Last updated on October 8, 2021
| Table 2 Prescribing Information for Methylphenidate (Ritalin ®) | ||
| Optimum Dosage 0.6 mg/kg Usual maximum 60 mg/day |
Drug Interactions Diphenylhydantoin Phenobarbital Primidone Tricyclic antidepressants Monoamine oxidase inhibitors Diazepam Anticholinergics |
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| Minor Short-Term Transient Side-Effects Anorexia (over 20 mg/day) Weight loss (over 20 mg/day) Abdominal pain (give just before meals)a Insomnia Headache a Urticaria a Minor tachycardia (8 beats/min) Minor increase in blood pressure (6 mm) |
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| Contra-indications Anxiety, tension, agitation Thyrotoxicosis Tachyarrhythmias Presence of motor tics Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome Family history of Tourette’s |
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| Major Side-Effects Growth suppression (not significant); insure drug holidays Tics (responds to haloperidol) Lowering of seizure thresholdb Tactile hallucinationsa, b Severe regressiona, b |
Drug Withdrawal Effects Depression Over-activity |
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| Concurrent Treatment and Alternatives Behaviour modification Cognitive therapy Remedial education Environmental manipulation |
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| a. Rare. b. Reversible if medication is discontinued. |
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Jennifer is a clinical pharmacologist. She helps doctors of all medical specialties choose medications. Jennifer consults about drug dosage, interactions, and side effects.