What medications work for chronic fatigue?
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Did your dr. diagnose you?  If so he should have discussed with you how to treat this condition.  Mild exercise, better diet are good.  As far as medication goes, Provigil is a good one.  I did not have the experience as the other responder did when she spoke of going through tests and counseling, but then doctors handle these things differently.  There is also a drug called Amantadine.  Check with your doctor to see what would be best for you.
1036431
claritin....it's non-narcotic and works well. i use it.
463576
Fibromyalgia, Reflex sympathic dystrophy, chronic fatigue, cirvical spondelosis, myofacicia, osteo arthritis, and carpel tunnes SYNDROME. \nIf you find any real, true, successful, treatments, please let me know.
1186135
Medications do not cure fibromyalgia. However, some medicines may help improve fibromyalgia symptoms, especially muscle pain and frequent waking during the night. Not all people with fibromyalgia will need, want, or benefit from medicines, but people with more severe pain, sleep problems, or depression that disturbs their daily life may find them helpful.\n\nAntidepressants are often used to treat symptoms of fibromyalgia. This does not mean that the condition is "all in your head." Antidepressants may help by improving sleep and mood or by blocking pain signals. Many people with fibromyalgia appear to benefit from the use of these medicines.\n\nFibromyalgia symptoms in different people respond to different medicines. Your doctor may try more than one medicine before finding one that works best for you. You may also find that a medicine that has been helping to decrease your symptoms seems to become less effective over time. Talk with your doctor if you are not getting relief from your symptoms. He or she may try a different medicine or make suggestions for helping you continue to find ways to modify your activity, sleep, and stress.\n\nhttp://www.webmd.com/hw/fibromyalgia_cfids/hw196512.asp\n\n\nFibromyalgia features one of the longest lists of medications used in its treatment, but none of the medications used for fibromyalgia were actually developed for the condition or even approved by the FDA for treating it. \n\nNevertheless, a number of medications have shown effectiveness in randomized clinical trials of people with fibromyalgia; those are the drugs listed in this chart. These include the antidepressant medications such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep), duloxetine (Cymbalta), fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil); muscle relaxants such as cylobenzaprine (Cycloflex, Flexeril) and certain analgesics, including tramadol (Ultram). \n\nThe combination of 20 mg Prozac taken in the morning and 25 mg amitryptyline taken at night also has shown effectiveness in easing symptoms throughout the day and helping to ensure sleep at night. Some preliminary studies using anti-seizure medications such as gabapentin (Neurontin) and the experimental drug pregabalin are also demonstrating promising results in helping to ease pain, promote sleep and relieve fatigue. \n\nYou'll find some other drugs used for fibromyalgia in the charts on analgesics and NSAIDs. For many people with this painful condition, an NSAID or analgesic such as over-the-counter acetaminophen provides sufficient pain relief; others take an NSAID or analgesic along with one or more of the medications listed here. \n\nANALGESICS \nFor many people, pain can interfere with daily activities, disrupt sleep and generally reduce the quality of life. That's why medications to ease pain are among the most-used drugs for many forms of arthritis. \n\nUnlike NSAIDs, which relieve both pain and inflammation, analgesics are designed purely for pain relief. For that reason, they may be safe for people who are unable – due to allergies or stomach problems, for example – to take NSAIDs. They're also an appropriate – and possibly safer – choice for people whose arthritis causes pain but not inflammation. \n\nThe most commonly used analgesic, acetaminophen, is also the most widely available. Because of its low-cost, effectiveness and safety, rheumatologists recommend acetaminophen as a first-line option against OA pain. Some people use acetaminophen in addition to an NSAID for added pain relief (but always speak to your doctor before combining any medications, even those available without a prescription). \n\nFor severe pain that isn't eased by acetaminophen, doctors sometimes prescribe products containing opioid analgesics, such as codeine or hydrocodone. Sometimes these products also contain acetaminophen, such as oxycodone with acetaminophen (Percocet) or propoxyphene with acetaminophen (Darvocet) – so if your doctor prescribes one for you, make
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The best medication is usually and antihistamine.  Loratadine (Claritin, Alavert) is the only non-drowsy OTC antihsitamine.  Prescription antihistamines include Allegra (available as a generic) and Zyrtec.\nYou can also treat individual symptoms.  If your symptoms are primarily watery, itchy eyes, you can use an ocular antihistamine like Patanol.  If your primary symptom is nasal congestion, you can use a nasal corticosteroid like Flonase or Nasonex.
