Methylphenidate and Exercise in Reducing Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients With Prostate Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

Have a diagnosis of prostate cancer and be scheduled to receive radiotherapy with concurrent androgen deprivation therapy, and presence of fatigue with severity of 1/10, on a 0-10 scale for at least 2 weeks
Patient not regularly engaging in moderate aerobic exercise for >90 minutes/week and/or vigorous aerobic exercise for >30 minutes/week, and/ or strength training for >/= 1 day/week
Have no clinical evidence of cognitive failure as evidenced by Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale score of Be aged 18 years or older
Be willing to engage in follow-up telephone calls with a research staff
Be willing to participate in the exercise programs
Have telephone access so they can be contacted by the research staff
Have a hemoglobin level of >/= 10 g/dL within 2 weeks of enrollment
Be able to understand the description of the study and give written informed consent
Have a Zubrod performance status score of 0 to 2
Seen at an outpatient clinic at MD Anderson Cancer Center, its Houston Area Locations (HALs) or Smith Radiation Oncology Clinic (HHS)

Exclusion Criteria:

Have a major contraindication to MethylphenidateMP) (e.g., allergy/hypersensitivity to study medications or their constituents), exercise (e.g., cardiac disease), or conditions making adherence difficult as determined by the attending physician
Be currently taking MP, or have taken it within the previous 10 days
Be unable to complete the baseline assessment forms (e.g., due to language or sensory barriers) or to understand the recommendations for participation in the study
Need monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, or clonidine
Have glaucoma
Have severe cardiac disease (New York Heart Association functional class III or IV)
Have tachycardia and/or uncontrolled hypertension
Be currently receiving anticoagulants, anticonvulsants (phenobarbital, diphenylhydantone, primidone), phenylbutazone, and/or tricyclic drugs (imipramine, clomipramine, or desipramine).