Treatments Above all, patients must consult with their physician or other health care professional to determine the value of treatments available for MS fatigue. Unfortunately, others have found them to be complete failures at remitting fatigue, and have caused unwanted side effects. Cephalon, Inc. recently reported positive findings from a new clinical study on the effectiveness of Provigil . Generally used for the treatment of narcolepsy, this medication was statistically successful in reducing fatigue in a study of MS patients. Because these medications are of limited effectiveness, and can be accompanied by unwelcome side effects, many patients combat fatigue in other ways.
Patients learn how to simplify and manage their daily tasks more effectively, so as to save energy.
Physical therapy can teach some how to obtain benefits from using assistive devices to prolong energy. In addition, avoiding heat, taking scheduled naps, limiting overexertion, managing stress, and monitoring the effects of medication are other steps taken to combat fatigue. For Further Reading Fatigue and Spasticity MS Talk is a regular feature of HealthTalk Interactive that brings together people with MS and experts like patient advocate Brenda Snow, and Dr. Randall Shapiro of the Fairview MS Center in Minneapolis. The Fatigue Severity Scale is used to distinguish true fatigue from mental depression. It is often used to evaluate Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but some studies have used it to document MS associated fatigue, as well.