Concerta and Depression

It is difficult to determine how common it is for people taking Concerta to experience symptoms of depression. While depression was a reported side effect in clinical studies of methylphenidate (the active ingredient in Concerta), depression was not reported as a common side effect of Concerta in short-term studies. Interestingly, one off-label use of Concerta is to treat depression. Therefore, talk to your healthcare provider about the possible link between Concerta and depression.

 

Overview of Concerta for Depression

There are several possible side effects of Concerta® (methylphenidate extended release). During clinical studies of methylphenidate, depression was one of the reported side effects of the medication. Interestingly, stimulants (such as Concerta) are also sometimes used to help treat depression.
 

Is Depression a Concerta Side Effect?

Before medicines are approved, they must go through several clinical studies in which thousands of people are given a particular medicine and are then compared to a group of people not given the medicine. In these studies, the side effects are always documented. As a result, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine. The side effects are then usually separated into those that occur in more than 1 percent of people and those that occur in less than 1 percent of people.
 
For people taking other forms of methylphenidate (the active ingredient in Concerta), depression was a reported side effect (although the specific frequency was not reported). For Concerta specifically, depression was not reported as a common side effect in short-term studies. Based on this data, it is difficult to say how common it is for people taking Concerta to experience depression.
 
(Concerta and Depression Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;