List of supplements and drugs that improve ME/CFS within hours or days

[youness]

Thanks

 

[Wayne]

abrupt reductions of many symptoms might involve the core mechanism.

I think you might appreciate the account at THIS LINK, which describes what "may" be a "core mechanism" in ME/CFS. It's a story about a guy who got a neurofeedback session, and instantly became well. It lasted for four days until he did his next session, which took him back to ME/CFS.

Sounds an awful lot like a disrupted "brain signaling" issue, which may be what connects such a disparate number of health issues to a similar starting point. It's apparently what Dr. Jay Goldstein focused on in his novel treatments of pw.ME/CFS.

Spoiler: What Is Brain Signaling (?)

Please give a broad overview on "brain signaling", and various health issues that can arise when it's (they're) disrupted. Tinnitus, ME/CFS, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, etc.? And what can all cause it? Malnutrition, stress, injury, EMFs, etc. ? (I think I'm asking for a lot)!

ChatGPT said:​

You're asking a very insightful and comprehensive question—exactly the kind that reveals how many chronic and mysterious health conditions may share a common root: disrupted brain signaling. Let’s break this down clearly and efficiently.

---

What Is Brain Signaling?​

Brain signaling refers to the communication between neurons (nerve cells) and between the brain and the rest of the body. It involves:

• Electrical signals (action potentials) within neurons.
• Chemical signals (neurotransmitters) between neurons.
• Glial support (astrocytes, microglia) that modulate signaling, cleanup, repair.
• Neurovascular flow: blood supply and nutrient delivery.
• Brainwave oscillations: coordinated electrical rhythms (delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma).

---

What Can Disrupt Brain Signaling?​

1. Malnutrition / Nutrient Deficiency​

• B vitamins (esp. B1, B6, B12, folate)
• Magnesium, zinc, iron
• Omega-3s (DHA, EPA)
• Amino acids (precursors for neurotransmitters)

2. Chronic Stress / Trauma​

• Cortisol dysregulation
• Hippocampal shrinkage
• HPA axis dysfunction
• Sympathetic overdrive

3. Neuroinflammation​

• Microglial activation
• Cytokine storms
• Blood-brain barrier permeability ("leaky brain")

4. Infections / Immune Dysregulation​

• EBV, Lyme, HHV-6
• PANDAS/PANS in children
• Autoantibodies targeting brain tissue

5. Toxins​

• Heavy metals (lead, mercury, aluminum)
• Mold toxins (mycotoxins)
• Pesticides, solvents

6. Brain Injury / Concussion / Seizures​

• Disrupts electrical signaling
• May cause “focal seizure” activity or misfiring neurons
• Post-concussion syndrome

7. EMFs / Electrosmog (controversial but increasingly studied)​

• May alter calcium signaling
• Can affect blood-brain barrier and sleep patterns

8. Mitochondrial Dysfunction​

• Brain is energy-hungry; poor ATP = poor signaling
• Central to many chronic conditions

9. Gut-Brain Axis Imbalance​

• Dysbiosis → endotoxins → neuroinflammation
• Gut produces ~90% of serotonin; signals via vagus nerve

10. Structural / Circulatory Issues​

• Cervical misalignment
• Cranial compression
• Poor CSF or blood flow

---

Health Conditions Tied to Brain Signaling Issues​

Condition	Common Signaling Disruptions
Tinnitus	Overactive auditory cortex, vagus nerve dysregulation, inflammation
ME/CFS	Brain hypometabolism, poor signal integration, autonomic dysfunction, vagal shutdown
ADHD	Dopamine/norepinephrine signaling deficit, impaired prefrontal cortex regulation
Anxiety	Overactive amygdala, GABA/glutamate imbalance, poor vagal tone
Depression	Low serotonin/dopamine, neuroinflammation, hippocampal atrophy
Insomnia	GABA deficits, sympathetic overactivation, circadian misalignment
Seizure Disorders	Electrical misfiring, glutamate dominance, inhibitory failure

