Pharmaceutical Interventions in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Literature-based Commentary

Authors

Spencer Richman, Rochester Regional HealthFollow
Matthew C. Morris, Rochester Regional HealthFollow
Gordon Broderick, Rochester Regional HealthFollow
Travis J. Craddock, Institute for Neuro Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Computer Science, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Department of Clinical Immunology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
Nancy G. Klimas, Institute for Neuro Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Department of Clinical Immunology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
Mary Ann Fletcher, Institute for Neuro Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Department of Clinical Immunology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.

Department

Research

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Clinical Therapeutics

Abstract

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating disorder characterized by prolonged periods of fatigue, chronic pain, depression, and a complex constellation of other symptoms. Currently, ME/CFS has no known cause, nor are the mechanisms of illness well understood. Therefore, with few exceptions, attempts to treat ME/CFS have been directed mainly toward symptom management. These treatments include antivirals, pain relievers, antidepressants, and oncologic agents as well as other single-intervention treatments. Results of these trials have been largely inconclusive and, in some cases, contradictory. Contributing factors include a lack of well-designed and -executed studies and the highly heterogeneous nature of ME/CFS, which has made a single etiology difficult to define. Because the majority of single-intervention treatments have shown little efficacy, it may instead be beneficial to explore broader-acting combination therapies in which a more focused precision-medicine approach is supported by a systems-level analysis of endocrine and immune co-regulation.

First Page

798

Last Page

805

DOI

10.1016/j.clinthera.2019.02.011

Volume

41

Issue

5

Publication Date

5-1-2019

Medical Subject Headings

Depression (drug therapy, etiology); Fatigue (drug therapy); Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic (drug therapy); Humans; Pharmaceutical Preparations (administration & dosage)

PubMed ID

30871727

Recommended Citation

Richman, S., Morris, M. C., Broderick, G., Craddock, T. J., Klimas, N. G., & Fletcher, M. A. (2019). Pharmaceutical Interventions in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Literature-based Commentary. Clinical Therapeutics, 41 (5), 798-805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2019.02.011