Type of medicine: stimulant
Generic and brand names: methylphenidate, oral; Concerta; Metadate CD; Metadate ER; Methylin; Methylin ER; Ritalin; Ritalin LA; Ritalin-SR
This medicine is taken by mouth to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adults. It may be used along with therapy and education to treat this condition. This medicine is also used to treat narcolepsy (the uncontrollable need to sleep). It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Tell your provider if you are scheduled to have surgery. This medicine should not be taken on the day of surgery. Tell your provider if you have taken an MAO inhibitor antidepressant in the past 2 weeks.
Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.
Do not take the medicine for any other conditions without your healthcare provider's approval.
Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take it exactly as prescribed. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Taking too much of this medicine can be habit-forming.
Take this medicine 30 to 45 minutes before meals. Always take this medicine with a full (8 ounce) glass of water, milk, or juice. It is best to take this medicine in the morning. Take the last dose of the day no later than 6 PM to avoid interrupting your sleep at night.
This medicine comes in different forms. Do not break, crush, or chew the extended-release tablets or capsules. Swallow them whole. Your pharmacist can tell you if you have the extended-release tablets or capsules and when you should take them.
If you have trouble swallowing, the capsule may be opened and the beads sprinkled on soft food such as applesauce. Do not chew or crush beads.
Your healthcare provider may ask you to stop taking this medicine for a while to see if you still need to take it. However, do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. You may have to gradually reduce your dosage.
If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.
Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: vomiting, restlessness, tremors, twitching, seizures, confusion, hallucinations, sweating, fast or pounding heartbeat, blurred vision, dry mouth or nose, fainting.
Your healthcare provider should check blood pressure and heart rate regularly during treatment with this medicine. Call your healthcare provider right away if you or your child has any signs of heart problems such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting while taking this medicine.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you notice any new or worsening mental symptoms or problems while taking this medicine, especially:
This medicine is a controlled substance. It is illegal to give this medicine to anyone else.
Do not use this medicine for normal tiredness or as a stimulant. It can be habit-forming.
This medicine should be given by an adult when prescribed for a child. Do not give this medicine to a child under 6 years of age without your healthcare provider’s approval. This medicine may slow growth in children. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.
Tablets may not completely dissolve when you take them. You may see tablet shells in your bowel movement. This is normal and not a cause for concern.
This medicine may cause blurred vision or dizziness. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert and can see clearly.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you are unable to reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat), severe muscle twitching, seizures (may be followed by coma).
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Mood changes, sudden vision changes, chest or joint pain, twitching, fast heartbeat, weakness and sweating, severe headache, yellowish skin or eyes, light-colored bowel movements, dark urine, rapid weight loss, rash, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), sweating.
Other: Loss of appetite, nervousness, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, stomach upset, trouble sleeping, stomach pain.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
