Use of low-dose beta-blockers to treat symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome

This research explores a possible benefit to chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) sufferers with the use of low-dose beta blockers as previous studies show potential for these treatments to lessen the symptoms of pain and fatigue in ME/CFS. Clinical data were collected from 55 patients treated with beta-adrenergic receptor-blocking agents, primarily propranolol, at the Fatigue Consultation Clinic run by Dr. Lucinda Bateman. Patient data were collected before and during treatment with the beta-blocking agents, and statistical analysis identified correlations between treatment and changes in reported measures of fatigue, body aches, pain, headaches, inactivity/function, hours spent vertical in a 24 hour period, and hours spent horizontal in a 24 hour period. After performing statistical analysis on the data, no correlations between the treatment and symptom severity were apparent. However, the subjective nature of the clinical data and the potential for confounding variables warrant a more complete clinical trial.