For fatigue, Lapp uses SSRIs or dopamine agonists to take care of the low serotonin in the brain and serum of CFS patients. Only if those two do not work separately or concurrently, he ll try Diamox, calcium channel blockers or analgesic sedatives. In the worst of cases, he ll use Midrin or Imitrex. For pain, he s careful to medicate only when absolutely necessary. Sometimes you can distract children from their pain, so try that first, Dr. Lapp said.
Cool packs are good.
Also try erithropoietin or epoetin alfa. For kids with neurally mediated hypotension, he finds that water, salt tablets, Florinef, or beta blockers like Norpace CR can help with the dizzy spells and fainting. Our studies are showing total body water is low in PWCs, he said. It may be a renal deficit. Dr. Lapp noted that it can be hard to differentiate between CFS and Attention Deficit Disorder, so he urged physicians and parents to make sure their patients and children were tested appropriately.