Are there anti-fatigue medications for vasculitis?

A colleague who has multiple sclerosis has been put on anti-fatigue medication. As you can imagine this interests me greatly, as vasculitis brings fatigue along with everything else. Anyone heard of vasculitis related fatigue being treated this way?

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Any idea what the drug in question is? I've been prescribed medication to assist sleep due to discomfort as will as the usual paracetamol/ibuprofen mix which is known to reduce inflammation more effectively than the latter alone but have never come across a fatigue 'buster'. Very curious.

[lisa-ranyell Vasculitis UK Volunteer]

I am very curious also and if there is help with fatigue, I WANT IT!!!

[braindamage]

The sometimes overwhelming fatigue is really one of the worst side effects. If only there was a cure it would be great. I do remember my Consultant rheumatologist telling me when I was diagnosed with WG (in 2007) that fatigue was part of the illness/cure. As part of the 'cure' i'll put up with it but would try anything to help relieve it!

Here's hoping!

[John_Mills Volunteer]

I found this written in 2007 talking about Fatigue and MS and what could be done to the patient with MS manage fatigue. Not sure if it is helpful or not. I have shared it with John and he is looking at the article... so will get back to you

ms.about.com/od/treatments/...

[John_Mills Volunteer]

Jim shared this with me on facebook.. not sure if this will be helpful I have passed this article onto John to read too.

maija-haavisto.suite101.com...

[John_Mills Volunteer]

There are 2 drugs. One, Provigil, is used in treating sleepiness, as in narcolepsy - which is not really the same as the fatigue in vasculitis.

The other, Symmetrel, is fairly specific to Parkinsons in addressing the problems caused by dopamine deficiency.

I doubt either would be of benefit in treating vasculitis fatigue which is probably more to do with cytokines produced in the liver as a result of the inflammatory process. It is known that the circulating levels of these cytokines do not return to pre-vasculitis levels even when the disease is in remission.

[JamesBoyd]

As it happens I have both narcolepsy (sleep disorder) and WG and take modifinil (Provigil). The licence held by the makers of Provigil has just run out and so the cost of these drugs is now falling rapidly as other producers enter the market. Its a pretty clean drug and so its worth a try. It definately stimulates something and so it should have an impact. I also find that doing exercise at lunch time and after work helps to keep you on your toes and helps to keep weight down if taking seteriods.

[John_Mills Volunteer in reply to JamesBoyd]

That is extremely interesting thank you I think John will get back to you on this later.

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Very interesting responses - thanks! The name of the drug in question is amantadine hydrochloride, apparently used for Parkinsons, but he was also told that Modafinil is another to try if that one doesn't work.

[annie330]

Could I ask if it is possible to monitor the levels of cytokines?