Will Ritalin Become a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment?
Based on the results of one small study, two doctors in Spain are calling for a closer look at the ADHD drug methylphenidate (the drug in Ritalin, Methadate and Concerta) for treating the neurocognitive effects of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS).
On top of study results, the doctors point to the fact that ADHD and ME/CFS have several cognitive symptoms in common, including:
- Trouble concentrating
- Difficulties with short-term memory and thinking
- Impaired attention and slowed processing speed
Also, they say some of the same things appear to be going on in the brains of people with both disorders, such as low dopamine and norepinephrine activity. Methylphenidate, a neurostimulator, boosts both of those neurotransmitters. Two other drugs in its class - Wellbutrin (bupropion) and Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine) - also have been advocated to improve neurocognitive problems.
Do you think ADHD drugs could be the answer? I'd love to hear from anyone who's taken them. Have they helped? Share your opinions and experiences here or in About.com's Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome forum.
Suggested Reading
- Learn about ADHD and neurostimulants, including the drug's effects and side effects.
- See the Monster List of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
- Drugs for Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Comments
I was on Wellbutrin for quite a while for depression, it did nothing for the depression or the CF.
As a doctorate student in psychology & psychotherapy I am right now writing about schizophrenia and brain functions, we know a lot more now than when the dopamine theory was invented. Amphetamine induced psychosis in normals, as did too much L-Dopa against Parkinsonism. In ADHD Ritalin mimicks amphetamine, so the effect is opposite!! That’s the paradox. Ritalin works directly into the Central nervous system. If you have ME instead of CFS, I guess you could go straight into psychosis. With ME you may have a low grade infection in the spinal fluid, too. I am not a medical doctor, but from seeing antipsychotics and long term break down of the dopamine system as a consequence, I would think twice. I may be wrong, but it is spurious thinking:
Actually, if the effect is via dopamine or norepineprine (noradrenaline), somebody on SNRI (slightly different from SSRI e.g. Prozac) should have an effect. If you THEN add Ritalin (works straight away), you should already be there. If the theory is wrong, you won’t have wasted more than a few hours.
The brain is complex and we are nowhere near knowing what concentration and awareness is. But we do know that everything is connected to everything. Be careful with drugs!
I’d really like to know how to approach my general practitioner with this. I tried 1 adhd med borrowed from a friend, and after some initial jitteryness, had a few productive hours both in terms of alertness and physical activity despite feeling very tired beforehand. It seems because of abuse, doctors are suspicious about prescribing them.
Alan,
I’d recommend printing out research abstracts for your doctor, in case he/she hasn’t seen them. Here’s the one for this study:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Methylphenidate
Here’s another:
Methylphenidate & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
It’s true that there are abuse issues tied to these drugs, but hopefully your doctor will see the possible therapeutic benefit for you. Best of luck!