yet fully

understood, treatment options are more directed to managing the symptoms

and not really in curing the disorder. The main objective in producing

relief from symptoms is to reinstate the conditions of the person as well

as his well-being prior to the onset of the disorder.

As a result, majority of sufferers do not fully recover and even if they

do, they recover gradually. For people who expect better and faster

recovery, frustrations often ensue which for most of the cases, worsen the

condition.  It is therefore recommended to undergo a treatment at a

very slow but well-managed pace.