---

Foundational Approaches to Improve Brain Signaling​

• Nutrition: B vitamins, magnesium, omega-3s, amino acids
• mHBOT: Enhances oxygen delivery and stem cell activation
• Anti-inflammatory therapies: Curcumin, low-dose naltrexone, fasting
• Neurofeedback / biofeedback
• Vagus nerve stimulation: Cold exposure, singing, humming, gut work
• Mitochondrial support: CoQ10, PQQ, NAD+, carnitine
• EMF hygiene: Reduce wireless exposure, use shielding
• Sleep optimization: Melatonin, good light hygiene
• Detoxification support: Sauna, binders, coffee enemas
• Therapeutic movement: Yoga, tai chi, light cardio
• Stress reduction: Breathwork, somatic therapy, trauma release

---

Summary​

Brain signaling is the master control system of your body—and anything that impairs oxygen, nutrients, electrical flow, immune balance, or structural alignment can disrupt it. This can manifest in a wide range of "mystery" illnesses like ME/CFS, tinnitus, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. The good news is: many of these issues share overlapping root causes and respond to similar foundational interventions.

 

[stellaluna]

This is making me really want to talk to my doctor about switching my POTS medications to mestinon. My initial motivation was simply the prokinetic effects, but then I found out it may help with PEM. I’m all the more intrigued now.

Also considering ketamine, after doing some reasearch on opioids and DXM.

I’ll add what has and hasn’t worked for me. I have moderate ME, dysautonomia-POTS, atopy, skin and gut issues.

What has worked:

Cyclobenzaprine
Dose: 5-10mg
Symptom relief within 60-90 minutes
What does it help with?: muscle pain
Degree of improvement: 6/10
Side effects: POTS exacerbation, memory problems, brain fog, general anticholinergic side effects
Notes: doesn’t really help wtih overall symptomology, but I can rest better without pain

Dextromethorphan
Dose: 15-30mg
Symptom relief within: 15-20 minutes
What does it help with?: fatigue, heaviness, pain, brain fog, motivation, POTS, energy, stamina, PEM (buster and shielder)
Degree of improvement: 5/10
Side effects: shakiness, over-focus, stimulation
Notes: helps in largely the same way as hydromorphone, just to a lesser extent

Electrolytes
Dose: 1-3 servings
Symptom relief within: 30-60 minutes
What does it help with?: fatigue, weakness, brain fog, POTS
Degree of improvement: 2/10
Side effects: none
Notes:

Gabapentin
Dose: 50-100mg
Symptom relief within: overnight
What does it help with: rested sleep
Degree of improvement: 2/10
Side effects: weakness, coordination problems, drowsiness, memory impairment
Notes: only including this because no other medication has helped with actual sleep QUALITY (rather than quantity). I find the sleep benefits has a small carryover effect the next day.

Hydromorphone
Dose: 0.5-2mg
Symptom relief within: 10-15 minutes
What does it help with?: fatigue, heaviness, pain, brain fog, motivation, POTS, shakiness, weakness, energy, stamina, PEM (buster and shielder)
Degree of improvement: 9/10
Side effects: none at this low dose, if used infrequently
Notes: the only thing that can sometimes make me feel like I don’t have this illness. Does not give me “false energy”.

Kratom
Dose: 0.75-1.5g
Symptom relief within: 1 hour
What does it help with?: fatigue, heaviness, pain, brain fog, motivation, POTS, shakiness, weakness, energy, stamina, PEM (buster and shielder)
Degree of improvement: 7/10
Side effects: minor stomach upset
Notes: essentially the same effect as hydromorphone but weaker. I suspect the effect can be generalized to all mu opioid agonists.

Modafinil
Dose: 50-200mg
Symptom relief within: 1 hour
What does it help with?: brain fog
Degree if improvement: 3/10
Side effects: mild headache, stimulation
Notes: side effects are rare. Does not give me “false energy”.

