Methylphenidate and Depression: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2021

Methylphenidate for ADHD "Concerta is the first ADHD med that I tried, and I only could handle one day. I have an anxiety disorder, so I was hoping that the smallest dose (18mg) wouldn't give me increased anxiety. Concerta worked really well for my ADHD, and I actually felt calm and clear-headed when it was in my system. But after a few hours, my heart would start to race, and I would feel really nervous, like I had a lot of coffee. When the medication wore off (which was about 8 hours for me), I felt HORRIBLE anxiety. I also felt moody and depressed. I suppose this was a rebound effect for me. At bedtime, I was so exhausted, but I couldn't sleep at all, like I involuntarily pulled an all-nighter. It was a terrible night for me. I'm giving it 3 stars because it did essentially eradicate my ADHD while it was in my system, but it just was too strong for me with my anxiety, I guess."

• HSN...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2025

For Depression "This medication has changed my life tremendously. I have been taking Concerta 18 mg OD for two weeks, with 10 mg amitriptyline at night for pain, bromazepam 1.5 mg on and off for anxiety (which I will stop soon). Regarding side effects, the first week I was very anxious, with palpitations, but the second week I was having less anxiety. After an accident which caused chronic back pain, I went into a period of deep hopelessness. At first, I was suicidal. So you can say I have chronic depression characterized by loss of motivation, less focus, and severe anxiety and low self-esteem. Even before the accident, I had problems with motivation, but it just became worse. It became unbearable. I tried Lexapro, which only reduced suicidal thoughts. I also tried Zoloft 50 mg for two weeks, which made me more careless, although less depressed. I just felt like a completely different person-not depressed but not focused yet. At first, I had anxiety, then Zoloft destroyed my working memory. It was a very bad experience."

• HSN...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2025

For Depression "This medication has changed my life tremendously. I have been taking Concerta 18 mg OD for two weeks, with 10 mg amitriptyline at night for pain, bromazepam 1.5 mg on and off for anxiety (which I will stop soon). Regarding side effects, the first week I was very anxious, with palpitations, but the second week I was having less anxiety. After an accident which caused chronic back pain, I went into a period of deep hopelessness. At first, I was suicidal. So you can say I have chronic depression characterized by loss of motivation, less focus, and severe anxiety and low self-esteem. Even before the accident, I had problems with motivation, but it just became worse. It became unbearable. I tried Lexapro, which only reduced suicidal thoughts. I also tried Zoloft 50 mg for two weeks, which made me more careless, although less depressed. I just felt like a completely different person-not depressed but not focused yet. At first, I had anxiety, then Zoloft destroyed my working memory. It was a very bad experience."

• How...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 31, 2021

Methylphenidate for ADHD "This drug (and all drugs used to treat ADHD for that matter) is dangerous. I was on it for almost 12 months and ended up seriously underweight, depressed, and feeling like I was losing my mind. I lost all sense of my personality and basically became a ghost human. Tapering off was a whole other story that actually landed me in the emergency department, I was so mentally unstable. I’m not anti-medication at all, but these drugs are absolute band-aid cover-ups for something that can be managed in many other ways. A high-protein diet, proper cardio, routine, sleep, dietary supplements, THERAPY!! have all helped me learn to live and even excel without stimulant meds. Please educate yourself on the long-term effects of these drugs, and please, please, please don’t medicate little children with them. Stimulants change people's personalities, and you only start to realize once you're way down the rabbit hole of suffering."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2020

Methylphenidate for ADHD "It should be labeled that this gives you severe depression and suicidal episodes for the price of placebo. Nothing but placebo for my ADHD. Didn’t help a single bit, except giving me suicidal thoughts and really bad depression. Please, for the sake of your well-being, do not take this, I repeat, do not take this."

• Anonymous
• September 23, 2011

Methylphenidate for ADHD "My 8-year-old son has taken it for two months now. It has helped out a lot in school and with his social behavior. However, he has gotten depressed, and we have just taken him off it."

• jea...
• December 27, 2009

Methylphenidate for ADHD "Very bad side effect: insomnia, depression, important weight loss..."