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Stimulating Energy: Enhancing the Mitochondria in the Synergy Clinical Trial for Chronic Fatigue Syn

amaru7

Senior Member
Messages
252
I tried methylphenidate in the past and had a good improvement in my state of being, that's interesting that there's a study to be done on this, Here's the text, enjoy
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Many people with Fibromyalgia and/or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome combine prescription drugs with supplements, but this is one of the rare studies that combines both to maximize the benefits of each. The genesis of this trial, however, stretches back to the HIV/AIDS days when Dr. John Kaiser in the San Francisco Bay area was supporting HIV/AIDS patients’ health with supplements.

The HIV drugs that came out saved lives, but they also hit the mitochondria hard. When that happened he tweaked his immune formula and saw the toxicity problems — the neuropathy, pain, inflammation, and fatigue they were experiencing — reverse. A double-blinded study bore out his clinical findings: the HIV/AIDS patients’ immune systems showed improvement on the supplements.


The mitochondria in the ME/CFS patients needed more help than the HIV/AIDS patients

People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, however, were a harder case. They showed signs of mitochondrial and immune dysfunction, but only a small number responded to his mitochondrial/immune formula. If they didn’t improve after a couple of months Dr. Kaiser would add what he called ‘a touch’ of methylphenidate to ‘catalyze’ the mitochondrial boosting elements in his formula — and often it worked. The drug/supplement combination produced far superior results to taking either the drug or the supplements by themselves.

He suspected that the supplements provided more energy by enhancing mitochondrial functioning, and helped overall by supporting the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems. With the energy production system in better shape, the low-dose stimulant actually had something to stimulate. Instead of depleting those systems, it engaged them. The patients had more energy without the payback they might see otherwise.

Ritalin (methylphenidate)

The nutrient formula

Ritalin is a drug that’s been around for over sixty years. (Check out a History of Ritalin here ) Ritalin increases extracellular levels of dopamine by blocking the transporters which remove dopamine from the system. Higher levels of dopamine at the nerve ending results in increased dopamine signaling.

This translates into increased activation of the reward and pleasure centers of the brain, reduced ‘hyperactivity’, increased concentration and reduced stimulus overload. Some people report increased feelings of well-being as well.

Successful Proof of Concept Trial
A proof of concept trial suggested he was on the right track. Over seventy percent of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients experienced at least a 25% reduction in their fatigue (CIS) scores, and this reduction was sustained over a three month period. A 34% reduction in brain-fog/concentration problems and a significant reduction in visual analog scores (a pain measurement) were also seen.

If you’ve tried methylphenidate (Ritalin) by itself without success, don’t think this means it won’t work for you. While a 2006 trial found that Ritalin (10-20 mg/day) reduced fatigue and improved concentration in only 17% and 22% of ME/CFS patients, the success rate may be far higher when this stimulant is combined with the appropriate supplement support.



The Current Trial
The real test, of course, is the placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial now underway. The trial is being run at four ME/CFS experts centers at Palo Alto, CA (Dr. Montoya – Stanford University), Manhattan, NY (Enlander? Levine?),Salt Lake City, UT (Dr. Bateman), and Fort Lauderdale, FL (Dr. Klimas). Dr. Montoya is interested enough in this study that he’s banking patients’ blood in order to perform sophisticated mitochondrial and immune tests, including change in oxygen consumption, if the trial is successful.


If the trial is successful specialized mitochondrial tests will be done.

Showing improved health and improved mitochondrial functioning would be a huge win in several ways. It would validate that there are mitochondrial problems possibly present, provide a new and relatively inexpensive treatment option, and help to legitimize the disorder.

Nobody is saying it’s going to cure ME/CFS, but it could provide help and insights into what’s going on. ME/CFS physicians and experts have clearly embraced this work. The doctor thanked Drs. Podel, Bateman, Klimas, Natelson, Levine, and Montoya as well as Suzanne Vernon for their support during the two years it took to design the trial.

The trial includes taking the nutrient supplements and 5-10 mgs of Ritalin twice a day, a significantly smaller dose, Dr. Kaiser said than was typically prescribed. It requires four visits to the site over a period of 12 weeks. Volunteers will receive a $150 stipend to help with the costs of the visits. If you are a volunteer and you complete the trial, you’ll get an additional three months of the supplement free.

Source: http://www.cortjohnson.org/blog/201...ergy-clinical-trial-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/
 

Sasha

Fine, thank you
Messages
17,863
Location
UK
@amaru7, would you be happy with a change to the name of the thread to show people that it's a trial that's actively recruiting? Such as, 'Synergy CFS trial recruiting patients in the US'?

If so, we'll need to tag Kina.

BTW, it would be good to give Cort's blog the traffic, so please click the link at the bottom.
 
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