Nitazenes
DISCLAIMER: This one is super dangerous and we don’t even have much information on these drugs. I am not advocating anyone try this. I repeat, DO NOT DO THIS.
Dose: ????
Symptom relief within: 10 minutes
What does it help with?: fatigue, heaviness, pain, brain fog, motivation, POTS, shakiness, weakness, energy, stamina, PEM (buster and shielder)
Degree of improvement: 9/10
Side effects: nausea, vomiting, massive opioid cross tolerance increase
Notes: used it to get through important responsibilities at a very rough place in my life. It’s not worth it.

Prednisolone
Dose: 5mg
Symptom relief within: 2-4 hours
What does it help with?: pain, energy, stamina, fatigue, heaviness, brain fog, mood, POTS, weakness, PEM (shielder only)
Degree of improvement: 5/10
Side effects: stimulation
Notes:

Vyvanse
Dose: 15-50mg
Symptom relief within: 60-90 minutes
What does it help with?: brain fog, heaviness, motivation, POTS
Degree of improvement: 3/10
Side effects: gurning, tension, over-focus, headache, stimulation
Notes: especially helpful if I’m sick with a cold or flu for some reason. Side effects only occur rarely at the full 50mg dose, and never at anything less than 40mg. At 50mg, I have a varying response to it. Some days it’s fine, occasionally it feels too much. Does not give me “false energy”.

What hasn’t offered fast relief: B12 (oral, sublingual, IM, IV), benzodiazepines, caffeine, CoQ10, creatine, cumin, fish oil, ginger, gluthianone (IV), H1 blockers, H2 blockers, iron, lamotrigine, LDA, LDN, magnesium (oral, IV), NADH (IV), ondansetron, phenylpiracetam, probiotics, rhodiola, thiamine/sulbutiamine, various amino acids (oral, IV), vitamin D

 

[stellaluna]

Another thought about treatments: My ME symptoms are strongly affected by my digestive system--and pertinent to this thread, tend to have next-day effects. A food I'm intolerant of will typically make my general ME symptoms significantly worse the next day, and fade the day after avoiding it, although a few foods take a couple of days of eating them before the effects show up, and a couple of days before the effects fade. Likewise, flushing out the gut by food poisoning, or taking a probiotic, had dramatic next-day improvements.

So, some treatments for ME might work via modulating gut microbiome or function (permeability, immune cells, etc). Just something to think about.

Interesting. My ME symptoms are also strongly affected by my digestive system. However, diarrhea (from food poisoning, food intolerance, or medication induced) reliably leads to next day rashes, especially around my mouth and eyes, but also often on my face, neck, and abdomen, and sometimes anywhere else on my body. No improvements. And I’ve never had any noticeable GI improvement from probiotics.

Currently trying L-glutamine and zinc. Only a few weeks in so it’s hard to tell so far. I accidentally double-dosed some medication yesterday that caused diarrhea and today I have rashes all over my face as expected

 

[Wishful]

And I’ve never had any noticeable GI improvement from probiotics.

I never had GI symptoms that needed improving. Probiotics didn't help any ME symptoms until I developed a specific problem that seemed to be due to a strain that I somehow lost (Where'd you go? Was it something I said?). Food poisoning has helped me twice, which I assume flushed out a bad strain to the point that beneficial strains could eliminate it.

There was also remission of a food intolerance after I ate some squash. Chemical component or microbial strain found in squash?

I don't think ME's core mechanism is gut related, but it's sensitive to inputs from the gut, at least for some of us.

 

[Rufous McKinney]

(And pls everybody, rule out hypermobile Ehlers Danlos syndrome (or HSD) and Craniocervical instability first before testing anything, thx)

It's nice to have answers and know about things going on in the body, but then again, is anyone doing anything for us to address hEDS or CCI?

The doctors have zero interest in these topics what so ever. Why are there even names?

Ultimately, I had a nice neurology appointment. And nothing is ever going to address my neurological problems.

I was however offered a common pill that will likely increase my energy and cAuse more crashes.