Your healthcare provider has prescribed methylphenidate for your child based on current evidence-based guidelines to best address their mental health condition. While this medication is effective, it is important to understand that it may come with potential side effects. As a patient or caregiver, being informed about these risks and benefits is crucial. Additionally, knowing how to monitor for side effects and understanding strategies to reduce or manage them is essential. This guide aims to provide you with this knowledge, ensuring you are well-informed and confident in managing your child’s treatment.
This document covers all formulations of methylphenidate, which are available under various brand names including, but not limited to, Ritalin, Metadate, Concerta, Jornay, Cotempla, Quillivant, Quillichew, Adhansia, Aptensio, Daytrana, and Methylin. These brands represent different release formulations of methylphenidate, affecting how long they last and how the medication is released. For example, Metadate CD is 30% immediate release and 70% extended release over 8 hours, while Concerta is 22% immediate release and 78% extended release over 12 hours. Your provider has chosen a specific brand based on your child’s unique needs and how their symptoms need to be managed throughout the day. |
Methylphenidate belongs to a group of medicines known as stimulants. Stimulants help improve ADHD symptoms by increasing the levels of certain chemicals in the brain, called dopamine and norepinephrine, which help with focus and attention.
Your doctor may prescribe methylphenidate for
To find the right dose for your child, we start with a low dose and gradually increase it. Initial doses typically begin at around 0.3 to 0.5 mg/kg per day. We adjust the dose until there is a significant improvement in ADHD symptoms or until side effects prevent further increases. The maximum recommended daily dose for methylphenidate is around 2.0 mg/kg per day. The FDA has also set specific maximum daily doses for each formulation of methylphenidate.
Heart Rhythm Disturbances
Methylphenidate can sometimes cause heart rhythm disturbances, which can feel like a racing, irregular, or skipped heartbeat. This side effect is rare and usually happens in patients who are more likely to have it due to their genes.
How to Minimize the Risk of This Side Effect:
If your child experiences any irregular or skipped heartbeats, or persistent racing heartbeats, contact your provider immediately. If it is after hours, call 911 or go to urgent care, as immediate intervention might be required. |
Psychosis
In patients with a genetic predisposition or history of psychosis, methylphenidate can potentially worsen symptoms depending on the dosage. We do not prescribe this medication to patients with a history of psychosis.
How to Manage This Side Effect?
Lowering of Seizure threshold
In patients with a seizure disorder, methylphenidate may potentially lower the seizure threshold, although current data are contradictory.
How to Manage This Risk?
To learn more about this medication please visit MedlinePlus, a official US government website, part of National Library of Medicine and managed by National Institute of Health by clicking HERE