MedlinePlus Drug Information: Dexmethylphenidate

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Other drug names:	A-Am An-Az B C-Ch Ci-Cz D-Dh Di-Dz E F G H I-J K-L M-Mh Mi-Mz N-Nh Ni-Nz O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q-R S-Sn So-Sz T-To Tp-Tz U-V W-Z 0-9

Dexmethylphenidate

(dex meth ill fen' i date)

Brand name(s): Focalin

Contents of this page:
Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow?	What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What storage conditions are needed for this medicine? In case of emergency/overdose What other information should I know?

IMPORTANT WARNING:

Tell your doctor if you drink large amounts of alcohol and if you are or have ever been addicted to or dependent on drugs or alcohol. Dexmethylphenidate can be habit-forming. Take dexmethylphenidate exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Taking too much dexmethylphenidate can cause abnormal behavior, including violence. Do not stop taking dexmethylphenidate without talking to your doctor.

Why is this medication prescribed?

Dexmethylphenidate is used to increase the ability to pay attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dexmethylphenidate is in a class of medications called central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. It works by increasing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain.

How should this medicine be used?

Dexmethylphenidate comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken twice a day, at least 4 hours apart, with or without food. To help you remember to take dexmethylphenidate, take it around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of dexmethylphenidate and gradually increase your dose, not more than once a week.

Before taking dexmethylphenidate, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient and read it carefully.

Other uses for this medicine

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking dexmethylphenidate,

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to dexmethylphenidate, methylphenidate (Concerta, Metadate, Methylin, Ritalin), or any other medications.
do not take dexmethylphenidate if you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or have stopped taking them within the past 2 weeks.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin); antidepressants (mood elevators) such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil); clonidine (Catapres); medications for high blood pressure; medications for seizures such as phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), phenytoin (Dilantin), and primidone (Mysoline); and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor if you have recently had a heart attack, if you have a family history of Tourette's syndrome, and if you have or have ever had depression, anxiety, tension, or agitation; glaucoma; motion tics (twitching), verbal tics (repetition of sounds or words that is hard to control), or Tourette's syndrome; mental illness; seizures; high blood pressure; heart failure; liver disease; or an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking dexmethylphenidate, call your doctor.
you should know that dexmethylphenidate should be used as part of a total treatment program for ADHD, which may include counseling and special education. Make sure to follow all of your doctor's and/or therapist's instructions.

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is less than 4 hours until the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Dexmethylphenidate may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

stomach pain
fever
loss of appetite
upset stomach
vomiting
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
dizziness
nervousness
weight loss
skin rash
headache

Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately:

fast or pounding heartbeat
muscle twitching
blurred vision
seizures
abnormal thinking
seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating)
motion tics (repeated uncontrollable movements)
verbal tics (repeated uncontrollable sounds or words)

Dexmethylphenidate may slow down children's growth or weight gain. Talk to your child's doctor about the risks of taking this medication.

Dexmethylphenidate may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

Because dexmethylphenidate can be misused, keep it in a place where nobody who is not supposed to can take it. Keep track of how many tablets are in the bottle so you will know if any are missing.

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

vomiting
agitation
shaking hands that you cannot control
muscle twitching
seizures
unconsciousness
inappropriate happiness
confusion
seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating)
sweating
flushing
headache
fever
rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
blurred vision
dry mouth

What other information should I know?

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to dexmethylphenidate.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Last Revised - 07/01/2003

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. Disclaimer