Home Symptoms Fatigue

Fatigue — what to take?

Fatigue is a persistent lack of energy, beyond what is normal after exertion. Causes range from lack of sleep to anaemia, hypothyroidism, diabetes, depression, chronic diseases.

6 recommended OTC drugs
4,387 pharmacies available

OTC — no prescription

What you can take for fatigue

Informativ. Nu înlocuiește sfatul medicului. Consultă medicul sau farmacistul înainte de a lua orice medicament.

Common causes

Lack of sleep, chronic stress, depression, iron-deficiency anaemia (common in women), vitamin deficiencies (B12, D, iron), hypothyroidism, diabetes, chronic infections (EBV, long COVID), sleep apnoea, excessive exertion.

Useful supplements after identifying the cause

Iron + Vitamin C - in iron-deficiency anaemia confirmed by blood tests (CBC, ferritin). Dose: 60-100 mg elemental iron/day for 3-6 months.

Vitamin B12 500-1000 mcg/day - for confirmed deficiency or in vegetarians/vegans.

Vitamin D3 1000-4000 IU/day - very common deficiency in Romania. Test 25-OH-D.

Magnesium, B-complex - support energy metabolism.

Coenzyme Q10 100-200 mg, L-carnitine 1-2g - may help with muscle fatigue.

Rhodiola, ashwagandha, ginseng - adaptogens.

Recommended tests for chronic fatigue

  • Complete blood count, ESR, C-reactive protein
  • Ferritin, serum iron
  • Vitamin B12, folate, 25-OH vitamin D
  • TSH, fT4 (thyroid)
  • Glucose, HbA1c
  • Creatinine, urea, transaminases

When it is alarming

Fatigue with weight loss, fever, palpable nodes, abnormal bleeding, severe exertional dyspnoea, severe depression - these require prompt medical evaluation.

Medical disclaimer: the information in this guide is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a physician or pharmacist. For diagnosis and treatment, consult a healthcare professional.

Nights, weekends, holidays

24/7 pharmacies for fatigue

Fatigue doesn't wait for office hours. If you need a medicine at 2 AM or on a weekend, open the map with the 24/7 filter on and find the nearest on-call pharmacy. Major cities have several round-the-clock pharmacies — the per-city pages below list them all, with address, phone and verified opening hours.

Call ahead before you leave, especially at night — on-call schedules can change and stock for some prescription items may be limited between deliveries.

Search the pharmacy

Medicine categories for fatigue

Step by step

How to find a pharmacy fast for fatigue

Open the interactive map and grant location permission — you'll immediately see pharmacies sorted by distance, each with its opening hours and a one-tap route in Google Maps. If it's night or a weekend, switch on the 24/7 filter to keep only the on-call ones. For fatigue most of the listed remedies are over the counter, so you can walk in without a prescription, but check stock and prices first to avoid wasted trips.

If you have a preferred active ingredient (paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc.), search it in the comparator before you leave — you'll see which chain has it cheapest near you and whether it's in stock. For chronic prescriptions, save your favourite pharmacy in the app and turn on hours notifications — it saves unnecessary trips, especially when treatment for fatigue runs over weeks.

When to see a doctor

If any of these signs appear, consult a doctor — OTC treatment is not enough:

  • Severe fatigue over 6 weeks
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Persistent fever
  • Marked dyspnoea on minor exertion
  • Palpitations, chest pain
  • Depression, suicidal thoughts

Frequently asked

Common questions

Why am I so tired all the time?
Common causes: insufficient/poor sleep, anaemia, B12/D deficiency, hypothyroidism, depression, chronic stress. Blood tests clarify.
Which supplements should I take for fatigue?
First, get blood tests - supplements only work for confirmed deficiencies. Iron, B12, D, magnesium are the most common deficits.
Does ginseng help?
Moderate evidence for chronic fatigue. Asian ginseng (Panax) 200-400 mg/day. Avoid in hypertensive and anxious patients.
When does fatigue become chronic?
Over 6 months of persistent, severe fatigue not relieved by rest - chronic fatigue syndrome. Requires evaluation.

See also

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