It’s not uncommon for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue patients to opt for IV therapy in Toronto. This is because vital nutrients can offer beneficial effects for mood, energy levels, pain management, cellular function, and detoxification. 

Fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are known as complex health conditions. One of the reasons is that their symptoms appear to be significantly intertwined, causing difficulty in diagnosing a patient with one condition or the other. However, scientists are aware that there’s a difference between them as separate health issues: CFS sufferers have a significant lack of energy; they have some pain that’s not considered major, but it has a profound effect on their quality of life. On the other hand, fibromyalgia patients experience persistent, sapping aches, with or without significant fatigue.  

According to research, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue might be from a wide range of causes rather than one trigger. For an integrative functional medicine clinic like ours, supplements may be directed for tackling FM/CFS symptoms, such as exhaustion, cellular dysfunction, anxiety and digestive issues. We discuss this in the next section, along with how IV nutrient therapy works.  

8 Vital Nutrients to Support FM and CFS Symptoms

• Polyphenols: These plant-based molecules are major antioxidants that can reduce oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is thought to contribute to both FM and chronic fatigue, possibly causing poor immune function and faulty cellular function. Polyphenols may be consumed through certain foods or supplements. 
• Probiotics: This supplement is conveniently available in capsule, powder or dietary form. “Evidence suggests that the gut microbiota might play an important role in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS),” confirms a Beneficial Microbes article.  In one study, Lactobacillus casei, a probiotic strain, was shown to reduce anxiety over eight weeks of taking probiotics. The strain Bifidobacterium infantis also contributed to reducing inflammation in eight weeks, too.  
• D-ribose: Fibromyalgia/CFS have mitochondrial dysfunction in common, which can hinder cellular functioning. But ribose – a type of sugar that’s a DNA and RNA component – has been linked to positive effects in these patients. D-ribose, a form of ribose, was shown in one study to lead to improvements in energy levels, sleep, reduced pain, mental precision, and overall wellness. D-ribose is available in oral, powder or capsule formats. 
• NAD+: CFS/FM patients tend to lack nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a coenzyme needed for cellular function. NAD+ IV therapy or sublingual tablets can be administered to replenish these essential cofactor levels, as well as to boost energy, promote cellular healing, and potentially prevent cellular damage. NAD treatments may assist with heightening mitochondrial function in your cells. It’s imperative for your cells to be in peak condition, as mitochondria convert your food and oxygen into an organic compound. This organic compound is called ATP and provides the body with energy for cellular processes to occur.  
• ATP: This organic compound is a source of power for use and storage at the cellular level. Its supplementation might improve your cellular functioning, especially since it’s a source of energy. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) in capsule or IV infusion form could aid in restoring mitochondrial dysfunction. After all, “Mitochondrial dysfunction has been shown in leukocytes of CFS patients and in muscle cells of FM patients, which could explain the muscle pain,” explains a review from Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets. 
• Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA): Exposure to environmental toxins and inflammation can lead to poor cellular health in FM/CFS patients. But as a powerful water- and fat-soluble antioxidant, ALA could influence a reduction in inflammation. It binds to heavy metal toxins in the body and encourages their removal. ALA can be taken orally or intravenously for improving cellular energy, lessening nerve pain, and fighting inflammatory free radicals. It also assists with replenishing glutathione levels in your body. 
• Glutathione: FM/CFS patients usually lack glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that’s required for building new tissues and proteins. Upping your glutathione intake may alleviate this deficiency and help reduce pain- and fatigue-triggered by oxidative stress. Glutathione could also aid in decreasing fibro brain fog, as it protects the body from ROS (reactive oxygen species). ROS are known to instigate cognitive issues. 
• LDN (low-dose naltrexone): A medication called naltrexone is used for treating alcohol and opioid dependence. Low doses of it could benefit FM/CFS patients; in particular for reducing inflammation, supporting immune function, releasing endorphins, providing pain relief, and blocking certain proteins that may cause chronic symptoms. Please speak to your healthcare provider if you’re interested in this medication. 

At the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre, we can help you navigate treatments for fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue. Intravenous therapy may be advised for some patients due to malabsorption issues or an aversion to pills. When combined with a healthy lifestyle and other functional medicine therapies, IV therapy may contribute to optimal health and functioning. 

To learn about IV therapy, supplements and other possible fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue treatments, become a new patient at our clinic today. Our integrative functional medicine tactics could promote beneficial effects, especially if you’re struggling with chronic illnesses. Our vitamin IV therapy menu consists of a personalized blend of nutrients, including glutamic acid, folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, a medley of amino acid building blocks, glutathione, NAD, and other essential vitamins and nutrients. 

