Methylphenidate sits in our F tier for depression, though its common use in geriatric depression means stimulants cannot be written off in one sweeping blow. The tidy rule that it suits children while amphetamines suit adults is one of those factoids psychiatrists cling to; the truth is infinitely more complex.
For depression
Methylphenidate is commonly used for geriatric depression, so we cannot write off stimulants in one sweeping blow.
“we also know that methylphenidate is commonly used for geriatric depression. So we can't write off stimulants just with one sweeping blow”
3:04Antidepressant Tier List: Psychiatrists Rank Depression Medications for MDDMay 2026
Compared with amphetamines
We psychiatrists cling to little factoids because we want to feel like we know something, and it is obviously infinitely more complex than that.
“I feel like as psychiatrists, we cling to those little factoids because we want to feel like we know something. And so it's like, oh, that's a thing to know. And it's obviously just infinitely more complex than that”
39:12ADHD Again, But Juicier: Unpacking Misdiagnosis, Medication Overuse, and Cultural TrendsOct 2024
It also comes up on
- Bipolar disorderSome of us never give stimulants to patients with bipolar disorder, though there is preliminary evidence that methylphenidate is more suitable in bipolar disorders.
- StimulantsWe never give stimulants to patients with bipolar disorder, though there is some preliminary evidence that methylphenidate is more suitable there.
From these episodes
Every point above is something said on the Psychofarm podcast, with the words as spoken and a link to the moment in the episode. It is education, not medical advice, and an episode reflects what we thought when we recorded it.