Commentary|Videos|May 31, 2024
The Challenge of Treating Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: Anthony Feinstein, MPhil, PhD, FRCP
Author(s)Anthony Feinstein, MPhil, PhD, FRCP
Fact checked by: Marco Meglio
The professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto discussed the various medications for multiple sclerosis fatigue that have been tested but ultimately fail to outperform placebo. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]
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WATCH TIME: 4 minutes
"There is no hard evidence to suggest that any of these medications are more effective than placebo, which is disappointing for patients with MS because they're looking for a tablet that might be able to help them."
In patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), fatigue is the most commonly reported symptom, and is known as one of the most debilitating symptoms of the disease. Despite the high prevalence and significant impact of fatigue in MS, the symptom remains understudied because of its complexity and subjective nature.1 Over the years, research from specialists in neurology has opened the door to understanding the potential causes, impact, and treatment of MS-related fatigue. As an approach to treating fatigue, both pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions are used in combination, encompassing a multi-disciplinary approach, in the current clinical practice.
Research shows that nonpharmacological interventions show a stronger and more significant favorable impact on reducing the impact or severity of fatigue compared with commonly prescribed pharmacological therapies. According to a prior review published in Frontiers in Neurology, findings suggest that nonpharmacological approaches used in isolation or in combination with pharmacological agents should be the mainstay of management of fatigue in patients with MS.2
REFERENCES
1. Braley TJ, Chervin RD. Fatigue in multiple sclerosis: mechanisms, evaluation, and treatment. Sleep. 2010;33(8):1061-1067. doi:10.1093/sleep/33.8.1061
2. Khan F, Amatya B, Galea M. Management of fatigue in persons with multiple sclerosis. Front Neurol. 2014;5:177. Published 2014 Sep 15. doi:10.3389/fneur.2014.00177
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