Essential Information for Patient and Family

• Periods of fatigue or exhaustion are common and usually temporary.
• Rehabilitation should include activities to gradually increase endurance.
• Treatment is possible and usually has good results.

Specific Counselling to Patient and Family

• Advise brief rest (less than 2 weeks) followed by gradual return to usual activities.
• Build endurance with a program of gradually increasing physical activity. Start with a manageable level and increase a little each week
• Emphasise pleasant or enjoyable activities. Encourage the patient to resume activities which have helped in the past.
• Ensure that regular activity is followed by regularisation of the sleep cycle.
• Use structured problem solving to control stress
  

Medication

• No physical treatment has been established. If other mental or physical disorders are present, they may require treatment.
• Anti-depressants such as amitriptyline 50-100mg nocte for pain and sleep regularisation.
  

Specialist Consultation

• Consider consultation if severe symptoms continue longer than 3 months.

What a doctor might say to a person with neurasthenia