methylphenidate ER

Methylphenidate ER has a risk of misuse and dependence. Misuse is when a medication is used differently than how it's prescribed. Misusing methylphenidate ER raises your risk for serious side effects such as fast heart rate, high blood pressure, aggressive behavior, and even thoughts of hurting yourself.

There have been reports of sudden death, stroke, and heart attack in people who took methylphenidate ER at usual doses. Methylphenidate ER can also raise your blood pressure and heart rate. Tell your provider if you have a history of heart problems before starting methylphenidate ER to make sure it's safe for you to take. Your provider will check for heart problems before starting treatment with this medication. Contact your provider if you experience unexplained fainting, chest pain with physical activity, or irregular heartbeat while you're taking methylphenidate ER.

Taking a stimulant like methylphenidate ER can cause mental health problems such as hallucinations (seeing things that aren't really there), abnormal or unclear thinking, and mania. This medication can worsen mood-related problems that you already have. But these changes in mood or behavior can also happen even if you haven't had these problems before. If you develop these mood- and behavior-related symptoms while taking methylphenidate ER, talk to your healthcare provider right away because you might have to stop taking it.

Although rare, some people taking methylphenidate ER experienced prolonged and painful erections. Sometimes, it might require surgery to treat. This was typically reported after the dose was raised, but could also happen when the medication was stopped. If you develop a painful erection that lasts longer than 4 hours, stop taking methylphenidate ER and get medical attention immediately.

Methylphenidate ER might be linked to poor blood circulation problems, such as Raynaud's phenomenon. People with Raynaud's phenomenon can experience episodes of poor blood flow to the fingers and toes, which can cause the skin to turn pale and to feel cold, numb, or painful. If this happens, symptoms are typically mild. But rarely, it can cause sores or ulcers in more serious cases. Let your healthcare provider know if you notice symptoms of circulation problems, such as bouts of numbness or pain in your fingers or toes. Your provider might need to lower your dose of methylphenidate ER or ask you to consider a different medication.

In studies, children taking stimulants like methylphenidate ER daily throughout the year had a temporary slowing of growth. On average, the children in these studies had 2 cm less growth in height and 6 pounds less growth in weight over 3 years. Your child's provider will track your child's growth progress closely. If they suspect slowed growth, they might pause or stop your child's methylphenidate ER treatment. Talk to your child's provider if you have concerns.

Serotonin syndrome is a rare, but potentially life-threatening condition where there's too much serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is one of the chemicals in your brain responsible for your mood. Your risk for this condition goes up if you use methylphenidate ER with other medications that affect serotonin levels, such as antidepressants (e.g., sertraline (Zoloft), duloxetine (Cymbalta)), MAOIs (e.g., phenelzine (Nardil)), linezolid (Zyvox), and certain migraine medications (e.g., sumatriptan (Imitrex)). Let your provider know about all the medications you take or plan to take before starting methylphenidate ER. Be aware of symptoms of serotonin syndrome, which include fast heart rate, sweating, muscle stiffness or spasms, high fever, and confusion. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms.