Medications typically prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are showing promise as a treatment for one of cancer’s most challenging side effects: overwhelming fatigue.
A recent analysis examined information from nine controlled studies involving 823 adults either receiving active cancer treatment or battling advanced-stage disease. The research revealed that patients taking psychostimulants experienced notable improvements in their exhaustion levels compared to those receiving inactive treatments.
Dr. Bruno Almeida Costa from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center led the research team. “Our findings show that a well-established, accessible medication can provide meaningful relief within weeks,” Costa explained in a statement.
The study focused on methylphenidate and dexmethylphenidate, medications marketed by Novartis as Ritalin and Focalin. According to the research published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, these drugs possess the “longest-standing and best-documented safety records among actively prescribed controlled substances.”
The timing of improvement appears to follow a specific pattern. “The benefit isn’t fully apparent in the first couple of weeks, but by around five weeks it reaches a level that genuinely matters in terms of patients’ daily energy and function,” Costa noted. “For people dealing with a symptom that can be profoundly disabling, that is a meaningful contribution.”
Researchers observed that the positive effects continued to strengthen, with additional improvements noted at the eight-week mark.
The findings may prove particularly valuable as cancer diagnoses increase among younger adults who must manage work and family obligations while undergoing treatment, according to the research team.
Scientists emphasized that these medications shouldn’t replace current fatigue management approaches like exercise programs, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mind-body techniques. Instead, they could offer quicker relief while patients work to establish those longer-term strategies.
The research also included findings about influenza risks during pregnancy. Medical professionals have long understood that flu infections pose greater dangers for expectant mothers, and new research explains the biological mechanisms behind these complications.
Typically, influenza remains confined to the respiratory system. However, during pregnancy, the virus can spread beyond the lungs, creating serious cardiovascular risks for mothers and potentially affecting fetal development.
Using mice infected with influenza A, researchers identified an immune system component called TLR7 that becomes hyperactive during pregnancy. This overactivity increases inflammation in the placenta and other areas, damages blood vessel function, and allows the virus to enter the bloodstream.
Study leader Stella Liong from RMIT University in Australia explained the significance: “The findings shift understanding of how respiratory viruses affect pregnancy, showing that harm is not caused by the virus directly reaching the fetus, but by an overactive maternal immune response.”
The researchers suggest that controlling the TLR7 sensor might help protect developing babies by preventing excessive placental inflammation during flu infections. Their findings, published in Science Advances, could lead to targeted treatments that reduce complications for both mothers and babies during severe influenza infections in pregnancy.
