title: Methylphenidate in the 'hard to wean' patient.
abstract: Patients on mechanical ventilation are occasionally hard to wean because of fatigue and/or depression. It is difficult to diagnose depression in this population, and treatment with traditional antidepressants has too slow an onset to be useful. Two cases are presented which suggest the possible utility of psychostimulants in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0804, USA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Auger
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Fedullo
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dimsdale
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D012803:Sick Role; D015300:Ventilator Weaning / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D008774:Methylphenidate