Has anyone tried Ritalin to reduce fatigue after chemo?

I take power naps!

Good topic as energy loss and loss of strength is common with lots of PC treatments.
ADT (Lupron) took my energy (and strength) away.
I used 'power naps' of 15 - 20 minutes starting with focused relaxation. Also, liquid, sublingual vitamin B 12 in the morning. Both really helped. I must be sensitive to B 12 so I had to titrate down to 1/10 of the suggested 1ml dosage. Any more and I get jittery.
Now, 7-months since last Lupron shot and I think my energy is coming back; but I still use the B 12 and naps for now.
Good luck and keep up the good fight.

The ADT is sapping my energy and contributing to less quality sleep. I use exercise at the gym to energize. Even though some days it’s really challenging, I feel better after the exercise

Thanks for the replys. I have been doing chemo and lupron for 5 months now and the fatigue is the worst problem. You are right, trying to exercise is real hard>

As counterintuitive as it seems, exercise may be a factor in mitigating the fatigue and other side effects that come with ADT and chemotherapy.

I've had two periods of ADT, 18 months of Lupron and 12 months of Orgovyx. Both had the "usual" side effects, hot flashes, fatigue, weight gain and genitalia shrinkage. I didn't experience others such as loss of libido, brain fog, psychological ....I also did six cycle of taxotere.

In all three cases, I continued to be active. Most days I went to the gym, rode the indoor bike, lifted weights, swam. Others days I would ride my bike outside, 25-50 miles. I played pickleball and basketball with friends, went skiing in Colorado, active vacations with my wife in Arizona, Colorado, Iceland, Germany, even did events such as the Garmin Unbound, a 50+ mile gravel bike ride through the Flint Hills of Kansas with my sister and daughter and the Bataan Memorial Death March with my sister in White Sands, NM.

Fatigue is real while on ADT and chemotherapy. Yes, I took naps when I sensed I needed them.

I've said this before, three things my medical team says they cannot do which are useful in managing the side effects of treatment:

Diet
Exercise
Managing stress.

As to what exercise and how much...well, that depends, what do you like to do, are you a life long exerciser...I say do what makes sense, cardio, resistance training, mix it up for sure. I hate running, always have, so you won't find me out running the trails. It may be beneficial to consult with a medical specialist when developing an exercise program, my wife benefitted greatly from having a trainer help her when she started (I did neither, kind of a "just do it guy...!)

Kevin

Watching the Mayo Clinic forum this month it was suggested to take Ginseng twice a day. I asked my doctor and he approved. Wisconsin American ginseng subdues fatigue per the Mayo doctor. Today I start my fist dose to see if it works twice a day— FYI

I wonder if an iron supplement would help you. ?
I read somewhere that the ADT will lower iron production naturally and I put myself on a supplement. I also try and work out 3-5 days a week. I’ve learned that I have to go to the gym early in am, if I procrastinate I will end up not going. Working out seems to help my mood.

My husband's medical oncologist in Indianapolis also recommended Wisconsin ginseng for fatigue while he was having chemo some years ago. I haven't asked about it lately, but will try to remember to do that when we return to Mayo next month.

A very very true statement. Go to Anytime Fitness early otherwise it ll be too late, it will be nap time- Lmao.

I'm always whining about the fatigue. Almost 18 months on monthly Firmagon shots. It just doesn't get better, although certainly better then not having the shots. I get by saying keep pushing. 8 hours a day on my feet but get home mow the lawn and it makes you feel good. I'll be 70 soon so there is that to take into account. On weekends, I take care of chores, resting in between, and it's not bad, hoping when I retire it will be manageable. Best to all.