Hi all,

My doctor just prescribed me Ritalin to take in place of provigil (which I take due to fatigue from paxil).  I would love to hear someone's experience with this med. I have never known anyone who has taken it for depression before but I am hopeful.

best wishes,
bebo

While I haven't taken Ritalin, I've taken a similar med - Adderall - for depression and fatigue (caused by the depression and the ADs taken for it). It helped overcome the lethargy and lack of motivation the depression and other meds caused. I found it really helpful.
Good luck with the Ritalin - let us know how you're doing...

If the Ritalin works, great. Just keep an eye on your blood pressure as it is amphetimine based. Like Lizard, I did use Adderall for a while but it shot my BP up to a dangerous level (it did work though!!) and I had to go back to Provigil. The good news is that my BP is back to normal. BP meds would probably cut out any saving in buying Ritalin (though I suppose your insurance might cover those).

Good luck.

Hi,

I have been taking ritalin for a couple weeks now for fatigue but I still have to take a nap in the afternoon. I heard it can cause lose of appetite but I have been eating like a horse so I dont know about that one. I am on 20mg - is that a normal dosage??

best wishes to all,
starr

I ,also, am taking Adderall. It has helped tremendously.

I tried Strattera first and did not get the same results.

Good luck

Hi all,

I am taking ritalin to augment my paxil and help with fatigue. My concern is that I read several reports that children who take ritalon often suffer depression as an adult. I am 43 so I dont know if it has the same effect on adults or not. My pdoc said it didnt but I am still scared! I hate to give it up but I couldnt handle worsening my depression in the future. Any ideas or experiences?

Thanks and best wishes,
starr

Hi,

I havent heard from many people on how ritalin effected them longterm and I got worred about reports that it makes depression worse in adulthood (even though I am 43) I got scared and quit it cold turkey. The only problem I am having is extreme tiredness and lack of motivation from mypaxil. Has anyone tried anything else for fatigue from antidepressants? I would like to find something that doesnt cause more problems down the road.

Thanks,
starr

i've taken adderall before, but i stopped because i couldn't sleep at night and i felt like i was awake too much, almost felt like i was on crack....most of the meds i've taken i've felt lke they haven't really helped me..prozac seemed to have helped the most but i felt like it made me blurt things out when i shouldn't have..i've been trying to live without medication but it's been tough

Dear 'liveinhell';

I hope you are feeling better. I know the unique pain of Depression well. My heart goes out to you and to all who are suffering from this evil disease.

eve

My condition currently: 25+ year history of panic disorder with agoraphobia and about a year and a half ago, slipping into profound depression. Have been on about 90% of AD's for anxiety, now cannot tolerate any front-line and conventional classes.

Due to my inability to tolerate ANY SSRI's/SNRI's (any norepi and/or serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors), and the poor response to tricyclics , my current doctor started me on methyphenidate (Ritalin) treatment along with trazodone (tetracylics are the only ones I can tolerate but they are now ineffective as well).


I have to admit that the m-phenidate did actually help my depression once I got titered up to 60mg/day. It aggravated my severe PD and GAD, but he BZD's were effective in countering these problems.

The pitfall of m-phenidate is that it's half-life and duration of efficacy are so short. That, and being from that stimulant class, concerned me as far as possible physical and/or mental dependency. I did become both physically and mentally dependent on this medicine after about two months.

Anyone else have problems with selective reuptake inhibitors?? Serotonin and dopamine agonists, DRI's, etc. help me but with risks. Not as bad a with the SSRI/SNRI's but bad enough.