How to Treat Chronic Fatigue With Prescription Medications

While there is no medication to treat chronic fatigue syndrome directly, there are some that can mitigate many of the symptoms of the condition. If you want to treat chronic fatigue syndrome with prescription medications, you need to be aware of side effects and of the interactions between pharmaceuticals.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Treat Chronic Fatigue With Prescription Medications

1. Ask your doctor about taking an antiviral drug to help reduce the flu-like symptoms of chronic fatigue. These prescription medications are commonly used to help chronic fatigue patients. They are relatively harmless and have few side effects. An added benefit of antiviral drugs is that they often do not interact with other medications that the patient takes.
2. Use an anti-fungal medication to provide relief from some infections. Both men and women can benefit from this treatment because chronic fatigue patients have weak immune systems which often lead to fungal infections in the mouth and other areas. This medicine should only be used to treat chronic fatigue syndrome if it has been determined that the patient has a fungal infection.
3. See a mental health professional to explore the possibility of taking an antidepressant. These prescription drugs are often used to help give chronic fatigue sufferers the emotional support they need to make changes to their lifestyle.
4. Try anxiety medication if your chronic fatigue makes it difficult to maintain a normal social life. This medication may give patients the stimulation needed to get into a more active lifestyle. Some doctors believe one of the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome is a type of anxiety that forces the patient to adopt to a sedentary and inactive lifestyle.
5. Take a mild sleeping medication if chronic fatigue gives you insomnia. Some sleeping medications may be used with other prescription treatments without creating side effects. Insomnia is often caused by inactivity, so this medicine may not be needed if you begin a regular exercise routine.

Tips & Warnings

• Antidepressants should only be taken for 2 to 3 months when they are used to treat chronic fatigue. You should change your diet and begin an exercise routine to prevent the reappearance of fatigue-induced depression after you go off the medications.
• Counseling can be a natural way to cope with anxiety and depression if you cannot take the prescription medications.
• Call your doctor immediately and stop taking an anti-fungal medication if you develop a rash.
• Most sleeping medication requires that you do not drive for the 6 to 8 hours following your dosage.