Medication Guide

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

Methylphenidate hydrochloride is a federal controlled substance (CII) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep methylphenidate hydrochloride in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away methylphenidate hydrochloride may harm others and is against the law.

Tell your doctor if you or your child have abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines, or street drugs.

The following have been reported with use of methylphenidate hydrochloride and other stimulant medicines:

1.

Heart-related problems:

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sudden death in patients who have heart problems or heart defects

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stroke and heart attack in adults

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increased blood pressure and heart rate

Tell your doctor if you or your child have any heart problems, heart defects, high blood pressure, or a family history of these problems.

Your doctor should check you or your child carefully for heart problems before starting methylphenidate hydrochloride.

Your doctor should check you or your child’s blood pressure and heart rate regularly during treatment with methylphenidate hydrochloride.

Call your doctor right away if you or your child has any signs of heart problems such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting while taking methylphenidate hydrochloride.

2.

Mental (Psychiatric) problems:

All Patients

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new or worse behavior and thought problems

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new or worse bipolar illness

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new or worse aggressive behavior or hostility

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new psychotic symptoms (such as hearing voices, believing things that are not true, are

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suspicious) or new manic symptoms

Tell your doctor about any mental problems you or your child have, or about a family history of suicide, bipolar illness, or depression.

Call your doctor right away if you or your child have any new or worsening mental symptoms or problems while taking methylphenidate hydrochloride, especially seeing or hearing things that are not real, believing things that are not real, or are suspicious.

What is methylphenidate hydrochloride?

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Methylphenidate hydrochloride is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant prescription medicine. It is used for the treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

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Methylphenidate hydrochloride may help increase attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in patients with ADHD.

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

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Methylphenidate hydrochloride is also used in the treatment of a sleep disorder called narcolepsy.

It is not known if methylphenidate hydrochloride is safe and effective in children under 6 years of age.

Who should not take methylphenidate hydrochloride?

Methylphenidate hydrochloride should not be taken if you or your child:

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are allergic to methylphenidate hydrochloride, or any of the ingredients in methylphenidate hydrochloride. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in methylphenidate hydrochloride.

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are taking or have taken within the past 14 days an anti-depression medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or MAOI.

Methylphenidate hydrochloride may not be right for you or your child. Before starting methylphenidate hydrochloride, tell your or your child’s doctor about all health conditions (or a family history of) including:

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heart problems, heart defects, high blood pressure

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mental problems including psychosis, mania, bipolar illness, or depression

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circulation problems in fingers or toes

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if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if methylphenidate hydrochloride will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

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if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Methylphenidate hydrochloride passes into your breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will take methylphenidate hydrochloride or breastfeed.

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines that you or your child takes including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Methylphenidate hydrochloride and some medicines may interact with each other and cause serious side effects. Sometimes the doses of other medicines will need to be adjusted while taking methylphenidate hydrochloride.

Your doctor will decide whether methylphenidate hydrochloride can be taken with other medicines.

Especially tell your doctor if you or your child takes:

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anti-depression medicines including MAOIs

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blood pressure medicines (anti-hypertensive)

Know the medicines that you or your child takes. Keep a list of your medicines with you to show your doctor and pharmacist.

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You should not take methylphenidate hydrochloride on the day of your operation if a certain type of anesthetic is used. This is because there is a chance of a sudden rise in blood pressure and heart rate during the operation.

Do not start any new medicine while taking methylphenidate hydrochloride without talking to your doctor first.

How should methylphenidate hydrochloride be taken?

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Take methylphenidate hydrochloride exactly as prescribed. Your doctor may adjust the dose until it is right for you or your child.

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Methylphenidate hydrochloride is usually taken 2 to 3 times a day.

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Take methylphenidate hydrochloride 30 to 45 minutes before a meal.

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From time to time, your doctor may stop methylphenidate hydrochloride treatment for a while to check ADHD symptoms.

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Your doctor may do regular checks of the blood, heart, and blood pressure while taking methylphenidate hydrochloride.

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Children should have their height and weight checked often while taking methylphenidate hydrochloride. Methylphenidate hydrochloride treatment may be stopped if a problem is found during these check-ups.

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In case of poisoning call your poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

What are the possible side effects of methylphenidate hydrochloride?

Methylphenidate hydrochloride may cause serious side effects, including:

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See “What is the most important information I should know about methylphenidate

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hydrochloride?” for information on reported heart and mental problems.

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painful and prolonged erections (priapism) have occurred with methylphenidate. If you or your

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child develops priapism, seek medical help right away. Because of the potential for lasting

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damage, priapism should be evaluated by a doctor immediately.

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circulation problems in fingers and toes (Peripheral vasculopathy, including Raynaud’s

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phenomenon):

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fingers or toes may feel numb, cool, painful

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fingers or toes may change color from pale, to blue, to red

Tell your doctor if you or your child have, numbness, pain, skin color change, or sensitivity to temperature in the fingers or toes.

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Call your doctor right away if you have or your child has any signs of unexplained wounds appearing on fingers or toes while taking methylphenidate hydrochloride.

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slowing of growth (height and weight) in children

Common side effects include:

• fast heart beat • abnormal heartbeat (palpitations) • headache • trouble sleeping • nervousness

• sweating a lot • decreased appetite • dry mouth • nausea • stomach pain

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at

1-800-FDA-1088 .

How should I store methylphenidate hydrochloride?

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Store methylphenidate hydrochloride in a safe place and in a tightly closed container at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).

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Protect from light.

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Dispose of remaining, unused, or expired methylphenidate hydrochloride by a medicine take-back program at authorized collection sites such as retail pharmacies, hospital or clinic pharmacies, and law enforcement locations. If no take-back program or authorized collector is available, mix methylphenidate hydrochloride with an undesirable, nontoxic substance such as dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds to make it less appealing to children and pets. Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag and throw away (discard) methylphenidate hydrochloride in the household trash.

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Keep methylphenidate hydrochloride and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about the safe and effective use of methylphenidate hydrochloride.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for information about methylphenidate hydrochloride that is written for healthcare professionals. Do not use methylphenidate hydrochloride for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give methylphenidate hydrochloride to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them and it is against the law.