Research has uncovered a promising finding, leading to possible use of the powerful anti-viral drug Valcyte for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) treatment. The findings are based on a preliminary study conducted by Dr. Jose Montoya, a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome doctor at Stanford Medical School.
Valcyte is an oral medication that is used to block the Epstein-Barr virus, HHV-6 as well as other Herpes related viruses. But, as other physicians have been quick to point out, Valcyte has the potential for toxicity, so it needs to be used with caution. Although it has been approved by the FDA for treatment of certain diseases, it has not been cleared as treatment for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
The initial study conducted by Dr. Montoya showed 21 out of 25 patients receiving the treatment with a dramatic improvement in their CFS symptoms. In fact, most of them were clear of all of their CFS symptoms after only a 6 month course of treatment. They were able to resume activities that they had previously been f
orced to give up, like work and other full-time pastimes.
Out of the 21, all of whose condition had begun with a flu-like illness, 20 of them saw a dramatic improvement in their health. What this is beginning to indicate to researchers, is that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can actually be caused by Epstein-Barr virus and/or HHV-6. Even more exciting, is the revelation that Valcyte can possibly be used as an effective Chronic Fatigue Syndrome treatment, with the potential of it being an actual cure. Of course, there is much more research that needs to be done, but the preliminary findings offer much hope and excitement for both the researchers and CFS sufferers.
All of the patients from the initial study have been able to maintain their good health, even as much as 3 years after being taken off the drug, with no relapses. In regards to research purposes, this revelation is huge as far as the potential of this drug. These findings are very important in where the future research needs to be focused.
Since it has been suspected for many years that these viruses were responsible for the occurrence of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, these findings offer a bit of proof. It has been hard to prove until now because of the difficulty of detecting them in the blood. This means that these findings may be a real breakthrough in research into this condition.
It is hoped that with ongoing research and more studies being conducted, that it will be confirmed that prescribing Valcyte for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome will become a real cure for those who are suffering from this debilitating condition. Whatever the results, these initial studies offer tremendous hope for the future treatment of this illness.
Resources:
Drugs.com: I have CFS and Started Valcyte 2 Months Ago
http://www.drugs.com/answers/i-have-cfs-and-started-valcyte-2-months-ago-it-155107.html
Clinical Trials: Valganciclovir for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00478465
Journal of Medical Virology: Response to Valganciclovir in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients with Human Herpesvirus 6 and Eptstein-Barr Virus IgG Antibody Titers
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23080504
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia: HHV and Jose Montoya MD and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
http://www.fatigue-cfs.com/Chronic-Fatigue/HHV-and-Jose-Montoya-MD-and-Chronic-Fatigue-Syndrome.html
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