24/7 migraines, brain fog and fatigue, now somewhat better with low-dose guanfacine
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Jul 2023
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
that I believe causes my chronic fatigue
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I can concentrate better, I’m more able to do things, such as yard work, without being a zombie
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I’ve only been on guanfacine for a few weeks, but the it’s going absolutely splendidly.
In context ↗
Summary
An r/cfs user described a CFS-like illness with 24/7 migraines, brain fog and fatigue, and thought raised intracranial pressure caused their chronic fatigue. Prednisone eased the head pressure for a few days. Stimulants worsened brain fog, atomoxetine caused near-fainting, bupropion helped fatigue but gave them tinnitus, and low-dose guanfacine, started a few weeks before their last post, improved concentration and let them do yard work.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- prednisone · Helped
I could feel the reaction of the prednisone decreasing inflammation of something in my brain, which caused the headaches to stop for the most part for a few days
In context ↗ - bupropion · Helped
Bupropion worked well for my fatigue. I wish I could still take it, but it gives me tinnitus
In context ↗ - atomoxetine · Worse
Atomoxetine causes extreme lightheadedness, so I’d almost faint every time I’d stand up or even move
In context ↗ - adderall, vyvanse · Worse
The stimulants made my brain fog worse. They helped with my fatigue for the first two hours after I took them, but they would then cause me to crash very hard
In context ↗ - guanfacine · Helped
I’ve only been on guanfacine for a few weeks, but the it’s going absolutely splendidly. I can concentrate better, I’m more able to do things, such as yard work, without being a zombie
In context ↗ - ibuprofen · Worse
Since I have high brain pressure, ibuprofen exacerbates this condition and makes my headaches and other symptoms worse
In context ↗ - triptans · Worse
This is true for other medications for me, such as triptans
In context ↗
Approaches: Other drugs and medicines
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, in the order they describe; they don’t give enough times to place each step. Hover or tap a point. 1 step says too little to place on the scale and is only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | 24/7 migraines with tight head pressure, brain fog and chronic fatigueI have 24/7 migraines that give me a very tight pressure feeling in my head that oscillates in intensity throughout the dayIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| — | prednisone cycle from an emergency room visit eased head pressure and stopped headaches for a few dayswhich caused the headaches to stop for the most part for a few daysIn context ↗ | Not stated | Corticosteroid pulses |
| 2023-07-06 | low-dose guanfacine improved concentration and ability to do yard workI can concentrate better, I’m more able to do things, such as yard work, without being a zombieIn context ↗ | Mild | Guanfacine |
Adverse events
- Amphetamine salts (Adderall), Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse, Elvanse)“The stimulants made my brain fog worse. They helped with my fatigue for the first two hours after I took them, but they would then cause me to crash very hard.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Atomoxetine (Strattera)“Atomoxetine causes extreme lightheadedness, so I’d almost faint every time I’d stand up or even move” In context ↗ Low blood pressure or fainting
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin)“Bupropion worked well for my fatigue. I wish I could still take it, but it gives me tinnitus” In context ↗ Side effects
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Nurofen, Motrin)“ibuprofen exacerbates this condition and makes my headaches and other symptoms worse” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Triptans (unspecified)“This is true for other medications for me, such as triptans” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Headaches & migraine
I have 24/7 migraines that give me a very tight pressure feeling in my head that oscillates in intensity throughout the day
In context ↗ - Brain fog
The stimulants made my brain fog worse.
In context ↗ - Tinnitus
I wish I could still take it, but it gives me tinnitus
In context ↗
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