Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Medication
- Author: Burke A Cunha, MD; Chief Editor: Michael Stuart Bronze, MD more...
Medication Summary
Trials of antiviral agents have been ineffective in relieving the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Various medications have been shown to be ineffective, including steroids, liver extract, chelating agents, intravenous (IV) vitamins, vitamin B-12, and IV or oral vitamin or mineral supplements. Antidepressants have no major role to play in the treatment of CFS.
Antibiotics, Tetracyclines
Class Summary
Antibiotics are used in patients with elevated immunoglobulin M (IgM) Chlamydia pneumoniae titers.
Doxycycline (Vibramycin, Doryx, Oracea, Oraxyl, Adoxa)
Doxycycline is a second-generation tetracycline. Compared with tetracycline, it is much more active against many pathogens and has a different adverse-effect profile and pharmacokinetic characteristics. Doxycycline inhibits bacterial growth, possibly blocking dissociation of peptidyl t-RNA from ribosomes, causing RNA-dependent protein synthesis to arrest.
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