Select therapeutic use:

ADHD:

Indications for: RITALIN

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Adult Dosage:

Give in 2–3 divided doses preferably 30–45mins before meals. Usual dose: 20–30mg/day. Max 60mg/day.

Children Dosage:

<6yrs: not established. ≥6yrs: initially 5mg twice daily before breakfast and lunch. May increase by 5–10mg weekly; max 60mg/day.

RITALIN Contraindications:

During or within 14 days of MAOIs.

Boxed Warning:

Abuse and dependence.

RITALIN Warnings/Precautions:

High potential for abuse and dependence: monitor. Increased risk of sudden death, stroke, and MI; assess for presence of cardiac disease before initiating. Avoid in known structural cardiac abnormalities, cardiomyopathy, serious arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, and other cardiac problems. Pre-existing psychotic disorder. Bipolar disorder. Screen for risk factors of developing a manic episode prior to initiation. Consider discontinuing if new psychotic/manic symptoms occur. Peripheral vasculopathy, including Raynaud's Phenomenon; monitor for digital changes. Monitor growth (esp. children), BP, HR. Reduce dose or discontinue if paradoxical aggravation of symptoms occur. Reevaluate periodically. Pregnancy. Nursing mothers: monitor infants.

See Also:

RITALIN Classification:

CNS stimulant.

RITALIN Interactions:

See Contraindications. Hypertensive crisis with MAOIs. Avoid concomitant use with halogenated anesthetics (eg, halothane, isoflurane), alcohol. May antagonize antihypertensive drugs (eg, K+-sparing or thiazide diuretics, CCBs, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta blockers, centrally acting alpha-2 receptor agonists); monitor and adjust dose of antihypertensives as needed. Concomitant risperidone may increase risk of extrapyramidal symptoms; monitor.

Adverse Reactions:

Headache, insomnia, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, anorexia, tachycardia, palpitations, anxiety, hyperhidrosis, weight loss, dry mouth, nausea; priapism, hypertension.

Metabolism:

  • Methylphenidate is metabolized primarily by de-esterification to alpha-phenyl-piperidine acetic acid (ritalinic acid), which has little or no pharmacologic activity.

Drug Elimination:

  • After oral administration, 78% to 97% of the dose is excreted in the urine and 1% to 3% in feces in the form of metabolites within 48 to 96 hours.

  • Most of the dose is excreted in the urine as alpha-phenyl-2-piperidine acetic acid (60% to 86%).

Generic Drug Availability:

YES

How Supplied:

Caps, tabs—100

Sleep-wake disorders:

Indications for: RITALIN

Narcolepsy.

Adult Dosage:

Give in 2–3 divided doses preferably 30–45mins before meals. Usual dose: 20–30mg/day. Max 60mg/day.

Children Dosage:

<6yrs: not established. ≥6yrs: initially 5mg twice daily before breakfast and lunch. May increase by 5–10mg weekly; max 60mg/day.

RITALIN Contraindications:

During or within 14 days of MAOIs.

Boxed Warning:

Abuse and dependence.

RITALIN Warnings/Precautions:

High potential for abuse and dependence: monitor. Increased risk of sudden death, stroke, and MI; assess for presence of cardiac disease before initiating. Avoid in known structural cardiac abnormalities, cardiomyopathy, serious arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, and other cardiac problems. Pre-existing psychotic disorder. Bipolar disorder. Screen for risk factors of developing a manic episode prior to initiation. Consider discontinuing if new psychotic/manic symptoms occur. Peripheral vasculopathy, including Raynaud's Phenomenon; monitor for digital changes. Monitor growth (esp. children), BP, HR. Reduce dose or discontinue if paradoxical aggravation of symptoms occur. Reevaluate periodically. Pregnancy. Nursing mothers: monitor infants.

RITALIN Classification:

CNS stimulant.

RITALIN Interactions:

See Contraindications. Hypertensive crisis with MAOIs. Avoid concomitant use with halogenated anesthetics (eg, halothane, isoflurane), alcohol. May antagonize antihypertensive drugs (eg, K+-sparing or thiazide diuretics, CCBs, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta blockers, centrally acting alpha-2 receptor agonists); monitor and adjust dose of antihypertensives as needed. Concomitant risperidone may increase risk of extrapyramidal symptoms; monitor.

Adverse Reactions:

Headache, insomnia, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, anorexia, tachycardia, palpitations, anxiety, hyperhidrosis, weight loss, dry mouth, nausea; priapism, hypertension.

Metabolism:

  • Methylphenidate is metabolized primarily by de-esterification to alpha-phenyl-piperidine acetic acid (ritalinic acid), which has little or no pharmacologic activity.

Drug Elimination:

  • After oral administration, 78% to 97% of the dose is excreted in the urine and 1% to 3% in feces in the form of metabolites within 48 to 96 hours.

  • Most of the dose is excreted in the urine as alpha-phenyl-2-piperidine acetic acid (60% to 86%).

Generic Drug Availability:

YES

How Supplied:

Tabs—100