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What can a person do to cope with CFS? \nWhen you have CFS, learning how to pace yourself and manage or avoid physical and emotional stress is important. Physical activity helps you to feel better not just physically, but emotionally as well. Regular exercise can lessen body aches, joint and muscle pain, and increase energy. But, be careful not to over do it. Too much exercise can end up causing more fatigue. As you build up strength over time, you may be able to increase the intensity of your exercise program. Physical therapists and rehabilitation medicine specialists can help you develop an exercise program and a daily activity plan that won't be too stressful or something you can't handle. \n\nCognitive behavioral therapy is a special treatment that can help you to change the way you think about your condition. It also helps you to develop ways to improve both your daily functioning and quality of life. \n\nYoga, stretching, and self-hypnosis are some alternative treatments that some people report help with CFS. Keep in mind that there are many alternative treatments, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies touted to cure illnesses like CFS, which can end up doing a person more harm than good. Remember to always keep your health care provider informed of the other health care professionals and alternative practitioners you are seeing. \n\nHaving an illness for which there is no cure can cause psychological stress and even depression for some people. It is normal to feel cranky, sad, angry, and frustrated with an illness that causes extreme fatigue and pain. Psychotherapy (sometimes called "talk therapy") can help you learn how to manage your feelings about this difficult illness. It may also be helpful to join a support group, where you can talk with other people who are going through the same thing. See the "For more information…" section at the end of this FAQ for referrals to consumer organizations that can help you to cope with CFS. \n\nIf a person becomes so disabled with CFS that they can no longer work, they can contact the Social Security Administration for help with disability benefits. There are two social security programs that have the same medical requirements for disability payments - the Social Security Disability Insurance Program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program. Your prior work history will determine if you can receive Social Security disability. SSI payments are made on the basis of financial need. Contact the Social Security Administration toll-free at (800) 772-1213 or check out their web site,  for more information.
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Zoloflot,Lexapro,Paxil,ProZac,Wellbutrin,Effexor, Elavil,Imipramine,Desipramine,Nortriotilyne,Serezone,Sinequan, Lithium, Cymbalta
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The depression might be making you more tired than usual. However, it might be a side effect of the medication. Many times..medication has to be adjusted in dosage or changed all together if the side effects aren't tolerable for the patient. Please speak to your prescribing doctor about this.\n\nI had a client taking Effexor, and she often complained that she would have frequent sweating.
94946
I am.  I was finally diagnosed last month after being tested for 14 months.  I am now on Retilin, increasing my dosage each week until I am no longer falling asleep.  Have you seen someone for depression since these two go hand in hand?
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Lyrica (from Pfizer)seems to work very well. Fewer side effects than neurontin.
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In my opinion, sleep, rest, and relaxation is the best remedy.  Once you take medication all they do is put you to sleep anyway so why not skip the meds and go right to sleep.  It works for me.
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Nyquil, Xanax, Ambian, Tylenol PM, Advil PM, etc...\n\nI know taking sleep aids is not good for you but neither is not sleeping.  I've had insomnia for most of my life so I usually try to take something once a week just so my body can rest
362353
I have the same problem.  At first, I got diagnosed with depression, but I don't think that is it, because now, years later, I'm definitely not depressed, but I'm still really tired.  In another era, people might have called it "laziness", but I think it's something more physiological.  My aunt has the same problem, and she deals with it by sleeping 10 hours a night.  Personally, I don't think that's a very good solution.\n\nI went to my doctor about it some years back, and he called it "hypersomnia", and prescribed me Provigil, which works GREAT.  It's the most-prescribed drug for narcolepsy, and works by stopping your brain from responding to the chemical that makes you go to sleep against your will, like when you're driving down the highway at night and you get that "head nod" feeling.  The downside is, it's very expensive if you don't good prescription drug insurance coverage ($5-10 per day, depending on dosage).\n\nOnce I switched off my parents' insurance to insurance that wouldn't cover 80% of cost, I started trying Ritalin and it worked okay, but made me jittery and messed with my stomach.  Now I'm taking Adderall, which is better than Ritalin in terms of jitteriness and stomach issues, but still not as good as Provigil (which had virtually no side effects for me, and I could even drink coffee while taking it without issues).\n\nI've also been trying to exercise more and eat a better diet for the last 3 or 4 months, and I think it's been helping me be more functional while tired, though it doesn't make me want to sleep any less.  But it also has helped me feel better about my life in general, so I still recommend exercise and improved diet, regardless of your tiredness issue.\n\nIn any case, my overall advice is, if you have insurance, go see your doctor about it, and see if you can get a prescription for your "hypersomnia" symptoms.  If you aren't on insurance, you might want to hold off on getting diagnosed with anything until you get insurance, though, because otherwise it'll be a "pre-existing condition" and not covered for a year or two (at the least).\n\nBTW, Adderall XR is generic now, and you can get 30 days supply for about $2 a day at Wal-Mart, which is a pretty good deal compared to say, coffee, which is less effective, and harder on your physiology, in my experience.  Good luck!
679555
By all means see a doctor. Chronic fatigue can be a sign of many things.  Including diabetes, thyroid, mono, anemia, depression, poor diet, stress, even a hormonal imbalance.  Just to name some.  More then likely your Dr. will get you back on track after a simple blood test.  Good luck to you.
798946
So, you're from Australia then... (Lovan's the giveaway)\n\nLovan (fluoxetine, or Prozac to everyone else) is not noted for cognitive impairment, but Epilim (aka Depacon, valproate sodium) certainly is. \n\nI had a similar issue with lamotrigine (I'm also bipolar), and my psychiatrist recommended large doses of B complex vitamins. That has certainly helped me, so it may be worth a try for very little outlay.
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There is not one treatment that works but a vary of treatments that have to be tried here are some of them: \n\nSteriod creams If these help, a milder cream can be used for longer-term control. Antihistamine creams (Zonalon, Pramoxine) or pills (Atarax, Periactin) are often added for additional relief. Intralesional steroid injections, anti-depressant pills, and non-prescription Zostrix cream helps many of those not improved with the usual treatment.
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yup, chronic fatigue in children - the article might help