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Ritalin / MethylphenidateProper Use of This Medication: * This medication can be habit-forming. Do not change doses without first consulting with your prescriber. * Take this medicine exactly as directed. Do not take more of it and do not take it more often than prescribed. Do not miss any doses. * If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. * Methylphenidate may be taken with or without food. * Do not crush or chew the sustained release formulation. * Do not drink alcohol while taking this medication, as it may interfere with its effectiveness. * If there is a possibility you may become pregnant or breast-feed while on this medication, first consult with your psychiatrist. * This medication should not be discontinued without first consulting with your psychiatrist. * Store this medication in a cool, safe area away from the reach of children. This medication is usually well-tolerated. However possible side effects include: * Weight loss, decreased appetite: If this is a problem, take right after eating. Tolerance often develops after a couple months. * Difficulty with sleep: Take as early in the day as possible. Avoid taking after 5:00 p.m. * Excessive stimulation: Consider decreasing the dose or waiting longer between doses. * Nervousness: This may occur when beginning to take this medication or increasing the dose. * Increased blood pressure: Have your blood pressure checked weekly while on this. * Increased resting heart rate: This tends to return to normal after a couple months. * Infrequent side effects may include: headache, abdominal discomfort, fatigue. The following medications may interact with ritalin. Tell your provider if you are taking any of the following medications: * Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (Nardil/phenelzine, Parnate/tranylcypromine). * Theophylline (used to treat asthma). * Tricyclic antidepressants (Elavil/amitriptyline, nortriptyline, desipramine, imipramine, doxepin, etc.), fluoxetine/Prozac, phenytoin/ Dilantin, coumarin/Coumadin. * Other stimulating medications, such as phenylpropanolamine, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine (found in many OTC cold preparations and OTC diet pills), some asthma medications. |
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