Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects of Concerta.
Chemical Name: METHYLPHENIDATE (meth-ill-FEN-i-date)
Concerta 54mg is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
WARNING: Use Concerta 54mg with caution if you have a history of emotional problems or alcohol or substance abuse. Abuse of Concerta 54mg may cause it to not work as well. Abuse may also lead to addiction and severe mental changes. Do not suddenly stop using Concerta 54mg. Depression or other mental problems may occur. Your doctor should slowly lower your dose over a period of time if you need to stop using it. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with Concerta 54mg. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE CONCERTA 54mg if you are also taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (such as furazolidone, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, selegiline, isocarboxazid, or tranylcypromine), or if you have taken an MAOI within the past 14 days. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking anticoagulants (such as warfarin), certain anticonvulsants (such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, or primidone), clonidine, guanadrel, guanethidine, phenylbutazone, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (such as fluoxetine), tricyclic antidepressants (such as amitriptyline), pressor agents (such as norepinephrine), or medicine for high blood pressure. DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions including a history of alcohol or other substance abuse, mental or mood problems (such as agitation, anxiety, tension, bipolar disorder, depression, psychosis, abnormal thoughts, hallucinations), suicidal thoughts or actions; heart problems (such as heart failure, fast or irregular heartbeat, recent heart attack), high blood pressure, seizures, abnormal electroencephalograms (EEGs), overactive thyroid, chronic fatigue, cystic fibrosis, esophagus problems (such as narrowing), stomach or bowel problems (such as blockage, inflammation, or narrowing), allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR IF A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY has a history of irregular heartbeat, sudden death, mental or mood problems, suicidal thoughts or attempts, or alcohol or other substance abuse or dependence. USE OF CONCERTA 54mg IS NOT RECOMMENDED if you are not able to swallow the tablet whole; or if you have severe heart problems (such as heart defect or severe irregular heartbeat); severe anxiety, tension, or agitation; glaucoma; motor tics; or a personal or family history of Tourette's syndrome. Use of Concerta 54mg in children under age 6 is not recommended. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of giving Concerta 54mg to your child. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using Concerta 54mg.
Follow the directions for using Concerta 54mg provided by your doctor. Concerta 54mg comes with a MEDICATION GUIDE approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Read it carefully each time you refill Concerta 54mg. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about Concerta 54mg. TAKE CONCERTA 54mg by mouth in the morning unless otherwise directed by your doctor. SWALLOW WHOLE with a full glass of liquid (such as water, milk, or juice). Do NOT break, crush, or chew before swallowing. Concerta 54mg may be taken on an empty stomach or with food. STORE CONCERTA 54mg at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C), away from heat, moisture, and light. Brief storage between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. KEEP CONCERTA 54mg out of the reach of children and away from pets. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF CONCERTA 54mg, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
DO NOT TAKE CONCERTA 54mg if you are allergic to it or to any ingredient in this product. DO NOT EXCEED THE RECOMMENDED DOSE or take Concerta 54mg for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor. Exceeding the recommended dose or taking Concerta 54mg for longer than prescribed may be habit-forming. If using Concerta 54mg for an extended period of time, DO NOT SUDDENLY STOP taking Concerta 54mg without your doctor's approval. When used for an extended period of time, Concerta 54mg may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if Concerta 54mg stops working well. Laboratory and/or medical tests, including heart function, blood pressure, complete blood counts, and platelet counts may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LABORATORY APPOINTMENTS while you are using Concerta 54mg. CONCERTA 54mg MAY BE VISIBLE on abdominal x-rays. If you will be having an abdominal x-ray, be sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know you use Concerta 54mg. BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY MEDICAL OR DENTAL TREATMENTS, EMERGENCY CARE, OR SURGERY, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using Concerta 54mg. YOU MAY NOTICE the tablet shell in your stool. This is normal and not a cause for concern. SERIOUS EFFECTS including heart attack, stroke and sudden death have occurred with the use of stimulant medicines in patients with heart defects or other serious heart problems. If you have a heart defect or other serious heart problem, talk with your doctor about other therapies to treat your condition. Concerta 54mg may cause drowsiness or dizziness. DO NOT DRIVE, OPERATE MACHINERY, OR DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS until you know how you react to Concerta 54mg. Using Concerta 54mg alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. CONCERTA 54mg MAY AFFECT growth rate and weight gain in children and teenagers. They may need regular growth and weight checks while taking Concerta 54mg. CAUTION IS ADVISED WHEN USING CONCERTA 54mg IN CHILDREN because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the medicine especially loss of appetite, stomach pain, trouble sleeping and fast heartbeat. FOR WOMEN: IF YOU PLAN ON BECOMING PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Concerta 54mg during pregnancy. IT IS UNKNOWN IF CONCERTA 54mg IS EXCRETED in breast-milk. IF YOU ARE OR WILL BE BREAST-FEEDING while you are taking Concerta 54mg, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking Concerta 54mg include: dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; headache; increased sweating; loss of appetite; nausea; nervousness; stomach pain; trouble sleeping; weight loss. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION RIGHT AWAY if any of these SEVERE side effects occur: behavior changes (eg, aggression, hostility, restlessness); blurred vision or other vision problems; chest pain or discomfort; confusion; dark urine; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; hallucinations; mental or mood changes (eg, abnormal thoughts, agitation, anxiety, depression, irritability, panic attacks, persistent crying, unresponsiveness, unusual sadness); one-sided weakness; seizures; severe or persistent dizziness or headache; shortness of breath; slurred speech; suicidal thoughts or attempts; tremor; uncontrolled speech or muscle movements; yellowing of the eyes or skin. AN ALLERGIC REACTION to Concerta 54mg is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; joint pain; purple or brownish red spots on the skin. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions for Concerta
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include confusion; dilated pupils; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; flushing; hallucinations; loss of consciousness; muscle twitching; seizures; severe or persistent headache; tremors; unusual sweating; vomiting.
If your symptoms do not improve within 1 month or if they become worse, check with your doctor. DO NOT SHARE CONCERTA 54mg with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE CONCERTA 54mg for other health conditions. CHECK WITH YOUR PHARMACIST about how to dispose of unused medicine.
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