Medicines for fatigue is an extensive list of drugs, including biologically active food additives and vitamin-mineral complexes, as well as serious drugs used in the treatment of depressive disorders, that is, psychostimulants and antidepressants. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a common disorder, so many people need special medications.
Chronic fatigue syndrome
This is a common pathology that has gained distribution relatively recently. This is due to the peculiarities of the life of the population of megacities, excessive emotional and mental stress on a modern person and an unfavorable environmental situation. The feeling of emotional and physical exhaustion is familiar to many, but CFS is different from physiological fatigue.
There is no consensus explaining the origin of the pathology among doctors. There is a hypothesis of a viral origin, since antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus are often found in the blood of patients. Another version is depression. Half of the patients show manifestations of depression, while somatic (masked) depression includes almost all the symptoms of CFS. Perhaps CFS is a variant of mental disorder. However, not only antidepressants, but also anti-inflammatory drugs have proven themselves well in treatment, which confirms the complex origin of the syndrome.
Symptoms and diagnosis of CFS
Diagnosis is based on clinical signs. The mandatory criteria include a decrease in working capacity and a constant feeling of fatigue for six consecutive months or more in the absence of diseases and other causes that can cause this condition. As a rule, the symptoms progressively increase and cannot be explained by somatic diseases. The remaining symptoms are grouped into several groups:
- Signs of psychological and mental problems: depression, sleep disturbances, irritability, memory impairment.
- Symptoms of hypersensitivity to alcohol and drugs, allergic reactions.
- Manifestations of autonomic endocrine dysfunction: violation of the digestive tract, a rapid change in body weight, arrhythmias, decreased appetite.
- Symptoms of a chronic inflammatory process: muscle and joint pain, fever, swollen lymph nodes, chronic pharyngitis.
The diagnosis is considered reliable if the patient has identified the required criteria and at least four of the following symptoms are observed for at least four of the following symptoms: malaise after physical exertion, impaired attention or memory, muscle or joint pain, soreness and enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes, pharyngitis, unusual for the patient’s head pain, a dream that does not give strength. Other manifestations of CFS include dizziness, discomfort in the chest or throat, anxiety, confusion, and other non-specific symptoms.
Common Causes of CFS
The main risk factors for constant fatigue are frequent and prolonged stresses, unfavorable living conditions, increased radiation load, unbalanced nutrition and lack of physical activity, monotonous and intense work, effects that weaken the body's resistance (concomitant diseases, chemo and radiation therapy, electromagnetic effects, surgical interventions), lack of life prospects. Bad habits for patients usually become significant moments in the development of the syndrome: intensive smoking - an attempt to stimulate performance, alcoholism - removal of arousal.
The basic principles of treatment
In the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome, several groups of drugs are used, so it is best to not start taking medications for fatigue and sleep, which the pharmacist will advise in the pharmacy. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants, sedatives, immunomodulators and vitamin complexes are used. The general complex of therapy must necessarily include diet therapy, normalization of sleep and rest, autogenic training and other methods of normalizing the psychoemotional background (including group psychotherapy), hydroprocedures, massage, physiotherapy exercises, general immunocorrectors with adaptogenic effect, nootropics and daytime tranquilizers.
Vitamin Complexes
With a constant feeling of overwork, a breakdown and weakness that does not go away after a long rest and sleep, it is necessary to start taking vitamin-mineral complexes. Perhaps the body simply does not have enough nutrients to ensure the normal functioning of all organs and systems. B vitamins are responsible for energy production, therefore, are one of the most important for vigor. With diseases, injuries, a constant feeling of emotional and physical exhaustion, the need for energy increases significantly, so an increase in the intake of B vitamins is necessary.
Vitamin C cannot be called a full-fledged substance that helps with weakness, because there are no reliable data directly or indirectly indicating this. But, according to the observations of doctors, patients who do not consume enough vitamin C more often complain of fatigue. Deficiency of vitamin D negatively affects working capacity and general physical tone. This useful substance regulates the activity of the heart and blood vessels, musculoskeletal system. The lack of vitamins can be restored through special complexes and rationalization of nutrition.
