Brand Names: Concerta, Metadate CD, Metadate ER, Methylin, Methylin ER, Ritalin, Ritalin LA, Ritalin-SR

Generic Name: methylphenidate (Pronunciation: METH il FEN i date)

• What is methylphenidate (Ritalin)?
• What are the possible side effects of methylphenidate?
• What is the most important information I should know about methylphenidate?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking methylphenidate?
• How should I take methylphenidate?
• What happens if I miss a dose?
• What happens if I overdose?
• What should I avoid while taking methylphenidate?
• What other drugs will affect methylphenidate?
• Where can I get more information?

What is methylphenidate (Ritalin)?

Methylphenidate is a central nervous system stimulant. It affects chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control.

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

Methylphenidate may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Concerta 18 mg

oblong, yellow, imprinted with alza 18

Concerta 36 mg

oblong, white, imprinted with alza 36

Concerta 54 mg

oblong, red, imprinted with alza 54

Methylin 10 mg

round, white, imprinted with 10, M

Methylin 20 mg

round, white, imprinted with 20, M inside square

Methylin 5 mg

round, white, imprinted with 5, M inside square

Methylphenidate 10 mg-APH

round, blue, imprinted with MD, 530

Methylphenidate 10 mg-GG

round, yellow, imprinted with MD, 531

Methylphenidate 10 mg-WAT

round, green, imprinted with 5883, DAN 10

Methylphenidate 20 mg-APH

round, orange, imprinted with MD, 532

Methylphenidate 20 mg-GG

round, orange, imprinted with MD, 532

Methylphenidate 20 mg-WAT

round, peach, imprinted with 5884, DAN 20

Methylphenidate 5 mg-APH

round, yellow, imprinted with MD, 531

Methylphenidate 5 mg-GG

round, blue, imprinted with MD, 530

Methylphenidate 5 mg-WAT

round, lavender, imprinted with 5882, DAN 5

Methylphenidate ER 20 mg-WAT

oval, white, imprinted with 3111, WPI

Ritalin 10 mg

round, green, imprinted with CIBA, 3

Ritalin 5 mg

round, yellow, imprinted with CIBA, 7

What are the possible side effects of methylphenidate?

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

Stop taking methylphenidate and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats;
• feeling like you might pass out;
• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
• aggression, restlessness, hallucinations, unusual behavior, or motor tics (muscle twitches);
• easy bruising, purple spots on your skin; or
• dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Less serious side effects may include:

• stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;
• vision problems, dizziness, mild headache;
• sweating, mild skin rash;
• numbness, tingling, or cold feeling in your hands or feet;
• nervous feeling, sleep problems (insomnia); or
• weight loss.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about methylphenidate?

Do not use methylphenidate if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you use methylphenidate before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to methylphenidate or if you have glaucoma, overactive thyroid, severe high blood pressure, tics or Tourette's syndrome, angina, heart failure, heart rhythm disorder, recent heart attack, a hereditary condition such as fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption, or sucrase-isomaltase deficiency, or severe anxiety, tension, or agitation.

Methylphenidate may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Methylphenidate should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.