Methylphenidate in a Patient with Depression and Respiratory Insufficiency

• Published in: International journal of psychiatry in medicine Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 443 - 449
• Main Authors: Ayache, Danusa Céspedes Guizzo, Júnior, Renério Fráguas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.01.2001; Baywood; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Aged; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Central Nervous System Stimulants - therapeutic use; Depressive Disorder - drug therapy; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mental depression; Methylphenidate - therapeutic use; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Respiratory Insufficiency - drug therapy; Respiratory Insufficiency - psychology; Sertraline - therapeutic use; Stimulants; stimulants; methylphenidate; consultation liaison; depression; Human; Mood disorder; Drug combination; Disease; Serotonin; Respiratory disease; Psychotropic; Toxicity; Treatment efficiency; Depression; Male; Reuptake inhibitor; Sertraline; Dose activity relation; Case study; Concomitant disease; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Follow up study; Complication; Clinical investigation; Elderly; Methylphenidate
• ISSN: 0091-2174; 1541-3527
• DOI: 10.2190/CXNE-0UFR-7Q04-CQ3M

Objective: We report a case of severe depression in an elderly and critically ill patient with multiple medical complications who was treated with a combination of methylphenidate and sertraline. The objective of this report is to outline the usefulness of methylphenidate as an antidepressant in a patient with respiratory insufficiency. Method: Case description. Results: The patient had a positive clinical response with initial mental confusion due to methylphenidate. An initial dose of 2.5 mg/day allowed antidepressant response and improvement of respiratory function permitting the removal of mechanical ventilation. Conclusion: Methylphenidate may be useful for patients with severe medical conditions including ventilatory insufficiency.