Wondering what's happening in the CFIDS community and what's new on our Web-site? Here you'll find fresh content, from media alerts to just-published research to important public policy developments. Explore some of our latest additions below.

• WWW Foundation Inspires Online Donations Meet the Nadeau family and read their story at http://www.cfids.org/about/eblast08-nadeau.asp and invites others committed to the cause of conquering CFS to help the CFIDS Association secure a $15,000 challenge grant made by the WWW Foundation. Gifts made online in support of the research program will be matched by this LA-area private foundation. Click here to donate now and double your gift through this limited matching program!
  
  
• Help us secure renewal of the federal CFS committee Contact your U.S. Representative today! Ask him/her to sign the letter to Secretary Leavitt. Take Action!
  
  
• The Campaign to Accelerate CFS Research
  Click here to find out more about the Association’s expanded research program, our vision for the future of CFS research and how The Campaign to Accelerate CFS Research will help us achieve these critical goals.
  
  
• Second Drug Approved for FM Treatment
  Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl, from Eli Lilly) was approved by the Food & Drug Administration for use in adults with fibromyalgia on June 16, 2008. In two clinical trials that together included 847 patients, 51% and 55% of patients taking Cymbalta had a 30% improvement on the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) 24-hour average pain scale. Also, 65% and 66% of patients taking Cymbalta reported feeling better in responses to the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) scale.
  
  Cymbalta, a serotonin-norepinphrine reuptake inhibitor, is already indicated for the acute and maintenance treatment of major depressive disorder, the acute treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, and the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain in adults 18 years of age and older. It is the second drug approved for fibromyalgia; Lyrica (pregabalin, from Pfizer) was approved in 2007.
  
  
• It's Not Too Late for Virtual Lobby Day! Five easy-to-complete activities are available at http://capwiz.com/cfids/home/. In the past month, advocates have sent more than 4,000 messages to legislators, policymakers and the media about the need for increased funding for and attention to CFS. Please take part in the Association's Fifth Annual Virtual Lobby Day.
  
  
• Excerpts from the Congressional Briefing on CFS
  On May 8, 2008, the CFIDS Association and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) hosted a congressional briefing on CFS. The event drew congressional staffers to hear CFS experts and NPR's Scott Simon discuss the challenges of CFS. Read excerpts from the event at http://www.cfids.org/cfidslink/2008/060405.asp
  
  
• The Biology of Sleep
  What is sleep and why is it so important to proper physical functioning? In this first of a four-part series from the CFIDS Chronicle, learn the basic elements of sleep. (CFIDS Chronicle, Volume 21, Issue 2, Spring 2008) Click here to view the PDF.
  
  To receive the rest of this yearlong series on sleep, plus all the in-depth articles that the CFIDS Chronicle delivers, subscribe now. There’s no other magazine like it specifically serving people with CFS and their families. A subscription to the quarterly Chronicle is a benefit of membership in the CFIDS Association of America.
  
  
• Wichita Study of Cortisol and Interleukin 6
  The most recent paper drawn from the CDC’s Wichita population-based study describes finding lower cortisol levels and slightly higher interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in people with CFS. The differences also appear to correlate with CFS severity. Get the full story >>
  
  
• CFS Photo Exhibit Comes to Baltimore
  “The Faces of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome” exhibit makes its way to the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore from June 23-29. The Maryland Science Center is a destination for thousands each week. If you’re in the area, don’t miss this chance to see the traveling photo exhibit that’s been raising public awareness about CFS. For more information about the exhibit and future venues visit http://www.cfids.org/sparkcfs/photo.asp.
  

• Several new studies about CFS have been published recently. Catch up on all the research news at http://www.cfids.org/sparkcfs/research-news.asp.
  
  
• Making History – 20+ Years of Service to the CFS Community
  The CFIDS Association of America was founded in 1987, so 2007 marked its 20th year of existence. Together we’re making CFS history. . . not only in the ways our collective efforts shape the course of the fight against CFS, but also in the way every research finding, donation, and compassionate action chips away at this devastating illness. Here's how the CFIDS Association plans to mark the passage of time, as the "good fight" moves into its third decade. See http://www.cfids.org/makinghistory/default.asp for links to articles about people, organizations and events important to the history and future of conquering CFS, as well as a series of powerful "Defining Moments" essays by some well-known authors with CFS.
  
  
• Ready to Surf For a Good Cause?
  It's easy - just visit online stores through iGive.com. More visits by you and your fellow supporters mean more chances for your cause to win a $1,000 donation! No purchase necessary.
  

• Med Alert: Adverse events have recently been reported following use of medications prescribed for some CFS symptoms. Links to information on the following drugs are available:
  • Voluntary Recall of Morphine Sulfate 60mg Issued by Ethex Corp.
    Ethex Corporation notified healthcare professionals of a voluntary recall of a single lot of morphine sulfate 60 mg extended release tablets (Lot No. 91762) due to a report of a tablet with twice the appropriate thickness. Oversized tablets may contain as much as two times the labeled level of active morphine sulfate. The lot was distributed by Ethex Corporation under an 'Ethex" label between April 16th and April 27th of 2008.
    
    An over dosage or over strength of opioids such as morphine have life-threatening consequences, including respiratory depression (difficulty or lack of breathing) and low blood pressure. Due to their illness, many patients for whom this product is prescribed are more likely to be highly debilitated with reduced strength or energy. Their impairment may make it more difficult to determine that a tablet is oversized than an unimpaired individual.
    
    For questions about the recall, consumers are encouraged to call their physician, pharmacist or other healthcare provider. For any questions related to this action, please contact Ethex Customer Service (representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm CST):
    
    Telephone 1-800-321-1705
    Fax 1- 314-646-3751
    Email customer-service@ethex.com
    
    For more information see http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/ethex06_08.html.
  • Provigil (Modafinil)
  • Fentanyl transdermal system (Patch)
  • Dangerous or even fatal skin reactions (Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis), that can be caused by carbamazepine therapy, are significantly more common in patients with a particular human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele, HLA-B*1502. This allele occurs almost exclusively in patients with ancestry across broad areas of Asia, including South Asian Indians. Genetic tests for HLA-B*1502 are already available. Patients with ancestry from areas in which HLA-B*1502 is present should be screened for the HLA-B*1502 allele before starting treatment with carbamazepine. If they test positive, carbamazepine should not be started unless the expected benefit clearly outweighs the increased risk of serious skin reactions. Patients who have been taking carbamazepine for more than a few months without developing skin reactions are at low risk of these events ever developing from carbamazepine. This is true for patients of any ethnicity or genotype, including patients positive for HLA-B*1502. This new safety information will be reflected in updated product labeling.

    Carbamazepine is FDA-approved for treatment of epilepsy, mania/bipolar disorder, and neuropathic pain. SJS and TEN are serious blistering reactions of the skin and mucous membranes that can be permanently disabling or fatal. This medication is distributed under the names Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, and generic carbamazepine. Because people with CFS may be treated for neuropathic pain, and some have unusual reactions to medications, we are sharing this information so that you are aware of potential adverse reactions and may wish to alert your health care provider/prescriber.

Last updated on June 20, 2008