1. Take 5-HTP
The amino acid 5-HTP is a natural precursor to serotonin, the mood-boosting chemical in your brain. When your serotonin levels are high, you'll feel calmer, happier and naturally more energetic. If your levels are low, just the opposite may occur. It's been reported that people with chronic fatigue syndrome who take 5-HTP regularly have noticeable improvement in fatigue, sleep, stiffness and anxiety. Take 5-HTP on an empty stomach 1/2 hour before you go to bed, and drink 1/2 cup of water or juice along with it. Start out taking 100mg to see how it works for you. You can gradually increase your dosage by 50mg, up to a maximum dose of 300mg, until you get the dosage that's right for you. Once you hit the right dose, you'll usually begin to see results in about 2 weeks.
2. Consider an Antidepressant
Anti-depressants have also been shown to have a beneficial effect on fatigue, sleep and pain levels in people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Antidepressants in the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors class are the best for this purpose. This class of drug, also known as SSRI, blocks the reabsorption of serotonin by the body. As a result, more mood-boosting serotonin is available to the brain. Because people have highly individual responses to different SSRIs, your doctor may have to experiment with several different kinds and dosages in order to find the right one for you.
3. Indulge in Some Chocolate
Yes, chocolate is now a health food. Studies have shown that people who eat at least 45g of dark chocolate a day (the dark chocolate must have a high cocoa content, at least 85 percent) experience less fatigue. The chocolate seems to boost the levels of serotonin in the brain of people who eat it.
