Stimulants are used by experienced doctors in pharmacology to help treat severe cases of depression. They are used in adjunct to other AD meds. Ritalin, Dexedrine (d-amphetamine) and Adderall (amphetamine salts) all act somewhat similar by telling your neurons to release their stores of the stimulant/"good feeling" neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine and cause reuptake like SSRIs in a way. Ritalin also releases serotonin too.

For many people, myself included, stimulants help tremendously with depression and have been a apart of my treatment regimen for at least 10 years now. I have not had any issues with tolerance and I have never abused the stimulant (Adderall) I am on. However, these meds can be very addictive. You can become mentally dependent on them and physically dependent on them. For some people they do grow tolerant to the dose they are on and then either keep increasing it themselves or keep asking their doctor to increase it. This is a sign that a stimulant is not right for you. Also, if you have had a substance abuse problem in the past, you and your doctor may want to steer clear from these medications.

But, like I said, they are still used to today in common psychiatric practice and benefit many, many severely depressed people - especially those with TRD (treatment-resistant depression).

Hope this helps

Jerry

Hope this helps.