Methylphenidate – What is it for, how to use it and side effects

ADHD is a neural metabolic disorder that results in maladaptive behaviors (the most common: impulsiveness, restlessness, difficulty keeping quiet or stopping talking; difficulties maintaining attention in activities that are too long, repetitive or uninteresting to the child). individual; ease of distraction by external stimuli or “internal” thoughts, giving the impression of being “absent”).

Patients with the syndrome often earn nicknames and are stigmatized; methylphenidate may help to break the “vicious circle” created by hyperactivity in particular. Methylphenidate can only be used under specialized medical supervision in this type of disorder. As it is a psychostimulant medication, its use would lead to greater production and reuse of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine. Methylphenidate Hydrochloride works by improving the activities of certain parts of the brain that are underactive. Methylphenidate Hydrochloride improves attention and concentration, as well as reducing impulsive behavior.

Methylphenidate Hydrochloride is indicated as part of a comprehensive treatment program that typically includes psychological, educational, and social measures aimed at stable patients with a behavioral syndrome characterized by moderate to severe distractibility, attention deficit hyperactivity, emotional lability, and impulsivity. The diagnosis must be made according to the DSM-IV criteria or the ICD-10 guidelines.

How to Use Methylphenidate:  The dose used by children up to 6 years of age has not yet been established. For children over 6 years of age with attention deficit disorder, the oral dose is 5 mg twice daily. The dose can be increased weekly by 5 to 10 mg, up to a maximum of 60 mg. In adults, the usual dose is 5 to 20 mg, two to three times a day. Note: Recent changes to the Ritalin package insert change the maximum dose of the drug.

• For the treatment of ADHD: New maximum dosage – from 60mg to 80mg/day.
• For the treatment of Narcolepsy: New maximum dosage – from 40mg to 60mg/day.

Contraindications for Methylphenidate:

• Hypersensitivity to methylphenidate or to any excipient;
• Anxiety, tension;
• Agitation;
• Hyperthyroidism;
• Pre-existing cardiovascular disorders including severe hypertension, angina, arterial occlusive disease, heart failure, hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease,
• cardiomyopathies, myocardial infarction, potentially life-threatening arrhythmias, and channelopathies (disorders caused by dysfunction of ion channels);
• During treatment with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, or within at least 2 weeks of discontinuation of treatment, due to the risk of hypertensive crises;
• Glaucoma;
• Pheochromocytoma;
• Diagnosis or family history of Tourette syndrome.

Methylphenidate Side Effects:  Nervousness and insomnia are very common adverse reactions that occur at the beginning of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride treatment, but can usually be managed by reducing the dose and/or omitting the afternoon or evening dose.

Decreased appetite is also very common, but usually transient. Abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting are common to very common, usually occurring at the beginning of treatment and may be relieved by concomitant feeding.