How we customize vitamin drip treatments

IV therapy drips are compounded daily to ensure that treatments are fresh, natural, preservative-free, and tailored for your chief health concerns. 

Our customized health care can address nutritional deficiency, chronic illness, degenerative diseases, autoimmune conditions, blood pressure concerns, lack of energy, athletic performance, and more. This is why we adapt IV vitamin drips and therapeutic doses according to integrative functional medicine. This form of health care recognizes each patient as a unique entity; the goal is to treat the root of your health issue. In turn, this may promote symptom relief and disease prevention. 

IV treatments can support optimal functioning and correct deficiencies, along with a healthy lifestyle and diet. When combined with integrative functional medicine therapies, you may be inspired to adhere to your health goals. At our clinic, patients have access to Western medicine (allopathic), naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, bio-identical hormone therapy, functional medicine lab testing (blood tests), and more. 

If you don’t have adequate energy levels, it’s time to uncover the potential benefits of functional medicine and IV therapy in Toronto. Call 416-968-6961 to request your initial consultation or click here to send us a note. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.

References

Alvarez MC, Albuquerque MLL, Neiva HP, Cid L, Rodrigues F, Teixeira DS, Matos R, Antunes R, Morales-Sánchez V, Monteiro D. Exploring the Relationship between Fibromyalgia-Related Fatigue, Physical Activity, and Quality of Life. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Apr 17;19(8):4870. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19084870. PMID: 35457737; PMCID: PMC9032824.

Goldenberg D. Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Pract Pain Manag. 2016;16(10).

Haß U, Herpich C, Norman K. Anti-Inflammatory Diets and Fatigue. Nutrients. 2019 Sep 30;11(10):2315. doi: 10.3390/nu11102315. PMID: 31574939; PMCID: PMC6835556.

Kandlur A, Satyamoorthy K, Gangadharan G. Oxidative Stress in Cognitive and Epigenetic Aging: A Retrospective Glance. Front Mol Neurosci. 2020;13:41. Published 2020 Mar 18. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2020.00041

“Low-Dose Naltrexone for Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS” from VeryWellHealth, By Adrienne Dellwo, updated on November 07, 2022, medically reviewed by David Ozeri, MD, viewed on February 27, 2023. 

Mira Meeus, Jo Nijs, Linda Hermans, Dorien Goubert & Patrick Calders (2013) The role of mitochondrial dysfunctions due to oxidative and nitrosative stress in the chronic pain or chronic fatigue syndromes and fibromyalgia patients: peripheral and central mechanisms as therapeutic targets?, Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets, 17:9, 1081-1089, DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2013.818657

Myhill S, Booth NE, McLaren-Howard J. Chronic fatigue syndrome and mitochondrial dysfunction. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2009;2(1):1-16. Epub 2009 Jan 15. PMID: 19436827; PMCID: PMC2680051.

Ring, Melinda, ‘Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue’, in Victoria Maizes, and Tieraona Low Dog (eds), Integrative Women’s Health, 2 edn, Weil Integrative Medicine Library (New York, 2015; online edn, Oxford Academic, 1 Jan. 2016), https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780190214791.003.0028, accessed 26 Feb. 2023.

Roman P, Carrillo-Trabalón F, Sánchez-Labraca N, Cañadas F, Estévez AF, Cardona D. Are probiotic treatments useful on fibromyalgia syndrome or chronic fatigue syndrome patients? A systematic review. Benef Microbes. 2018 Jun 15;9(4):603-611. doi: 10.3920/BM2017.0125. Epub 2018 Apr 26. PMID: 29695180.

Salehi B, Berkay Yılmaz Y, Antika G, et al. Insights on the Use of α-Lipoic Acid for Therapeutic Purposes. Biomolecules. 2019;9(8):356. Published 2019 Aug 9. doi:10.3390/biom9080356

Teitelbaum JE, Johnson C, St Cyr J. The use of D-ribose in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: a pilot study. J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Nov;12(9):857-62. doi: 10.1089/acm.2006.12.857. PMID: 17109576.

“The Common Threads of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome” from Everyday Health, by Dennis Thompson Jr, medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH, reviewed November 23, 2011, viewed on February 27, 2023. 

Vincent, A., Benzo, R.P., Whipple, M.O. et al. Beyond pain in fibromyalgia: insights into the symptom of fatigue. Arthritis Res Ther 15, 221 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/ar4395

Younger J, Parkitny L, McLain D. The use of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a novel anti-inflammatory treatment for chronic pain. Clin Rheumatol. 2014 Apr;33(4):451-9. doi: 10.1007/s10067-014-2517-2. Epub 2014 Feb 15. PMID: 24526250; PMCID: PMC3962576.