Vitrum Vitrum complex
One tablet of the Vitrum complex contains the daily norm of useful substances for the body, fourteen vitamins and seventeen minerals. The tool helps with vitamin deficiency, conditions characterized by a decrease in the body's immune defense (gastrointestinal tract disorders, frequent stresses, increased physical activity, poor nutrition, postoperative period). The composition includes B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, folic acid, cyanocobalamin), vitamin A (retinol), E (tocopherol), useful trace elements and acids. It can be taken by adults and children over 12 years old.
Pentovit
A complex medicine for chronic fatigue (vitamin complex) is prescribed to patients with a lack of vitamin B in the body and signs of asthenia. Asthenic syndrome is a condition characterized by increased fatigue, neuropsychic and physical weakness, sleep disturbances, extreme mood instability. The composition of "Pentovit" includes B vitamins, nicotinamide and other useful trace elements. After a full course of therapy, patients experience a general improvement in their condition, activation of metabolic processes, and normalization of the central nervous system. Reviews about the vitamin complex are positive. The effect of the application is noticeable even before the end of the course of therapy.
Medications
As part of the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome, drugs are prescribed from various groups (depending on the severity of symptoms, body reaction, clinical picture and the presence of concomitant diseases):
- drugs that stimulate the body's reactions;
- agents affecting the functioning of the nervous system;
- antidepressants and tranquilizers.
Certain groups of drugs can only be purchased with a doctor’s prescription. This applies to drugs for fatigue and depression, such as specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors (Zoloft, Torin, Aleval, Stimuloton, Seralin, Serlift, Deprefault), selective inhibitors that combine stimulating and tympoanaleptic effects (“Fluoxetine Lannacher”, “Fluoxetine”, “Flunisan”, “Prozac”, “Prodep”), true anxiolytics.
Immune Resistance Stimulants
Immunomodulators differ in chemical structure and mechanism of action on the body. Such drugs for fatigue stimulate the processes of humoral and / or cellular immunity, increase the general resistance of the body, normalize performance and even out the emotional background. Derivatives of nucleic acids, imidazoline, thymus preparations, pyrimidine derivatives, aliphatic polyamines, interferogens and interferons may be prescribed.
"Laennec": description of the drug
The “Laennec” medicine for chronic fatigue (an immunostimulant with a hepatoprotective effect) has a general restorative and strengthening effect. The following areas of drug use have been clinically substantiated: immunoregulation, lipotropic, angiogenic and neurotrophic effects, hepatoprotection, antifibrosing and reparative processes. The complex effect is explained by the molecular and microelement composition: many peptides, a high concentration of individual trace elements, and energy metabolism enzymes. Laennec is obtained on the basis of a human placenta hydrolyzate.
The medicine for weakness and fatigue is injected. The course of injections (usually ten procedures is enough) leads to a significant decrease in the severity of CFS, depression and anxiety, and an increase in the quality of life, subjectively assessed by the patient. Admission is accompanied by increased stamina, performance, positive changes in the metabolic profile (gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system, balance of organic and amino acids, energy synthesis). Therapy is safe, side effects in the form of numbness at the injection site and minor pain are noted in only 3.7% of patients. Allergic reactions are possible. Judging by the reviews, the medicine is more often used in cosmetology, but sometimes it is also prescribed in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Drugs that affect the central nervous system
Significantly increases the body's working capacity under adverse conditions sodium polyhydroxyphenylene thiosulfonate (sold in pharmacies under the trade names "Hypoxene", "Olifen"). The cure for fatigue and drowsiness belongs to the group of antioxidants. “Hypoxen” and “Olifen” improve tissue respiration (especially in organs with an active metabolism: liver, brain, heart), increase resistance to significant mental and physical stress, are used in the treatment of copious blood loss, significant surgical interventions, respiratory pathologies , severe injuries, angina pectoris and chronic heart failure (including for the purpose of prevention). These are good medicines for eye fatigue and increased fatigue of the whole organism. "Hypoxene", for example, is recommended for people who work in extreme and adverse conditions (operators, submariners, polar explorers).
