CFS & Fibromyalgia Integrative Therapies Get Started With Supplements for Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS By Adrienne Dellwo linkedin Adrienne Dellwo is an experienced journalist who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and has written extensively on the topic. Learn about our editorial process Adrienne Dellwo Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Scott Zashin, MD on September 13, 2020 linkedin Scott J. Zashin, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and rheumatology. He was a volunteer clinical professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Dallas. Learn about our Medical Review Board Scott Zashin, MD on September 13, 2020 Print Many doctors, researchers, and people with fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) say nutritional supplements are an important part of managing your symptoms. Many of us swear by them, and some people use supplements as an alternative to medications. However, supplements are typically not well researched. Some of the supplements frequently recommended for these conditions have gone through double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials and have had mixed results, while others haven't been scientifically tested, either for these conditions or at all. We have very little solid evidence that supplements do help alleviate symptoms of FMS or ME/CFS. Before you start a supplement regimen, be sure to talk to your doctor and pharmacist to make sure the supplements you chose are safe for you. There are also several things you should know about taking supplements for FMS or ME/CFS. Jamie Grill / Getty Images Supposed Cures Many websites claim to sell natural "cures" or treatments for FMS and ME/CFS that generally are very expensive supplement formulas. While their claims are tempting, remember that nothing is proven to cure these conditions, and few things (natural or otherwise) are even proven to alleviate symptoms. Be sure to research any substance you consider using and always involve your doctor in your decisions and in follow-up care. Beliefs About Supplements While definitive evidence is lacking, many experts on FMS and ME/CFS claim vitamins can help alleviate common nutritional deficiencies; boost energy, alertness, and cognitive function; and decrease pain. Risks Dietary supplements generally are better tolerated and have fewer risks than prescription medications, but anything you take to change the way your body functions is considered a drug. Just because a product is natural doesn't mean it's safe and won't interact with other supplements or medications. You should talk to your doctor and pharmacist about what you're taking, the dosages, and potential interactions. If you have sensitivities to foods, especially gluten, you need to be aware of what inert ingredients are in the supplements you take. Testing Your doctor may want to test you for certain deficiencies that may be commonly associated with FMS and ME/CFS or that could be contributing to your specific symptoms. This could help guide your supplement therapy and dosages. If your doctor is concerned about severe deficiencies or absorption problems, he/she may give you prescription-level doses or injections rather than over-the-counter (OTC) vitamins. Disagreements Not all doctors agree on whether these conditions are associated with deficiencies or malabsorption problems. If you're concerned about these issues, you may want to bring them up. Even if he/she doesn't fully support a regimen you'd like to follow, work together to ensure that you're not damaging your health in your quest to feel better. What to Expect If you do opt to use supplements as part of your treatment regimen, you shouldn't expect miraculous or immediate results. The goal should be to find multiple treatments with a cumulative effect. Also, as with medications and other therapies for FMS and ME/CFS, you'll probably have to experiment with different combinations to come up with the supplement regimen that works for you. Start Slowly When starting supplements, it's important to only start one new one at a time, then wait a week or two before introducing another one. That will give you a chance to see what effect each supplement has on your body. The same goes for discontinuing them (unless you develop an allergy or other negative side effects). A lot of multi-supplement formulas are marketed for fibromyalgia, but they may not be the best way to go. More About Vitamins and Supplements If you have a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, you need to be aware that many supplements use gluten as a filler and their labels may not list it as an ingredient. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn about treatment and lifestyle changes to cope with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit