@Hip
I was very interested to see the list of antivirals which you posted particularly as it contained both fluoxetine and amantadine. I thought that this story from my short, and unsuccessful, career as a guinea pig might interest you. Unfortunately much time has elapsed and, as you know, I am not too good on details. It my be seen as a cautionary tale.
In 1991 there seemed to be a theory that our form of ME was caused by the effects of a virus on serotonin and in particular certain receptors on serotonin cells. As I recall it these receptors were, supposedly, specifically targeted by a then new SSRI, sertraline or Lustral. (The cynic in me now wonders whether this was merely a solution looking for a problem.)
A treatment was devised using sertraline off label in conjunction with amantadine. Sertraline was taken for a period of, say, two weeks or a month to block the receptors and then amantadine was introduced at low and then increased dose as an antiviral. I was warned that I might feel worse for a time but that this should pass.
There seemed to be no effect of any sort until my next relapse which occurred pretty much as usual. Then instead of making my usual partial recovery in 2 and 1/2 days I continued in full worse than usual relapse mode for weeks, hardly able to get my head off the pillow. On thinking about this it did occur to me that there may have been something about the theory which was correct, but that instead of preventing the relapse it in fact interfered with the normal recovery process. Having been told to expect to get worse before I got better I continued taking the drugs for some time, which was a mistake, but in that state rational judgment is beyond one.
Unfortunately before I could have a sensible discussion with the consultant who prescribed this treatment, on the advice of a Professor elsewhere, the clinic was closed. These possible effects would never have made it back to the expert whose idea it was.
Of course it may all have been coincidence, but caveat emptor.
I was very interested to see the list of antivirals which you posted particularly as it contained both fluoxetine and amantadine. I thought that this story from my short, and unsuccessful, career as a guinea pig might interest you. Unfortunately much time has elapsed and, as you know, I am not too good on details. It my be seen as a cautionary tale.
In 1991 there seemed to be a theory that our form of ME was caused by the effects of a virus on serotonin and in particular certain receptors on serotonin cells. As I recall it these receptors were, supposedly, specifically targeted by a then new SSRI, sertraline or Lustral. (The cynic in me now wonders whether this was merely a solution looking for a problem.)
A treatment was devised using sertraline off label in conjunction with amantadine. Sertraline was taken for a period of, say, two weeks or a month to block the receptors and then amantadine was introduced at low and then increased dose as an antiviral. I was warned that I might feel worse for a time but that this should pass.
There seemed to be no effect of any sort until my next relapse which occurred pretty much as usual. Then instead of making my usual partial recovery in 2 and 1/2 days I continued in full worse than usual relapse mode for weeks, hardly able to get my head off the pillow. On thinking about this it did occur to me that there may have been something about the theory which was correct, but that instead of preventing the relapse it in fact interfered with the normal recovery process. Having been told to expect to get worse before I got better I continued taking the drugs for some time, which was a mistake, but in that state rational judgment is beyond one.
Unfortunately before I could have a sensible discussion with the consultant who prescribed this treatment, on the advice of a Professor elsewhere, the clinic was closed. These possible effects would never have made it back to the expert whose idea it was.
Of course it may all have been coincidence, but caveat emptor.
