While psychoeducational strategies and general support are always indicated for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), pharmacological strategies are yet not well established. Antidepressants such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors have been shown to influence positively symptoms and immunological parameters. However, a considerable part of CFS patients do not satisfactorily respond to them. Bupropion, a centrally acting catecholamine-transporter blocker without classic psycho-analeptic properties, shows theoretical potential to improve fatigue symptoms. In the reported case paroxetine was augmented with bupropion at high dosage, a strategy which consecutively led to a rapid relief of CFS-symptoms.
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Dr. med. Carlos Schönfeldt-Lecuona, MD
University of Ulm
Dep. of Psychiatry III
Leimgrubenweg 12-14
89075 Ulm
Germany
Phone: +49 731 500 21499
Fax: +49 731 500 26751
Email: carlos.schoenfeldt@uni-ulm.de
