Diagnostic and treatment challenges of chronic fatigue syndrome: role of immediate-release methylphenidate.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18505357?dopt=AbstractPlus
Servicio de Neurofisiología Clínica, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Paseo Isabel la Católica 1-3, E-50009 Zaragoza, Spain. jrvaldizan@auna.com
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a distinct entity belonging to the group of persistent fatigue that can be challenging to diagnose and to treat. It is characterized by a combination of prolonged fatigue, other nonspecific somatic manifestations and neuropsychological symptoms, including difficulties with concentration, short-term memory and thinking, as well as impaired attention and slowed processing speed. Neurostimulants increasing dopamine and norepinephrine activity, such as bupropion, dextroamphetamine and recently immediate-release methylphenidate have been advocated to improve neurocognitive deficits. The use of immediate-release methylphenidate in CFS has been shown in one small study. Using the positive results of this study and the well-known beneficial effects of the drug on a range of similar cognitive symptoms in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, this perspective addresses CFS and other related disorders and provides a discussion on the potential promising role of methylphenidate in the therapeutic armamentarium of CFS.
PMID: 18505357 [PubMed - in process]
