Andy Mccoy's blog : Modafinil reduces fatigue!
Although fatigue is common among multiple sclerosis patients (85%), evaluation is difficult due to the subjectivity and variability of the complaint but it is important that fatigue is taken seriously and its management is considered carefully. Unfortunately fatigue interferes with work, family, and social life and is increasingly recognised as a significant symptom for people with MS. The effective management of fatigue has an important impact on the patient's functioning, abilities, and quality of life.
There has long been a belief that depression contributes to fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) although supporting data are minimal at best. A number of methods of measuring fatigue in multiple sclerosis have been developed including the Fatigue Descriptive Scale (FDS) developed by Iriarte J, Katsamakis G, de Castro P. and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) which was designed to differentiate fatigue from clinical depression, since both share some of the same symptoms.
A Common Symptom
Fatigue is, perhaps, the most common symptom of multiple sclerosis, with the majority of people with MS experiencing it at some point in the course of the disease. Fatigue Management can be largely achieved with Occupational therapy, to simplify every-day tasks, Physical therapy, to find more energy-efficient ways of daily tasks, Relaxation training, Heat management and Medication.
Drug treatments for fatigue in multiple sclerosis include Amantadine,Vilafinil (Modafinil) 200mg Pemoline, and Methylphenidate. In addition to treating fatigue in multiple sclerosis, Modafinil is also used to treat Alzheimer's disease, depression, attention-deficit disorder, myotonicdystrophy, schizophrenia and cocaine addiction. A trial of aspirin therapy for fatigue may be a reasonable first step in medication management. Aspirin seems to have shown similar results to Symmetrel (Amantadine) although the doses needed could cause gastrointestinal bleeding in some people