ME/CFS
Somewhat better
ME/CFS with extreme tiredness and exercise intolerance, now making progress
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Not stated
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Jan 2018
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
5-HTP worsened my CFS symptoms
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I’m still trying to help myself and my mental/physical issues, but I have made progress.
In context ↗
Read from 4 of their posts and comments; links to the 4 this page draws on
Summary
A person with CFS described extreme tiredness, hypersomnia, exercise intolerance, worsened orthostatic hypotension and anhedonia. Five months of 5-HTP at 100-300 mg a day worsened every symptom, and less than a week on trazodone and lexapro left them barely functioning. They later reported making progress but were still working on mental and physical issues.
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What they tried
Their words about each treatment
- 5-HTP · Much worse
I went thru period of 5 months taking 5htp 100-300mg/day ... Symptoms were all worsened.
In context ↗ - trazodone · Worse
I also tried trazodone ... I lasted less than a week on either drug as I effectively lost functioning by them.
In context ↗ - Lexapro · Worse
I lasted less than a week on either drug as I effectively lost functioning by them.
In context ↗ - tianeptine · Worse
5-htp, tianeptine, SSRIs. All gave me some really horrible days.
In context ↗
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 |
|---|---|---|
| — | CFS onset, trigger not stated5-HTP worsened my CFS symptomsIn context ↗ | Not stated |
| 2017 | five months on 5-HTP; every symptom worsenedI went thru period of 5 months taking 5htp 100-300mg/day ... Symptoms were all worsened.In context ↗ | Moderate |
| — | less than a week on trazodone and lexapro; lost functioningI lasted less than a week on either drug as I effectively lost functioning by them.In context ↗ | Moderate |
| 2018-01 | reports some progress, still working on mental and physical issuesI’m still trying to help myself and my mental/physical issues, but I have made progress.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- 5-HTP“Symptoms were all worsened.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- 5-HTP“Worsened orthostatic hypotension” In context ↗ Low blood pressure or fainting
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)“trazodone because it was prescribed to me to stop insomnia symptoms from lexapro” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)“I lasted less than a week on either drug as I effectively lost functioning by them.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Trazodone (Desyrel)“I lasted less than a week on either drug as I effectively lost functioning by them.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- 5-HTP, Trazodone (Desyrel), Escitalopram (Lexapro), Tianeptine“anything that potentiates serotonin action will cause lethargy, yawning, and crying for days. 5-htp, tianeptine, SSRIs. All gave me some really horrible days.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Tianeptine“anything that potentiates serotonin action will cause lethargy, yawning, and crying for days. 5-htp, tianeptine, SSRIs. All gave me some really horrible days.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Tianeptine“anything that potentiates serotonin action will cause lethargy, yawning, and crying for days. 5-htp, tianeptine, SSRIs. All gave me some really horrible days.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Sleep problems
Hypersomnia ... to stop insomnia symptoms from lexapro
- Anxiety & low mood
Social anxiety ... Anhedonia ... I’m still trying to help myself and my mental/physical issues, but I have made progress.
- Brain fog
Blank stare ... Inability to connect to others in conversation
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
Worsened orthostatic hypotension
In context ↗