Ritalin for Fatigue?

Hi everyone,

My husband has extreme fatigue - he could easily sleep 20 hrs a day...  his neuro-oncologist just prescribed Ritalin for him today and i was wondering if anyone else had taken it and if it helped or if there were negative side effects?

thanks,

Sarah

Hi Sarah,

My wife has had an Oligodendroglioma grade 2 DX on 11/2004 followed by surgery 1/2005 followed by Rad and Temedor 1/2008 followed by Temedor 1/2012 followed by Avastin 7/2012 followed by more Temedor 10/2012 now about to start Rad again on 1/22/2013.  It has been growing through all treatments and now possibly a grade 3 or even 4.  She was getting fatiqued quite often and slept a lot.  Her NO at Sloan-Kettering perscribed Ritalin for he and it made a big difference. She responded very well to it and made her focus more with less fatique. I hope it works for your husband

Mike

thanks mike!  we picked up the prescription today (low dose, 5 mg) but my husband is against it.  he doesnt think he sleeps 20 hrs a day, when he nearly does...  and he thinks resting so much is good for him.  sigh.  i'll try again in a few days...  will keep you posted!

Maybe he would consider acupuncture for fatigue?  There's some decent evidence that it could help. 

On Jan 09, 2013 11:53 PM annieappleseed wrote:

Maybe he would consider acupuncture for fatigue?  There's some decent evidence that it could help. 

ahhhhhh totally forgot about that!  we actually were going in the past.  thanks, I'll mention it to him and try to restart him going.  :)  at least it's "natural" and can boost his immune system as well.

The Dr. at MDA also prescribed this for my husband.  It was very, very helpful.  The cancer/treatment really zapped his energy and this helped my husband be able to go about life.

Hope this helps!

Sarah,

I too had extreme fatigue from Methrotrexate, Temodar, and Rituximab for CNS lymphoma and was presecribed 5mg of Ritalin. It was amazing and I would strongly encourage your husband to give it a try. I had no side effects and was able to function through a normal work day without having to nap (although I still took one at end of work day).  I wish you good fortune in your ongoing battle.

Cheers

Great, thanks guys!!  :)

I take Ritalin for fatigue and it has made all the difference in the world.  I had trouble getting out of bed in the mornings and now I no longer have that issue.

I was offered this as well - maybe you are at my clinic.  I was told there was  slight risk it could lower one's seizure threshold - you should check on this.  I was prescribed Elavil which did wonders for my energy level and other side-effect.  When I started getting seizures this was dropped for the reason stated above.  If Elavil caused my seizure, I was an unusual case and in hindsight I think I had the "wrong" seizure medications and it was probably not the Elavil.  Please consider Elavil as well.

-JG