MEDICATION GUIDE

(methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets , USP) Tablets CII

Read the Medication Guide that comes with methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets before you or your child starts taking it and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This Medication Guide does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your or your child’s treatment with methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets.

What is the most important information I should know about methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets? The following have been reported with use of methylphenidate HCl, USP and other stimulant medicines. 1. Heart-related problems: sudden death in patients who have heart problems or heart defects stroke and heart attack in adults 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 tablets. Your doctor should check your or your child’s blood pressure and heart rate regularly during treatment with methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets. 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 tablets. 2. Mental (Psychiatric) problems: All Patients new or worse behavior and thought problems new or worse bipolar illness new or worse aggressive behavior or hostility Children and Teenagers new psychotic symptoms (such as hearing voices, believing things that are not true, are 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 tablets, especially seeing or hearing things that are not real, believing things that are not real, or are suspicious.

What Are Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablets?

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

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

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

Methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets are also used for the treatment of a sleep disorder called narcolepsy.

Who should not take Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablets?

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

• are very anxious, tense, or agitated
• have an eye problem called glaucoma
• have tics or Tourette’s syndrome, or a family history of Tourette’s syndrome. Tics are hard to control repeated movements or sounds.
• have severe high blood pressure or a heart problem
• have hyperthyroidism
• are taking or have taken within the past 14 days an antidepression medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or MAOI.
• are allergic to anything in methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients.

Methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets should not be used in children less than 6 years old because it has not been studied in this age group.

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

• heart problems, heart defects, high blood pressure
• mental problems including psychosis, mania, bipolar illness, or depression
• tics or Tourette’s syndrome
• seizures or have had an abnormal brain wave test (EEG)

Tell your doctor if you or your child is pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Can Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablets be taken with other medicines?

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines that you or your child take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets 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 tablets.

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

Especially tell your doctor if you or your child takes:

• anti-depression medicines including MAOIs
• seizure medicines
• blood thinner medicines
• blood pressure medicines
• cold or allergy medicines that contain decongestants

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

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

How should Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablets be taken?

• Take methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets exactly as prescribed. Your doctor may adjust the dose until it is right for you or your child.
• Methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets are usually taken 2 or 3 times a day.
• Take methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets 30 to 45 minutes before a meal.
• From time to time, your doctor may stop methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets treatment for a while to check ADHD symptoms.
• Your doctor may do regular checks of the blood, heart, and blood pressure while taking methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets. Children should have their height and weight checked often while taking methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets. Methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets treatment may be stopped if a problem is found during these check-ups.
• If you or your child takes too much methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets or overdoses, call your doctor or poison control center right away, or get emergency treatment.

What are possible side effects of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablets?

See"What is the most important information I should know about methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets?" for information on reported heart and mental problems.

Other serious side effects include:

• slowing of growth (height and weight) in children
• seizures, mainly in patients with a history of seizures
• eyesight changes or blurred vision

Common side effects include:

• headache
• decreased appetite
• stomach ache
• nervousness
• trouble sleeping
• dizziness
• nausea
• heart palpitations

Talk to your doctor if you or your child has side effects that are bothersome or do not go away.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

How should I store Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablets?

• Store methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets in a safe place at room temperature, 59 to 86° F (15 to 30° C). Protect from moisture.
• Keep methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablets

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets to other people, even if they have the same condition. It may harm them and it is against the law.

This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets. If you would like more information, talk with your doctor. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets that was written for healthcare professionals. For more information about methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets call 1-866-822-0068.

What are the ingredients in methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets?

Active Ingredient: methylphenidate HCL

Inactive Ingredients: Methylphenidate hydrochloride tablets: lactose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate; 5 mg contains D&C Yellow #10; 10 mg contains FD&C Green #3, and 20 mg contains FD&C Yellow #6..

This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Manufactured by
UCB Manufacturing, Inc.
Rochester, NY 14623 for
Sandoz Inc.
Broomfield, CO 80020