Drug category | CFS (n = 113) | ISF (n = 264) | Well (n = 124) | p-value | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | N (%) users | CFS vs. Well | CFS vs. ISF | ||
Pain relievers (includes all NSAIDs and narcotics) | 74 (65.5) | 136 (51.5) | 66 (53.2) | 0.056 | 0.02 |
-NSAIDs (aspirin included) | 53 (46.9) | 107 (40.5) | 55 (44.4) | 0.74 | 0.31 |
-NSAIDs (aspirin excluded) | 45 (39.8) | 82 (31.1) | 34 (27.4) | 0.043 | 0.10 |
-Acetaminophen-containing | 27 (23.9) | 38 (14.4) | 14 (11.3) | 0.011 | 0.026 |
-Narcotic pain relievers | 19 (16.8) | 16 (6.1) | 5 (4.0) | 0.001 | 0.001 |
-Aspirin containing | 15 (13.3) | 35 (13.3) | 27 (21.8) | 0.09 | 1.00 |
Supplements/vitamins | 50 (44.2) | 117 (44.3) | 65 (52.4) | 0.158 | 0.68 |
Anti-allergy medications (anti-histamines, nasal steroids, sympathomimetics) | 46 (40.7) | 94 (35.6) | 35 (28.2) | 0.04 | 0.36 |
Asthma medications | 9 (7.96) | 9 (3.4) | 3 (2.4) | 0.097 | 0.065 |
Cold/sinus medications (anti-histamines, sympatho-mimetics, anti-cough drugs) | 46 (40.7) | 95 (36.0) | 34 (27.4) | 0.025 | 0.4 |
Anti-histamines | 40 (35.4) | 74 (28.0) | 27 (21.8) | 0.017 | 0.17 |
Antidepressants | 41 (36.3) | 48 (18.2) | 11 (8.9) | < 0.0001 | 0.0007 |
Female hormones (birth control and HRT)a | 28 (30.4) | 49 (24.4) | 26 (28.0) | 0.68 | 0.3 |
- Birth control | 6 (6.5) | 20 (9.9) | 11 (11.8%) | 0.11 | 0.34 |
- Hormone replacement | 19 (20.7) | 28 (13.9) | 13 (14%) | 0.23 | 0.15 |
Gastrointestinal, acid-reducing drugs | 30 (26.6) | 38 (14.4) | 16 (12.9) | 0.0082 | 0.009 |
All cardiovascular | 21 (18.6) | 46 (17.4) | 26 (21.0) | 0.90 | 0.86 |
Sedatives (including benzodiazepines) | 20 (17.7) | 18 (6.8) | 5 (4.0) | 0.002 | 0.004 |
- Benzodiazepines only | 14 (12.4) | 14 (5.3) | 3 (2.4) | 0.003 | 0.027 |
Lipid-lowering | 13 (11.5) | 31 (11.7) | 13 (10.5) | 0.69 | 0.56 |
Thyroid hormones | 12 (10.6) | 11 (4.2) | 8 (6. 5) | 0.28 | 0.04 |
Muscle relaxants | 10 (8.9) | 8 (3.0) | 0 | < 0.001 | 0.002 |
Antibiotics | 8 (7.1) | 19 (7.2) | 6 (4.8) | 0.53 | 0.82 |
Anti-migraine | 7 (6.2) | 5 (1.9) | 4 (3.2) | 0.47 | 0.047 |
Amphetamines | 5 (4.4) | 7 (2.65) | 2 (1.6) | 0.20 | 0.37 |
Glucose-lowering | 1 (0.9) | 10 (3.8) | 4 (3.2) | 0.51 | 0.13 |
Any category | 108 (95.6) | 234 (88.6) | 112 (90.3) | 0.12 | 0.03 |