Although there have been numerous claims of therapeutic breakthroughs, no proven effective cure for CFS now exists. Treatment should be initiated only after a thorough evaluation for other chronic diseases by a reputable physician. Most experts begin by recommending a regimen of balanced diet, adequate rest, and physical conditioning. Moderate exercise, not to the point of exhaustion, is generally helpful. However, CFS patients often report relapses of severe fatigue and other symptoms after over-exerting themselves.
Symptomatic treatment is often helpful in reducing symptoms to tolerable levels.
This includes anti-inflammatory agents for headaches, and muscle and joint pains. Low doses of anti-anxiety drugs have been anecdotally reported to be of value. Many CFS patients suffer from depressive symptoms, such as sleep disturbance, loss of enjoyment of life, and decreased appetite. Low doses of antidepressant drugs, taken at bedtime, have been reported to improve many of these and other CFS symptoms. In persons who have depressive symptoms, formal psychological testing should be performed to confirm their severity.