Topic Overview
Antidepressants do not cure CFS. They may relieve symptoms
such as fatigue, sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, and pain. But they
will not affect the course of the illness or the speed of recovery.
Antidepressants that are commonly used to treat
chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) include:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (for example, Prozac), paroxetine
(Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram
(Lexapro).
- Tricyclic antidepressants, such
as amitriptyline, desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), and
nortriptyline (Pamelor).
- Other antidepressants, such as bupropion (Wellbutrin), trazodone, venlafaxine
(Effexor), and mirtazapine (Remeron).
When these medicines are used to treat CFS, they may be given
in lower doses than the amounts used to treat depression.
The
choice of medicine may depend on the symptoms that are most bothersome, because
each medicine has somewhat different side effects. For example:
- If you have trouble sleeping, you may need a
medicine to take at bedtime that causes drowsiness.
- If you have
trouble concentrating on daily tasks, you may need a medicine to take during
the day that can help with concentration and clear thinking.
If depression has been diagnosed along with CFS,
antidepressants may be used to treat depression as well.
FDA advisories. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
has issued:
- A warning on the antidepressants Paxil and Paxil
CR (paroxetine) and birth defects. Some studies have shown that women who took
Paxil during their first 12 weeks of pregnancy have a slightly higher chance of
having a baby with birth defects.1
- An advisory on antidepressant
medicines and the risk of suicide. The FDA does not recommend that people stop
using these medicines. Instead, a person taking antidepressants should be
watched for warning signs of suicide. This is especially important at the
beginning of treatment or when doses are changed.
Do not suddenly stop taking antidepressants. These medicines
must be gradually tapered off under your doctor's supervision.
References
Citations
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2005).
FDA Public Health Advisory: Paroxetine. Available
online: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/DrugSafetyInformationforHeathcareProfessionals/PublicHealthAdvisories/ucm051731.htm.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Nancy Greenwald, MD - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation |
|---|
| Last Revised | April 22, 2011 |
|---|
Last Revised:
April 22, 2011
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2005).
FDA Public Health Advisory: Paroxetine. Available
online: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/DrugSafetyInformationforHeathcareProfessionals/PublicHealthAdvisories/ucm051731.htm.