Abstract

Apathy is commonly seen in elderly patients with co-morbid medical conditions. It adversely affects the motivation and recovery of the patients. There is no standard treatment for apathy but antidepressant with slow onset is often the drug of choice. Methylphenidate, a psychostimulant with rapid onset, offers an alternative therapeutic option. We reported two cases of elderly patients who presented with withdrawn and apathy after recovering from medical illnesses. Both cases were treated with methylphenidate and showed response in less than a week without significant adverse events. Herein, we discuss the advantages of methylphenidate as treatment option for rapid improvement in medically ill elderly with apathy.     

Key words: Apathy, aged, terminally ill, methylphenidate.