any particular medication or treatment options for CFS/fibro?
 

what is the best medication or treatment options for CFS/fibro?

or what ones have u tried that u hav success with?

I take gabapentin 300 mg, lexapro 10mg, klonopin .5mg prn, buspar 30-40mg(5HT1a agonist) helpful, pamelor 25mg, and i once took topamax but now am no longer taking it.

I'm reading a book that says calcium channel blockers are helpful, but it seems that when i talk to doctors they say that they are too much of a hindrance in terms of side effects. is there any truth to that answer?

would clonidine(which is an alpha adrenergic2 agonist) amantidine, or mirapex(dopamine agonist) be helpful?? sudafed and guaifenisin, seems to help me as sudafed(phenylephrine) is an alpha adrenergic1 agonist)

it seems that any drug that is an agonist is helpful to me, cuz the antagonists ones just seem to drag me down. any drug that antagonizes and hits the 5HT1a, H1, m1-m5, or 5HT2 receptors, seems to make me irritable/tired/fatigued especially if it hits it hard. like many of the tricyclics/neuroleptics do.

If sudafed and guaifenisin have helped, ephedrine HCL, minus the guaifenisin would probably really help. It's illegal to ship it to Texas, but not in all states. 1-800-221-1833. Catalogue is Diet * Nutrition * Energy. Brand is Bolt Ephedrine HCL.

What do you take for esophageal motility disorders. Reglan is getting the "black box" for S/E, notably tardive dyskinesia. Parlodol or something like that was nixed long ago.

Oesophageal and gastric paralysis!
 

I know the question was not addressed to me, but I have been on Domperidone for gastric dysmotility - Gastroparesis (and associated oesophageal dysmotility) for about five months now and this has helped the nausea immensely. Now on Cisapride (Prepulsid) for the past one week and waiting to see if I improve enough to eat solid food.

However I feel that the oesophageal dysmotility has worsened in the past few weeks while still on the Domperidone (Motilium). Will discuss this with my GI doc at next week's appointment.

Interested to know how many FMS people are affected by oesophageal and gastric paralysis as opposed to the frequently touted IBS?

people generally take verapamil, diltiazem, or nifidepine(calcium channel blockers) for esophageal spasm/motility disroder/angina.

Have you read this yet?

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread20030.html

Esophageal dysmotility
 

I believe I have esophageal or gastric dysmotility. I take Reglan for it, and it helps tremendously. I am just now exploring any neurological dx's and it is difficult to get to an out of town doctor as I can only drive in town and familiy is far away. I have recently seen negative things about Reglan on TV and have wondered if my bruxism is related to tardive dyskinesia. Thank you for your information about the Domperidone. I though Propulside was no longer on the market, but Prepulside may be different altogether. What is the nature of FMS? billie

Hi Billie,

I am in Australia and even though Prepulsid (Cisapride) is now a non-approved drug globally, doctors here in Australia can get a special exemption to order it for compassionate reason but have to get a permit first through our TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration). Perhaps a similar process can happen for you wherever you live.

This journey to 'diagnosis' is a long one and for me at the moment I rest in the Fibromyalgia basket but also have severe Gastroparesis along with 25 other symptoms - whether these are part and parcel of Fibromyalgia or part of something else yet to be discovered is anyone's guess!

Interesting though neither of the Neurologists I consulted with mentioned/considered Fibromyalgia in their provisional diagnoses.

I wish you well in your journey.

Megan

Honestly an antiviral med - valtrex and l-lysine as it seems most of my issues are viralin nature, especially the CFS. There is a new study going on at Stanford with Dr. Montoya that holds alot of promise for CFS.

valtrex???? isnt that for herpes?

Yes, but taking it has had an amazing effect on my fibro and muscle issues and fatigue. So has the l-lysine which is also recommended for herpes. But there are many herpes viruses and most of the population is infected. In some of us it just starts to run amok.

Epstein Barr and HHV6 (all part of the herpes family) are some culprits behind chronic fatigue syndrome as the stanford study is proving out. Google Dr montoya at stanford and his new treatment for chronic fatigue. There is also a Dr Lerner in Michigan that is working along the same angles. Also google the HHV6 site. I am sure there are many others as well. I had my antibody titres tested and sure enough sky high.

But once I started on an anti-viral even my physical therapist commented that my muscles have never been better. It even improved my frozen shoulder.

Some think that viruses are behind many neurological issues. And these viruses can be active for years. I will be on valtrex for at least a year.

But its an individual thing so what worked for me as a virus is my underlying cause may not be the case for others.

The other thing I have been reading about for fibro that is having some success is LDN - low dose naltrexone...also in a current study at stanford showing good early results.

im glad that that treatment is working for you, and maybe will give a few people ideas. but alas, that type of valtrex treatment won't fly by with most docs, unless you happen to have herpes.

However, L-lysine is a more viable option, I can see that used, I however had no luck with it.

I have tried a number of NSAIDs and a few others. For a while, Effexor (anti-depressant) was working quite well, and then I started working alternate shifts and the pain started getting worse. I can sleep when I take Flexeril (muscle relaxant) , but then I have problems waking up and functioning the next day. Finally got referred to a Pain Specialist (I'm in the military and can't see doctors outside the military with a referral - unless I wanted to pay for them myself) and he has referred me for Aqua Therapy (still waiting for the approval from my insurance) and Acupuncture/Message Therapy (Have to pay for this myself, my insurance won't cover it). He has also put my on Lyrica, but I am just starting to take it today.

Okay, to get to the point, the Acupuncture/Message Therapy is actually doing pretty good. I have had 3 appointments so far and feeling good. I have also been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my knees and today, the acupuncture doc put a couple extra needles in this human pin cushion for my knees. There are still some dull aches, but the sharp pains are gone. Actually did a bit of running on the treadmill and my knees are feeling great compared to normal. Last visit, he put in some extra needles for my elbows and I haven't had pain in them for 2 weeks.