Methylphenidate in COVID-19 Related Brain Fog: A Case Series

Limited literature exists regarding specific pharmacological treatments for COVID-19-associated brain fog (BF) syndrome. One previous study using bupropion lacked objectivity. In this multiple baseline case series study, methylphenidate was used in treating post-COVID BF syndrome. Four cases of post...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Indian journal of psychological medicine 2024-01, p.02537176231222572
Main Authors: Bhattacharjee, Debanjan, Surakshitha Poornima H K, Chakraborty, Avik
Format: Article
Language:English
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Case Series
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Summary:Limited literature exists regarding specific pharmacological treatments for COVID-19-associated brain fog (BF) syndrome. One previous study using bupropion lacked objectivity. In this multiple baseline case series study, methylphenidate was used in treating post-COVID BF syndrome. Four cases of post-COVID BF syndrome were diagnosed by two psychiatrists after a liaison diagnostic workup with the medical fraternity and treated with methylphenidate (10-30 mg for 1-2 months) resulted in objective improvement as evident by the change in Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) scores in follow-up compared to baseline. FSS scores were 9 (37-40 at baseline) and MMSE scores were 30 (27-29 at baseline) for all subjects at 3- and 6-month follow-up. No relapse of symptoms was noted at follow-up. Methylphenidate, being a stimulant drug, can be a promising option for BF. However, this study has a few limitations, like the fact that neuroimaging was not done for all subjects, and studies with a larger sample size are required for a definitive conclusion.
ISSN:0253-7176
0975-1564
DOI:10.1177/02537176231222572