Brand Names

How to Use

Take this drug only as directed by your family doctor . Do not take more of it, do not take it more often and do not take it for a longer time than your family doctor ordered. If too much is taken, it may become habit-forming.

Take this drug with or after a meal or a snack.

To help prevent trouble in sleeping, take the last dose of the short-acting tablets before 6 p.m., unless otherwise directed by your family doctor.

If you think this drug is not help you after you have taken it for few weeks, do not increase the dose . Instead, check with your family doctor.

If you are taking the long-acting form of this drug:

• These tablets or capsules are to be swallowed whole. Do not break, open, crush, or chew before swallowing.
• If you are taking Concerta brand of methylphenidate extended-release tablets, you may sometimes notice what looks like a tablet in your stool. This is just the empty shell that is left after the drug has been absorbed into your body.

Dosage

The number of tablets that you take depends on the strength of the drug. Always the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses and the length of time you take the drug depend on the medical problem for which you are using methylphenidate .

• For attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder:
  • For short-acting oral dosage form - tablets:
    • Adults and teenagers 5 to 20 milligrams - mg two or three times a day, taken with or after meals.
    • Children 6 years of age and older To start, 5 mg two times a day, taken with or after breakfast and lunch. If needed, your family doctor may increase the dose once a week by 5 to 10 mg a day until symptoms improve or a maximum dose is reached.
    • Children up to 6 years of age The dose must be determined by the family doctor.
  • For long-acting oral dosage form - extended-release tablets:
    • Adults, teenagers and children The dose must be determined by the family doctor.
  • For long-acting oral dosage form - extended-release capsules:
    • Adults, teenagers and children over 6 years of age The recommended starting dose is 20 mg a day, taken in the morning before breakfast. Your family doctor may increase the dose once a week as needed up to 60 mg a day.
    • Children up to 6 years of age The dose must be determined by the family doctor.
• For narcolepsy:
  • For short-acting oral dosage form - tablets:
    • Adults and teenagers 5 to 20 mg two or three times a day, taken with or after meals.
  • For long-acting oral dosage form - extended-release tablets:
    • Adults and teenagers The dose must be determined by the family doctor.

Missed dose If you miss a dose of this drug, take it as soon as possible. Then take any remaining doses for that day at regularly spaced intervals. Do not double doses.

Storage To store this drug:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the drug to break down.
• Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.