Methylphenidate

Methylphenidate is a CNS stimulant. It influences chemicals in the brain and nerves that play a role in hyperactivity and impulse control.

Methylphenidate is used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and narcolepsy.

Methylphenidate should be used as part of a complete treatment program for ADHD that may include counseling or other therapies.

Take methylphenidate exactly as your doctor prescribes. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may change your dose from time to time.

Methylphenidate may lead to habit formation. Misusing it can cause addiction, overdose, or death. Keep this medication out of reach of others. Selling or sharing this medicine is illegal.

Your dose may change if you switch to a different brand, strength, or form of this medicine. To avoid mistakes, only use the medicine your doctor prescribes.

Most brands of methylphenidate are taken once or twice a day. Jornay PM is only for use at night between 6:30 and 9:30 pm.

You can take methylphenidate with or without food, but take it the same way each time.

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

If you cannot swallow an extended-release CAPSULE whole, open it and mix the medicine with soft food like applesauce, pudding, or yogurt. Swallow the mixture immediately WITHOUT CHEWING.

Chew the chewable tablet well and swallow it with at least 8 ounces (a full glass) of water or another liquid to avoid choking.

Use the measuring device provided to measure liquid medicine (not a kitchen spoon).

Let the orally disintegrating tablet dissolve in your mouth without chewing.

Apply the skin patch to your hip area 2 hours before you need it to take effect and remove it within 9 hours. Do not wear the patch longer than 9 hours a day. Avoid exposing the patch to direct heat sources, such as hair dryers, heating pads, or electric blankets.

Inform your doctor if you have a planned surgery.

Your treatment may also involve counseling or other therapies.

Your doctor will need to monitor your progress regularly. Your heart and blood pressure may also need to be checked frequently.

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

Do not keep leftover medicine. Ask your pharmacist about a drug take-back program. You can also mix leftover medicine with cat litter or coffee grounds in a sealed plastic bag and throw the bag in the trash.

Methylphenidate can be habit-forming. Misusing it can lead to addiction, overdose, or death. Inform your doctor if you have had issues with drug or alcohol abuse.

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

Do not take methylphenidate if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the last 14 days, including isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.

Methylphenidate may lead to new or worsening psychosis (unusual thoughts or behaviors), especially if you have a history of depression, mental illness, or bipolar disorder.

You might experience blood circulation issues that can cause numbness, pain, or discoloration in your fingers or toes.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience: signs of heart issues - chest pain, feeling light-headed, or shortness of breath; signs of psychosis - paranoia, aggression, new behavior problems, or hallucinations; signs of circulation issues - unexplained wounds on your fingers or toes.

Inform your doctor if you have a history of drug or alcohol addiction. Store the medication out of reach of others.

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

• glaucoma;
• pheochromocytoma (a tumor of the adrenal gland);
• severe high blood pressure or a heart problem;
• an overactive thyroid;
• a personal or family history of tics (muscle twitches) or Tourette's syndrome; or
• severe anxiety, tension, or agitation (stimulant medicine can make these symptoms worse).

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

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

Do not use methylphenidate if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine.

Tell your doctor if you also use opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or to prevent nausea and vomiting. An interaction with methylphenidate could cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.

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 the hands or feet;
• alcoholism or drug addiction; or
• if you take Adhansia - an allergy to aspirin or yellow food dye;
• phenylketonuria (PKU), as some chewable tablets contain phenylalanine.

To ensure methylphenidate is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• problems with the esophagus, stomach, or intestines; or
• seizures, epilepsy, or an abnormal brain wave test (EEG).

Becoming dependent on methylphenidate during pregnancy can cause premature birth or low birth weight. 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 symptoms in the baby such as agitation, sleep problems, feeding problems, or reduced weight gain.

methylphenidate is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 years old.

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

Call your doctor right away if you experience:

• signs of heart problems - chest pain, trouble breathing, feeling faint;
• signs of psychosis - hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't real), new behavior issues, aggression, hostility, paranoia;
• signs of circulation problems - numbness, pain, coldness, unexplained wounds, or changes in skin color (pale, red, or blue appearance) in your fingers or toes; or
• a painful erection or one that lasts 4 hours or longer.
• signs of skin problems from the patch - swelling or blisters at the application site, or loss of skin color;

Seek medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heartbeat, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Methylphenidate can affect growth in children. Your child's height and weight may need to be checked regularly. Inform your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate.

Common side effects of methylphenidate may include:

• sweating, increased blood pressure;
• mood changes, anxiety, feeling nervous or irritable, trouble sleeping;
• fast heartbeat, pounding or fluttering in your chest;
• loss of appetite, weight loss;
• dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, indigestion; or
• headache, dizziness.

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

Take the medicine as soon as you remember, but skip the missed dose if it is nearly time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at the same time.

Seek emergency medical help or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Taking too much methylphenidate could be life-threatening.

Signs of an overdose may include nausea, dry mouth, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, agitation, restlessness, tremors, muscle twitches, fast breathing, confusion, hallucinations, dilated pupils, muscle pain or weakness, fever, sweating, headache, pounding in your neck or ears, fast or pounding heartbeats, feeling light-headed, fainting, seizures (convulsions), or coma.

Do not drink alcohol.

Do not drive or engage in dangerous activities until you know how methylphenidate will affect you. Your reactions might be affected.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

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

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with methylphenidate, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.