Another medicine for fatigue and stress that affects the functioning of the central nervous system is aminoacetic acid (“Glycine”). “Glycine” normalizes metabolic processes, reduces psycho-emotional stress, increases mental performance, and regulates metabolism. The use of aminoacetic acid is accompanied by a decrease in conflict, normalization of sleep, increased social adaptation, improved mood, and a decrease in the severity of symptoms of vegetative disorders. It is released without a prescription. There are no contraindications (except for intolerance to the components) and side effects.
Nootropic agent “Semax” (methionyl-glutamyl-histidyl-phenylalanyl-prolyl-glycyl-proline) in small doses has a pronounced neurometabolic effect. Higher doses have an antioxidant, neutrotrophic, angioprotective effect while maintaining a neurometabolic effect. So, a cure for fatigue and drowsiness improves memory, enhances concentration of attention, speed of mental processes, stimulates the brain, normalizes psycho-emotional reactions. "Semax" is contraindicated in childhood (up to 5 years), during pregnancy and lactation, with anxiety and severe psychoses, with increased sensitivity to components, history of seizures. Intended for intranasal use.
Psychotropic drugs
Effective medicines for fatigue and depression are antidepressants: pipofesin (Azafen), sertraline (Deprefolt, Serlift, Aleval, Seralin, Serenata), fluoxetine (Flunisan, Fluuxetin, Fluuxetin Fluksetin Geksal "," Prozac "). All drugs are dispensed only by prescription. “Azafen” has a sedative effect, reduces depression and autonomic, somatic and mental disorders associated with this condition, positively affects asthenia arising from complications of mental illness, reduces anxiety and internal tension, and normalizes sleep. The medicine for fatigue is contraindicated in renal and hepatic, heart muscle failure, heart attack, ischemia, circulatory disorders of the brain, diabetes mellitus, severe infectious diseases, pregnancy and breastfeeding.
"Zoloft", "Serlift", "Deprefault", "Stimulon" and other specific inhibitors of serotonin reuptake with prolonged use lead to a decrease in the activity of brain adrenergic receptors, do not have a sedative or stimulating effect. Selective inhibitors (Fluval, Fluoxeting, Flunisan) have a stimulating effect, help improve mood, reduce feelings of fear, anxiety and tension, reduce irritability, sleep disturbances and drowsiness, and improve performance. All this is confirmed in the patient reviews. There is indeed a positive effect. But caution should be exercised when canceling such strong medicines for fatigue and depression, since there is a risk of withdrawal.
"Daytime" tranquilizers for CFS
To relieve fatigue, a medication with a stimulating effect can be prescribed quite strong. In this situation, a lot depends on the severity of the symptoms of the pathology and the presence of concomitant diseases (especially depression and similar neurotic disorders). Tranquilizers suppress feelings of fear and anxiety, emotional stress, anxiety, reduce irritability both in relatively healthy people and in various disorders (neurotic, nervous-like). Since such drugs reduce excitability, the so-called “daytime” tranquilizers are used in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. These are very effective drugs against fatigue, but they require caution in use. This is confirmed not only by doctors, patients also talk about the need to strictly follow the recommendations. The dose increases from minimally effective to optimal for the therapeutic effect, cancellation is done gradually, if necessary, long-term treatment, the course is carried out according to the method of intermittent therapy.
"Phenotropil": nootropic psychostimulant
Doctors call Phenotropil one of the best medicines for fatigue, but this is a serious drug, the purpose of which should be guided by expediency. The patient must always adhere to the recommended dosage and duration of therapy.The medicine was developed to increase the physical and mental performance, as well as the mental stability of the astronauts at various stages of the flight. The drug went into clinical practice, confirming its effectiveness and safety.
This is a cure for the fatigue of the whole body. “Phenotropil” has an antidepressant and sedative effect, reduces emotional excitability, irritability and conflict, increases the level of clarity of consciousness, working capacity, concentration of attention, thinking and memory, positively affects resistance to adverse external conditions (including the drug, which must be taken into account when prescribing a course of therapy) and exposure to extreme factors, restores the tone of blood vessels and joints. When applied externally, it has a rejuvenating and anti-inflammatory effect, eliminates age-related skin changes.