Ritalin for depression

[Dusk]

After trying tons of meds and ECT over the years, my pdoc decided to try Ritalin. When I take it, the numbness and mind fog kind of go away. The suicidal thoughts are still there, but I'm not as miserable. It only lasts for about 2 hours, then I get irritable and depressed. Has anyone else here tried Ritalin for depression, and how did it work for you?

[jt07]

I am prescribed 30 mg of Ritalin for depression which I take in a split dose - 20 mg in the morning and 10 mg in the afternoon. To be honest, it doesn't help much with depression or motivation, but it does wake me up in the morning and helps me to concentrate. There are extended release formulations that can help you with the "come down." However, I'm ok with the immediate release because after a month, I adjusted to it and I no longer can tell when it wears off.

[Teddy]

I've never tried a stimulant solely for depression but when I was diagnosed with ADHD in my late 20's, my pdoc at the time prescribed Adderall and said that stimulants can have an AD property along with an anti-depressant. I was also going through a depression and we tried several different AD's until we tried Cymbalta, which worked.

[dancingteapot]

At one point when I was taking Adderall and it helped with the depression. It also slowed my thoughts. It was a good drug, but ultimately decided it wouldn't be good in the long-term.

[melissaw72]

You must be on the fast-acting ritalin (?) ... when I tried ritalin awhile ago, i was on it I think 4 times/day (every 3-4 hours). It helped me to mentally focus straight which kind of in turn changed my mind around. I wasn't on it for depression, but my mood did improve.

[gizmo]

I've found that stimulants can lift the fog. For me, it was an almost instant improvement in anxiety. I mean, it lowered it by like 75%.

If the Ritalin works a bit, but not enough, keep in mind that you are probably on a starter dose that can be largely increased. Also, you can get on extended release versions such as concerta that last longer. And finally, if the Ritalin doesn't fix everything, the amphetamine class (adderall, etc) may work better for you.

[bubblegirl]

Yes, I have been prescribed stimulants for depression. I took nuvigil first. It helped clear my fogginess as well. After about three weeks it suddenly stopped "working". Next I took ritalin. When it stopped having any effect at all we tried upping the dosage. That worked to wake me up until I started getting agitated from it, then we went back to lower doses which pooped out. Both helped wake me up, but did not lift the depression or touch my anxiety. My pdoc said this pooping out happens with stimulants sometimes. They are definitely worth a try, with seemingly few side effects since you start on lower dosages and work up.

[chicchick]

Ritalin is prescribed prn for me (along with my daily stimulants) and when I feel extremely down, in the "danger" zone, it always pulls me out of it immediately, at least for a few hours. Thankfully I dont need it that often. but yes, I think it can be beneficial.

[Guest]

I took Adderall for treatment resistant depression. It helped. A lot. Then again, I also had undiagnosed ADD so it helped with that as well.

We've gone back to the older ADs for me now and I'm off the Adderall. I'll probably go back on it at some point in time but not right now.