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| Pronunciation |
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 (meth il FEN i
date) |
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| Brand Names |
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; Concerta™
; Metadate™ ER
; Methylin™
; Methylin ER™
; Ritalin®
; Ritalin-SR® |
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| Foreign Brand Names |
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; PMS-Methylphenidate (Canada) |
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| Therapeutic Categories |
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Stimulant |
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| Reasons not to take this medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to another stimulant, methylphenidate, or any
other part of the medicine.
- If you have any of the following conditions: Severe coronary artery
disease, moderate to severe high blood pressure, over-active thyroid gland,
glaucoma, agitation, history of drug abuse.
- If you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (isocarboxazid,
phenelzine, tranylcypromine) in the last 14 days.
- Do not give stimulants to children with attention
deficit/hyperactivity disorders and Tourette's syndrome or
tics.
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| What is this medicine used for? |
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- This medicine is used for the treatment of narcolepsy symptoms.
- It may also treat attention deficit disorder. Attention deficit
disorder may take up to 3 weeks to see improvement.
- Another use may be for depression in the elderly or medically
ill.
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| How does it work? |
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- Methylphenidate stimulates the brain in adults to increase alertness.
- Methylphenidate has a stabilizing effect in children with attention
deficit disorder.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Take tablets and sustained-release tablets 30 to 45 minutes before
meals. Take tablets early in the day to avoid sleep problems. Do not take later
than 6 PM.
- Take Concerta™ once daily in the morning. Take
with or without food. Must take with water, milk, or juice.
- Swallow sustained-release tablet whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
- Do not suddenly stop using this medicine if you have been taking it
for a long time. Medicine should be slowly
decreased.
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| What do I do if I miss a dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible. Do not take after 6 PM.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
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| What are the precautions when taking this
medicine? |
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- The tablet shell of Concerta™ may appear in
your bowl movement. This is normal and expected. The medicine has already been
absorbed into your system.
- If you have small bowel disease, short gut syndrome, a history of
peritonitis, cystic fibrosis, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, or Meckel's
diverticulum then talk with healthcare provider. You should not take
Concerta™.
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
(eg, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine) must be stopped 14 days
before this medicine is started. The two together could cause dangerously high
blood pressure.
- This medicine may be habit-forming with long-term use.
- Limit caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate intake.
Use with this medicine may cause nervousness, shakiness, rapid heartbeats, and
anxiety.
- Use caution if you have high blood pressure. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Use caution if you have a history of seizures. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Do not use over-the-counter products that increase blood pressure.
These include cough or cold remedies, diet pills, stimulants, ibuprofen or like
products, and certain herbs or supplements. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Use caution in driving, doing other tasks or activities that require
mental alertness.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects of this
medicine? |
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- Inability to sleep, nervousness, restlessness, lack of appetite.
- Dizziness is common. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or
lying position. Be careful climbing stairs.
- High blood pressure.
- Rapid heartbeats, abnormal heartbeats, chest pain or
pressure.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- If you have a history of high blood pressure, check blood pressure
regularly.
- You may see the tablet shell of Concerta™ in
your stool. This is normal.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Very nervous and excitable.
- Severe headache.
- Chest pain, pressure or fast heartbeats.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this medicine? |
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- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room temperature.
- Protect from moisture and
humidity.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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