Methylin

Methylin is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in people who are at least 6 years old.

Some brands of methylphenidate extended-release tablet can only be used to treat attention deficit disorder in adults under 65 years old and children at least 6 years old.

Some brands of Methylin are also used to treat a sleep disorder called narcolepsy.

Methylin may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Follow all instructions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally adjust your dose. Use the medicine exactly as instructed.

Methylin may be habit-forming. Misusing it can lead to addiction, overdose, or death. Keep the medication out of reach of others. Selling or giving away Methylin is illegal.

Your dose may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. Avoid medication errors by using only the medicine prescribed by your doctor.

Most brands of methylphenidate are taken 1 to 3 times a day. Jornay PM is for evening use only. Do not take this medicine more often than prescribed.

Take it with a full glass of water.

You can take Methylin with or without food, but do it the same way each time. Some brands of methylphenidate should be taken 30 to 45 minutes before a meal.

Swallow the extended-release capsule or tablet whole. Do not crush, chew, break, or open it.

If you cannot swallow an extended-release capsule whole, open it and mix the medicine with soft food like applesauce or yogurt. Swallow the mixture right away without chewing.

Part of an extended-release tablet shell may show up in your stool, but this will not reduce the medicine's effectiveness.

You must chew the chewable tablet before swallowing it.

Shake the oral suspension (liquid) for at least 10 seconds. Measure liquid medicine (solution or suspension) with the supplied measuring device, not a kitchen spoon.

Remove an orally disintegrating tablet from the package with dry hands only when you are ready to use it. Let the orally disintegrating tablet dissolve in your mouth without chewing.

Tell your doctor if you have a planned surgery.

Your doctor will need to monitor your progress regularly, and you may need medical tests to check your heart function. Inform any doctor treating you that you are using this medicine.

Your treatment may also involve counseling or other therapies.

Do not keep leftover medicine. Just one dose can be fatal for someone using it accidentally or improperly. Ask your pharmacist about a drug take-back program. Alternatively, you can mix leftover medicine with cat litter or coffee grounds in a sealed plastic bag and dispose of the bag in the trash.

Store the medicine tightly closed in the original container at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep your medicine in a secure place where no one can misuse it.

Stimulants can lead to stroke, heart attack, and sudden death in individuals with high blood pressure, heart disease, or a heart defect.

Methylin may be habit-forming. Misusing it can lead to addiction, overdose, or death. Store the medication in a place where others cannot access it. It is illegal to sell or give away Methylin.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience: chest pain, feeling light-headed, seeing or hearing things that are not real, a reduced need for sleep, agitation, or unexplained wounds on your fingers or toes.

You should not use Methylin if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• glaucoma;
• a personal or family history of tics (muscle twitches) or Tourette's syndrome;
• trouble swallowing, problems with the stomach, or intestines;
• severe anxiety, tension, or agitation (stimulant medicine can make these symptoms worse);
• an inability to digest certain types of sugar; or
• if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine.

Stimulants have caused stroke, heart attack, and sudden death in certain people. Tell your doctor if you have:

• heart problems or defects;
• high blood pressure; or
• a family history of heart disease or sudden death.

Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has ever had:

• depression, mental illness, bipolar disorder, psychosis, or suicidal thoughts or actions;
• blood circulation problems in fingers or toes or peripheral vascular disease such as Raynaud's syndrome;
• seizures, epilepsy, or an abnormal brain wave test (EEG);
• phenylketonuria;
• alcoholism or drug addiction; or
• an allergy to aspirin or yellow food dye (tartrazine).

It is not known if Methylin will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of methylphenidate on the baby.

Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. If you are breastfeeding, tell your doctor if you notice agitation, insomnia, feeding problems, and reduced weight gain in the nursing baby.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stimulants can cause stroke, heart attack, and sudden death in some people. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of a heart attack or stroke: chest pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, or feeling short of breath.

Methylin may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor immediately if you have:

• signs of heart or blood circulation problems -- chest pain, uneven heart rate, trouble breathing, numbness, cold feeling, or pale appearance of your fingers or toes;
• signs of mania or psychosis -- seeing or hearing things that are not real, aggression, paranoia, decreased need for sleep, risk-taking behavior, being agitated or talkative;
• a seizure, muscle twitches (tics), changes in your vision, blurry vision; or
• a painful erection that lasts 4 hours or longer.

Methylin can affect growth in children. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medicine.

Common side effects of Methylin may include:

• sweating, increased blood pressure;
• mood changes, anxiety, irritability, sleep problems (insomnia);
• restlessness, nervousness;
• fast or uneven heart rate;
• loss of appetite, weight loss;
• dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, upset stomach; or
• headache, dizziness.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but if it's almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. If you take Jornay PM, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses at once.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of Methylin could be fatal.

Avoid drinking alcohol.

Avoid driving or doing anything dangerous until you know how Methylin will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• a blood thinner--warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven;
• an antacid;
• an antidepressant;
• seizure medication; or
• cold or allergy medications that contain decongestants.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect Methylin. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.