Methylphenidate

(meth il FEN i date)

How does this drug come?

• This drug comes as a long-acting capsule, a liquid, a skin patch, a tablet, a chewable tablet, and a long-acting tablet.

Pharmacologic Category

• Central Nervous System Stimulant

What key warnings do I need to know about before giving this drug to my child?

• This drug may be habit-forming; avoid long-term use. This drug may cause unsafe heart-related side effects. Tell your child's doctor if your child has any heart disease.
• Unsafe side effects may happen. This drug cannot be given while your child is taking some other drugs. Check all the drugs your child is taking with your child's doctor.
• Please read the medication guide.

Is it safe for my child to take this drug?

• Not if your child is younger than 6 years of age.
• Not if your child has an allergy to methylphenidate or any other part of this drug.
• Be sure to let the doctor know if your child has any allergies or side effects to drugs, foods, or dyes. Make sure to tell about the allergy and what signs your child had. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• Not if your child has any of these health problems: Agitation, a fast heartbeat, glaucoma, structure problems of the heart, tics, or Tourette's syndrome.
• Not if your child has any of these health problems: Cystic fibrosis, long-term bowel pseudo-block, Meckel's diverticulum, peritonitis, short gut syndrome, or small bowel disease. Talk with the doctor. Do not give your child Concerta®.
• Not if your child has any of these health problems: An overactive thyroid gland, high blood pressure, or a weak heart. Do not give your child Metadate® CD. Talk with your child's doctor.

Why does my child need this drug?

• It is used to treat attention deficit problems with hyperactivity.
• It is used to treat narcolepsy.

How does this drug work?

• Methylphenidate has a calming effect in attention deficit problems.
• In narcolepsy, it fires up the brain to make your child more alert.

How is this drug given?

• Oral:
• To gain the most benefit, do not miss giving your child doses.
• Give tablet and long-acting products 30 minutes before meals.
• Give early in the day to stop sleep problems.
• Give at least 6 hours before bedtime.
• Have your child swallow long-acting products whole. Do not let your child chew, break, or crush.
• Give Concerta™ once a day in the morning. Give with or without food. Give with water, milk, or juice.
• Methylin® chewable tablet: Give with a glass of water or other liquid.
• Metadate® CD: Give before breakfast.
• Metadate® ER: Give before breakfast and lunch.
• You may sprinkle contents of Metadate® CD or Ritalin® LA on soft food. Do not let your child chew.
• Skin patch:
• Follow how to use as you have been told by your doctor or read the package insert.
• Do not use patches that are cut or do not look right.
• Wash your hands before and after use.
• Your child may bathe, shower, or swim after putting on.
• Put patch on clean, dry, healthy skin on your child's hip. Do not put the patch on your child's waistline.
• Put patch on in the morning and take off 9 hours later or as you have been told by your doctor.
• Move the patch site with each patch.
• If the patch falls off, put on a new one on some other part of the same hip.

How long does this drug take to work?

• It may take a few weeks to see the full effect.

What do I do if my child misses a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)

• Give a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• Do not give a missed dose within 6 hours of bedtime.
• If it is close to the time for your child's next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your child's normal time.
• Do not give 2 doses or extra doses.
• Do not change the dose or stop your child's drug. Talk with your child's doctor.

What safety measures do I need to take when my child is using this drug?

• All products:
• This drug may be habit-forming with long-term use.
• If your child has been taking this drug for many weeks, talk with your child's doctor before stopping. You may want to slowly stop this drug.
• Your child may have some heart tests before starting this drug. Talk with your child's doctor.
• Talk with the doctor before giving your child OTC cough, cold, or allergy drugs.
• Limit your child's use of caffeine and chocolate. Use with this drug may cause nervousness, shakiness, and a fast heartbeat.
• If your child has an eating problem, talk with the doctor.
• If your child has heart disease, talk with the doctor.
• If your child has high blood pressure, talk with the doctor.
• If your child has a mental health problem, talk with the doctor.
• If your child has PKU, talk with your child's doctor. Some products have phenylalanine.
• If your child has seizures, talk with the doctor.
• Have your child's blood pressure and heart rate checked often. Talk with your child's doctor.
• Check all drugs your child is taking with your child's doctor. This drug may not mix well with some other drugs.
• Watch your child's growth carefully.
• Skin patch:
• Have your child avoid use of heat sources (such as sunlamps, tanning beds, heating pads, electric blankets, heat lamps, saunas, hot tubs, heated waterbeds). Avoid long, hot baths or sunbathing. Your child's temperature may rise and cause too much drug to be let go all at once.

What are some side effects of this drug?

• Feeling dizzy. Have your child get up slowly over a few minutes when sitting or lying down. Have your child be extra careful climbing stairs.
• Nervous and excitable.
• Not hungry.
• Emotional ups and downs.
• Upset stomach or throwing up. Many small meals and good mouth care may help. Older children may suck hard, sugar-free candy.
• Weight loss.
• Extra muscle action.
• Not able to sleep.
• Tablet shell of Concerta™ in the stool.
• Skin irritation.

When do I need to call my child's doctor?

• If any of this news causes you to be worried, any of the unwanted side effects happen, or if your child is not better after taking this drug.
• If you think there was an overdose, call your local poison control center or ER right away.
• If your child shows signs of a very bad reaction, call your child's doctor or the ER right away. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or if your child is not acting normal.
• If your child shows signs of very bad dizziness or passes out.
• If your child has mean actions or thoughts of fighting.
• If your child has problems with how he/she acts.
• If your child shows signs of low mood (depression), thoughts of killing him/herself, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, thinking that is not normal, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.
• If your child has a bad headache.
• If your child has a sudden change in eyesight.
• If your child has a fast heartbeat.
• If your child is feeling very nervous and excitable.
• If your child has a very bad upset stomach or is throwing up.
• If your child has very bad skin irritation.
• If your child's seizures are new or worse after starting this drug.
• If your child gets a rash.
• If your child’s health problem does not get better or if you believe your child’s health problem is worse.

How do I store and/or throw out this drug?

• Store at room temperature.
• Protect from light.
• Protect capsules and tablets from water. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
• Keep patches in the pouch. Use within 2 months of opening tray.
• After you take off a skin patch, be sure to fold the sticky sides of the patch to each other.
• Throw away unused patches when they are no longer needed by flushing down a toilet or sink. Take them from the pouch, take off liner, and fold in half.
• In Canada, take any unused drugs to the pharmacy. Also, visit http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/med/disposal-defaire-eng.php#th

General drug facts

• If your child has a very bad allergy, he/she needs to wear an allergy ID at all times.
• You may get this drug by drug order only. If there are refills, call your pharmacy. If your child does not have refills left, you may need to call your child's doctor.
• Get rid of this drug when your child no longer needs it or if the drug is outdated.
• Do not share your child's drug with others and do not give anyone else's drug to your child.
• Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Many drugs do not work with other drugs. Keep a list of all your child's drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your child's doctor.
• Call your doctor for help with any side effects. If in the U.S., you may also call the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or if in Canada, you may also call Health Canada's Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with the doctor before giving your child any new drug, including OTC, natural products, or vitamins.
• If you do not use a drug the right way, it may not be safe. Follow what your child’s doctor tells you.

Copyright © 1978- Lexi-Comp Inc., The Children's Hospital, Denver, CO., and Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This information is protected under US and international copyright law. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited.