Treatments tend to address the symptoms, since the underlying mechanism of =
the
disease is not really understood. Medications which are helpful are often t=
hose which
have immune-modulating characteristics. CFS patients are unusually sensitiv=
e to drugs
and they usually must take doses that are 1/4 or less than standard doses. =
Some drugs
will be a big help to some patients and little or no help to others. And dr=
ugs that seem
to work for a while may stop being effective later.

According to studies presented at the October 1994 CFS medical conference, =
widely
used treatments included: SSRIs ("selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors"=
 such as
Zoloft, Paxil and Prozac) used to address fatigue, cognitive dysfunction an=
d
depression; low dose TCAs ("tricyclic anti-depressants" such as doxepin and
amitriptyline) for sleep disorder, and muscle and joint pain; and NSAIDs
("non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs" such as ibuprofen and naproxen) fo=
r
headache, and muscle and joint pain. Other treatments often prescribed are =
Klonopin,
intra-muscular gamma globulin (IMgG), nutritional supplements (particularly
anti-oxidants, B-vitamins generally and B-12 specifically), herbs, and acup=
uncture.
Less often prescribed were chiropractic therapy, intra-muscular gamma globu=
lin
(IVgG), kutapressin, antivirals, interferon, and transfer factor.

Research from Johns Hopkins University in 1995 indicate that treatment for =
neurally
mediated hypotension may be effective for the many CFS patients who may sho=
w
positive for that condition.