Concerta Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Concerta Tablet (methylphenidate) is a central nervous system stimulant prescription medicine used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is an extended-release form of methylphenidate that releases medicine slowly over the day so fewer doses are needed. It is approved for children 6 years and older, adolescents, and adults up to age 65, and is used as part of a total treatment program that may include counseling or other therapies.

What is Concerta Tablet

Concerta is a central nervous system stimulant prescription medicine used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is an extended-release form of methylphenidate, which means it releases medicine slowly over the day so fewer doses are needed.

Concerta Tablet uses

• Treats attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children 6 years and older, adolescents, and adults up to age 65
• Used as part of a total treatment program for ADHD that may include counseling or other therapies
• Sometimes prescribed off-label by doctors for other conditions such as certain sleep disorders

Benefits of Concerta Tablet

• Helps improve attention and focus on tasks
• Helps manage hyperactivity and impulse control
• May help with organizing tasks and improving listening skills

How Concerta Tablet works

Concerta changes the levels of certain natural brain chemicals, including dopamine and norepinephrine. Dopamine helps create feelings of motivation and reward, while norepinephrine helps the brain pay attention. By boosting these chemicals, Concerta helps improve focus and reduce hyperactivity.

Concerta Tablet dosage

Take this medicine exactly as your doctor prescribes and follow the directions on your prescription label. It is usually taken once daily in the morning; taking it later in the day may cause trouble sleeping. It can be taken with or without food, but take it the same way each time. Swallow extended-release tablets whole; do not crush or chew them, since this can release the medicine too quickly and increase side effects. Only break the tablet if it is scored and your doctor or pharmacist tells you to. Try to take it at the same time every day to help you remember. Do not change your dose or stop taking it suddenly without talking to your doctor, since stopping suddenly can cause mood changes or other problems. Children taking this medicine should have their height and weight checked often. You may notice the empty tablet shell in a bowel movement; this is normal and not a cause for concern.

Available forms and strengths

• Extended-release tablet

Side effects of Concerta Tablet

Common

• Sweating
• Increased blood pressure
• Mood changes, anxiety, feeling nervous or irritable
• Trouble sleeping
• Fast heart rate, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in chest
• Loss of appetite, weight loss
• Dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, indigestion
• Headache, dizziness
• Congestion and throat pain
• Fever
• Stomachaches or diarrhea
• Twitching and tics, especially with long-term use

Serious

• Signs of heart problems: chest pain, trouble breathing, feeling like you might pass out
• Signs of psychosis: hallucinations, new behavior problems, aggression, hostility, paranoia
• Signs of poor blood circulation in fingers or toes: numbness, pain, cold feeling, unexplained wounds, or skin color changes
• Painful or prolonged erection lasting 4 hours or longer
• Eye problems: changes in vision, eye pain, swelling, or redness
• Signs of tics: new or worsening repeated movements or sounds, or worsening Tourette's syndrome
• Signs of serotonin syndrome: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Slowed growth in children
• Seizures
• Blockages of the intestines or esophagus
• Signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Signs of a stroke: one-sided weakness, slurred speech, sudden vision changes, confusion

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine if you have glaucoma, tics or Tourette's syndrome, or severe anxiety, tension, or agitation.
• This medicine can be habit-forming and is a drug of abuse. Tell your doctor if you have had problems with drug or alcohol abuse, and keep the medication where others cannot get to it.
• Stimulant medicines like this one have caused stroke, heart attack, and sudden death in people with high blood pressure, heart disease, or a heart defect.
• Do not take this medicine if you have used a medicine called an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, as a dangerous interaction could occur.
• This medicine may cause new or worsening psychosis, such as unusual thoughts or behavior, especially if you have a history of depression, mental illness, or bipolar disorder.
• Stopping this medicine suddenly without a doctor's guidance may cause serious symptoms such as depression, suicidal thoughts, or other mood changes.
• Becoming dependent on this medicine during pregnancy can cause early birth or low birth weight in the baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, since methylphenidate should only be used in pregnancy if truly necessary.
• Ask your doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using this medicine, since the drug can pass into breast milk. Watch for symptoms in the baby such as agitation, sleep problems, feeding problems, or reduced weight gain.
• Concerta is a prescription controlled stimulant and should be used only under medical supervision. Blood pressure, heart rate, appetite, weight, sleep, and growth may require monitoring.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine, since it may worsen dizziness and other side effects. Avoid driving or doing anything dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you, since it may slow your reactions.

Storage

• Store Concerta tightly closed at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light
• Keep your medicine in a place where no one can use it improperly
• Do not keep leftover medicine; ask your pharmacist about a drug take-back program
• You may also mix leftover medicine with cat litter or coffee grounds in a sealed plastic bag and throw the bag in the trash

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you have chest pain, trouble breathing, or feel like you might pass out.
• Seek medical attention right away if you notice symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, or loss of coordination.
• Seek immediate medical attention for fainting, seizures, chest pain, or signs of a stroke such as one-sided weakness, slurred speech, sudden vision changes, or confusion.
• If an erection lasts 4 hours or longer or is painful, stop the medicine and contact your doctor right away.
• If you think you may have taken too much of this medicine, seek emergency medical attention right away, as an overdose could be fatal.

Alternatives

• Clonidine ER
• Guanfacine ER
• Atomoxetine
• Focalin XR (Dexmethylphenidate)