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Information on ADHD Medications »
ADHD medications are drugs used to treat some of the characteristic behaviors associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, including inattention, hyperactivity, and poor impulse control.
Drugs used to treat ADHD target chemicals in the brain known as neurotransmitters. One type of ADHD medication works by increasing levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Another type of ADHD drug increases the level of another neurotransmitter, norepinephrine.
ADHD drug treatment should begin only after a specific diagnosis of ADHD has been made. A clinical diagnosis requires that symptoms have persisted for at least six months. There is no blood test or radiological scan that can diagnose ADHD.
Most children with ADHD are diagnosed in preschool or early in elementary school. It's estimated that up to 7%-8% of school-age children in the United States have ADHD. In addition, it may be present ...
Signs and symptoms of acute methylphenidate overdosage, resulting principally from overstimulation of the CNS and from excessive sympathomimetic effects, may include the following: vomiting, agitation, tremors, hyperreflexia, muscle twitching, convulsions (may be followed by coma), euphoria, confusion, hallucinations, delirium, sweating, flushing, headache, hyperpyrexia, tachycardia, palpitations, cardiac arrhythmias, hypertension, mydriasis, and dryness of mucous membranes.
Treatment consists of appropriate supportive measures. The patient must be protected against self-injury and against external stimuli that would aggravate overstimulation already present. Gastric contents may be evacuated by gastric lavage as indicated. Before performing gastric lavage, control agitation and seizures if present and protect the airway. Other measures to detoxify the gut include administration of activated charcoal and a cathartic. Intensive care must be provided to maintain adequate circulation and respiratory exchange; external cooling procedures may be required for hyperpyrexia.
Efficacy of peritoneal dialysis or extracorporeal hemodialysis for METADATE CD (methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules) overdosage has not been established.
The prolonged release of methylphenidate from METADATE CD (methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules) should be considered when treating patients with overdose.
As with the management of all overdosage, the possibility of multiple drug ingestion should be considered. The physician may wish to consider contacting a poison control center for up-to-date information on the management of overdosage with methylphenidate.
METADATE CD (methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules) is contraindicated in patients with marked anxiety, tension and agitation, since the drug may aggravate these symptoms.
METADATE CD (methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules) is contraindicated in patients known to be hypersensitive to methylphenidate or other components of the product.
METADATE CD (methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules) contains sucrose. Therefore, patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption, or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency should not take this medicine.
METADATE CD (methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules) is contraindicated in patients with glaucoma.
METADATE CD (methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules) is contraindicated in patients with motor tics or with a family history or diagnosis of Tourette's syndrome (see ADVERSE REACTIONS).
METADATE CD (methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules) is contraindicated during treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and also within a minimum of 14 days following discontinuation of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (hypertensive crises may result).
METADATE CD (methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules) is contraindicated in patients with severe hypertension, angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, recent myocardial infarction, hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis (see WARNINGS).
There is a risk of sudden blood pressure increase during surgery. If surgery is planned, METADATE CD (methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules) should not be taken on the day of the surgery.
Last reviewed on RxList: 11/23/2010
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.
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