A positive test occurs if the blood pressure falls along with a sudden drop in the pulse rate. If this blood pressure does not fall during this phase of the test, a medication to raise the pulse rate is given intravenoulsy. If the blood pressure and the pulse rate fall during this stage of the test, then the test is considered positive as well. Quite a few patients will feel better overall and some will feel great. In perhaps a third of the patients with this condition, treatment doesn't seem to help at all.
Proper diagnosis is necessary before such diet modifications are made.
The research that has been published is limited and we can't draw too many conclusions from it. We are not recommending the test for every CFS patient. We are trying to screen patients based on their medical history and their answers to certain questions. These medications include amitriptyline and other tricyclic antidepressants, beta-blockers, and certain muscle relaxants. This site includes general information on these conditions as well as medications, related illnesses, treatments, news, herbs and other areas of interest.