Chemobrain: Can Ritalin alleviate symptoms?

Is it true that the ADHD drug Ritalin may alleviate mild cognitive impairment (chemobrain) associated with cancer treatment?

- Ben / No state given

Mayo Clinic oncologist Timothy Moynihan, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

Several small, preliminary studies suggest that methylphenidate (Ritalin), a stimulant drug, may alleviate some of the side effects associated with chemotherapy, specifically fatigue and cognitive impairment — sometimes referred to as chemobrain. Larger studies are ongoing to evaluate these findings. At this time, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved Ritalin for this use, and further data are needed before definitive recommendations can be made. In the meantime, if you're experiencing significant side effects from your chemotherapy, talk to your oncologist about treatment options.