ritalin for depression?

Posted by josh  on August 02, 1999 at 21:19:42
i'm a 23 year old who has undergone treatment for depression the last three years....i have been on effexor for the last year, and aside from the typical side effects (sweating, nausea), i've experienced a slight intention tremor and more importantly inattention..i've been looking into mesolimbic approches to alleviating anxiety and depression: i.e., selective dopamine agonization.  i've learned enough about my own physiological responses to various ssri's (luvox, prozac and effexor) to understand somoe of the more subtle side effects of taking these drugs for extended periods of time, notably my lack of attention.  i was wondering if ritalin would be beneficial for my anxiety and depression in addition to my attention problems....how well does it work w/ ssri's? any suggestions?

Posted by HVMA Ph.D. - KDK on August 07, 1999 at 08:56:16
Dear Josh,
In general, Ritalin can be taken along with SSRI's, but it's not clear that this would benefit you. Sometimes Ritalin can augment antidepressants and enhance the antidepressant effect. However, Ritalin also has the potential for exacerbating depressive disorders. I would recommend that you post your question to MedHelp's Mental Health Forum, where a psychiatrist who specializes in treatment of adult psychiatric disorders can offer some thoughts.
Sincerely,
Dr. KDK