Fatigue Causes

What are the causes of fatigue?

This site is devoted to fatigue, causes, treatments and options for living a better life.

You'll find lots of useful information about fatigue and tiredness - just follow the links on each page or use the search function.

Information on this site is updated frequently - check back often for more fatigue and tiredness information

Labels: chronic-fatigue-syndrome, fatigue, fatigue-and-depression

Depression and Fatigue

Does depression cause fatigue? What's the connection between depression and fatigue?

Many people suffering from depression experience fatigue - sometimes being overwhelmed by lethargy and tiredness. But not all those with chronic fatigue are depressed and it can be difficult to decide what the main problem is sometimes.

There are many possible causes of fatigue and depression is only one amongst a long list.

These are the symptoms of depression - if you have more than two or three from the list below then please consider going to see a doctor to discuss things.

Symptoms of Depression
You may be depressed if you have the following symptoms present every day for more than two weeks

• Depressed mood or overwhelming lethargy

and five things from this list:

• Feelings of overwhelming sadness and/or fear, or the seeming inability to feel emotion
• A decrease in the amount of interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, daily activities.
• Change in appetite and marked weight gain or loss.
• Disturbed sleep patterns, such as insomnia or excessive sleep - wakening in the early hours of the morning and not getting back to sleep is a common sign of depression
• Feelings of agitation or sluggishness nearly every day
• Mental or physical fatigue and loss of energy.
• Intense feelings of guilt, nervousness, helplessness, hopelessness, worthlessness, isolation/loneliness and/or anxiety.
• Trouble concentrating, problems staying focussed or problems making decisions
• Problems with memory.
• Recurrent thoughts about death (not just fear of dying),
• Desire to just "lie down and die" or "stop breathing",
• Recurrent thoughts about suicide
• Feeling and/or fear of being abandoned by those close to one.

These are the symptoms that go with a serious depression illness. If you think they apply to you then please seek help before things get any worse.

Labels: depression-symptoms, fatigue, fatigue-and-depression, lethargy, tiredness

Sertraline Dosage and Chronic Fatigue

Zoloft and fatigue

Sertraline is a drug commonly used for the treatment of depression, anxiety, panic disorder and sometimes for obsessive compulsive disorder. It is also commonly known by the name: Zoloft

Chronic fatigue may be a symptom of depressive illness and thus some of those who take sertraline may experience fatigue.

However, it is certainly the case that taking sertraline or zoloft will trigger a sense of fatigue in many of those who use it regularly.

Sertraline dose and chronic fatigue
In many people who take sertraline and experience fatigue as a result, the effect is directly related to the dose they take. Some also find that varying the time of day that they take the sertraline can lessen the fatigue or sertraline tiredness effect. If you currently take sertraline in the morning - try it at night instead, and vice versa.

Most patients use a sertraline dose of between 25mg and 50mg daily. Some people may (under guidance from their doctor) go to a dose as high as 200mg each day.

Chronic fatigue due to zoloft or sertraline seems to be dose related. The higher the dose you take, the more likely you are to feel tired or lethargic. Small amounts of alcohol can often seem to make the fatigue reaction worse.

Read more about zoloft here

Remember - don't stop or change the dose of any medication without consulting your doctor.

Labels: fatigue-and-depression, fatigue-due-to-medication, tiredness-due-to-medication

Using Citalopram to Treat Fatigue

Citalopram is a drug commonly used to treat depression.

Citalopram is sold throughout the world under a number of brand names including Celexa, Cipramil, Citrol, Seropam and others. It is a member of the family of drugs known as SSRI's. Other drugs in this family include Prozac and Seroxat.

The use of citalopram to treat fatigue is interesting for several reasons.

Firstly - one of the common side effects for those taking citalopram is fatigue, tiredness or drowsiness. This is particularly a problem when the drug is combined with alcohol. Some of those taking citalopram find that one glass of wine is enough to make them feel extremely drowsy. Read about other side effects of citalopram here.

Secondly - fatigue and lethargy is one of the commonest symptoms of depression. In this sense it is true that citalopram can be used to treat fatigue - but only in the sense that it is being used to treat the depression which has caused fatigue in the first place.

Read more about symptoms of depression here.

Labels: fatigue, fatigue-and-depression, fatigue-due-to-medication