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Methylphenidate

Medication Information Leaflet

What is this medication for?

Methylphenidate is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It works by stimulating the brain to increase attention, concentration, reduce impulsive and hyperactive behaviour and manage certain sleep disorders.

Methylphenidate is available as an immediate-release preparation or modified-release preparations.

The immediate-release preparation releases the medication relatively quickly in the body and the effects gradually wear-off over a few hours.

Modified-release preparations mean that the medication is released slowly during the day, for a longer duration of effects. These preparations have the letters ‘LA’ (long-acting), ‘SR’ (sustained-release), ‘MR’ (modified-release) or ‘ER’(extended-release) after the brand name, and may differ in their duration of effects.

Methylphenidate Tablet (Ritalin®, Rubifen®)
Methylphenidate LA Capsule (Ritalin® LA)
Methylphenidate SR Capsule (Ritalin® SR)
Methylphenidate MR Capsule (Medikinet® MR)
Methylphenidate ER Tablet (Concerta® ER)

How should I take this medication?

Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.
Most methylphenidate preparations can be taken with or without food, except for Medikinet® MR. Medikinet® MR should be taken with or after food as it may affect the absorption of the medication into the body.
For immediate-release preparations, do not take it too late in the evening as it may cause trouble sleeping.
If you are taking the modified-release preparations, the capsules/tablets must not be crushed or chewed. For Ritalin® LA and Medikinet® MR, the capsules may be opened and the contents sprinkled onto a small amount (tablespoon) of room temperature or cold food (e.g. applesauce, yoghurt). It must be taken immediately and not stored for future use.
Your doctor would start the medication at a low dose, and then slowly adjust the dose according to your response to the medication.
For Concerta® ER , the tablet does not dissolve completely after all of the medication has been released and sometimes the tablet shell may appear in your stools. This is normal.

What should I do if I forget to take this medication?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies currently or in the last two weeks.
You have a history of or current medical conditions such as blood vessel disease, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, mental health disorders, glaucoma, overactive thyroid, seizures (fits), hard-to-control or repeated twitching of any parts of the body or you repeat sounds and words (Tourette’s syndrome or tics disorder)

IMPORTANT:

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

In rare cases, this medication may cause the following changes to a person's mental condition, especially in the first few weeks of treatment or during dose changes:

Worsening agitation, restlessness, violent behaviour, or
New or worsening thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life
Other changes in mood or behaviour

Please inform your doctor as soon as possible, or for your family or caregiver to inform your doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.

Do not stop taking this medication on your own without discussing with your doctor.

It is important to note that your doctor has prescribed this medication as he/she feels you will benefit more from taking this medication over the possible risks that it may cause, which have a low chance of occurring, and most people take this medication without such problems.

What are some common side-effects of this medication?

This include:

Stomach discomfort e.g. stomach pain, nausea, vomiting

Take it after food to minimise these side effects.

Dry mouth
Mild headache, body ache
Nervousness, not being able to sleep

Avoid taking the medication too late in the day as it may keep you awake

Dizzy or lightheadedness

Stand up slowly from a lying position

Loss of appetite – weight loss may occur during the first few months of treatment

Most of these side effects will get better or go away as your body gets used to the medication.

Inform your doctor if the side effects above become severe and bothersome.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
Difficulty in breathing
Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

Very rarely, this medication may cause:

Fast or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
Uncontrolled speech and/or tics (uncontrolled and repeated body movements)
Seizures, confusion
Changes in eyesight e.g. blurred vision
Prolonged and/or painful erections (for males) lasting up to 4 hours and beyond.
Increase in blood pressure
New or worsening signs of delusions (false beliefs), hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real) or mania (abnormally high or excited mood)

What food or medication should I avoid when I take this medication?

Avoid taking alcohol when you are taking this medication as alcohol may interact with your medication and increase the risk of side-effects.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How should I throw away this medication safely?

Pack this medication into a trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing it into the rubbish chute or bin.

Disclaimers

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.

Last updated on July 2022

This article was last reviewed on Friday, September 15, 2023