Ritalin (Methylphenidate Hydrochloride)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Ritalin Used For?
Ritalin contains methylphenidate hydrochloride and is a medicine that increases brain activity to help with specific medical conditions.
Primary Uses
Ritalin is used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and narcolepsy (a sleep-attack disorder) in adults.
How It Works
Ritalin is a class of medicine that increases the activity of the brain to help improve focus and reduce sleep attacks.
How to Take Ritalin
Take Ritalin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The dosage varies depending on whether you’re treating ADHD or narcolepsy.
Dosage Instructions
For ADHD (children only): Start with 5mg once or twice daily at breakfast or lunch, with gradual increases of 5mg or 10mg weekly as directed. Maximum dose is 60mg per day. For Narcolepsy (adults only): Average dose is 20-30mg daily, maximum 60mg per day. Take doses 1-2 hours before maximum effect is needed. Swallow whole or half tablet with water. Take before 6pm to avoid sleep problems.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Important: Never take more than prescribed – this medicine can be addictive. Do not stop suddenly without talking to your doctor first.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Headache and dizziness
- Drowsiness or sleepiness
- Body shaking (tremor)
- Mood changes, restlessness, nervousness
- Trouble sleeping
- Heart rate or rhythm changes
- Increased blood pressure and heart rate
- Sore throat, runny nose, cough, sneezing, fever
- Decreased appetite and weight
- Teeth grinding or clenching
- Irritability and agitation
- Nausea, dry mouth, stomach pain
- Vomiting, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation
- Skin rash, itching, hair loss, sweating
- Feeling jittery, bed wetting, tiredness
- Slow growth in children
- Cold, numb fingers/toes turning blue/purple
- Joint stiffness, muscle pain or cramping
- Blurred or double vision, dilated pupils
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Twitching, jerking, fits, muscle tics
- Uncontrollable writhing of arms/legs/face
- Very fast heart rate, chest pain, irregular heartbeat
- Severe headache, confusion, weakness, paralysis, trouble speaking
- Thoughts of suicide
- Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t there
- High temperature and muscle stiffness
- Drug abuse or dependence
- Sore throat with fever/chills
- Swelling of face, throat, lips, tongue; trouble breathing
- Unusual tiredness with more infections or bleeding
- Bruising
- Prolonged erection, penis discomfort
Important Warnings
Ritalin has important safety warnings and should not be used by everyone. Review these carefully with your doctor.
Who Should Not Take Ritalin
Do not take if you have: allergies to methylphenidate or ingredients; anxiety, tension or agitation; Tourette’s Syndrome or family history; glaucoma; overactive thyroid; heart problems including heart attack, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, heart failure, or born with heart problems; very high blood pressure or narrowed blood vessels; severe depression, eating disorders, or other mental illness; adrenal gland tumor; or if taking MAOI medications or took them in the last 2 weeks.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: depression, suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, bipolar illness, aggressive behavior; abnormal thoughts or over-excitement; motor or verbal tics or family history of these; history of fits/convulsions; high blood pressure; heart problems or serious heart rhythm problems; weakened blood vessels in brain, inflammation of blood vessels, or stroke history; drug or alcohol abuse history; eye problems including glaucoma; painful or long-lasting erections.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Ritalin should not be taken in the first 3 months of pregnancy. Do not breastfeed while taking Ritalin. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking this medication.
Drug Dependence Warning: Ritalin should be given cautiously to patients with a history of drug dependence or alcoholism. Chronic abusive use can lead to marked tolerance and psychological dependence with abnormal behavior. Frank psychotic episodes can occur, especially with injection abuse. Careful supervision is required during withdrawal as severe depression may occur.
Drug Interactions
Several medications can interfere with Ritalin and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
Surgery Alert: Tell your doctor if you’re having surgery – Ritalin cannot be taken with anesthetics due to increased blood pressure risk.
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) – do not take together or within 2 weeks
- Medicines that increase blood pressure
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Alpha 2 agonists for high blood pressure
- Oral anticoagulants (blood thinners)
- Anticonvulsants for seizures
- Antipsychotic medicines for mental illness
- Phenylbutazone for pain or fever
- Medicines that influence dopamine levels (Parkinson’s disease drugs)
- Serotonin-affecting medicines like sertraline or venlafaxine for depression
- Anesthetics during surgery
Alcohol & Driving
Ritalin can affect your ability to drive safely and should not be combined with alcohol.
Alcohol
Do not drink alcohol while taking Ritalin. Alcohol can make side effects worse. Check that food and other medicines don’t contain alcohol.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving, using machines, tools, or riding a bike until you know how Ritalin affects you. This medicine may cause dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, or hallucinations in some people.
Storage
Store Ritalin tablets below 25°C in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children. Take expired or unwanted medicine to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
If you think you’ve taken too much Ritalin, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Overdose symptoms may include vomiting, agitation, headache, tremor, muscle twitching, irregular heartbeat, flushing, fever, sweating, dilated pupils, breathing problems, confusion, fits, muscle spasms, or red-brown urine. Call the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if you feel fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ritalin should be taken 1-2 hours before the maximum effect is needed, suggesting it begins working within this timeframe.
The medication guide suggests taking Ritalin at breakfast or lunch, indicating it can be taken with food. Take with water as directed.
Yes, Ritalin can be addictive. It should be given cautiously to patients with a history of drug dependence or alcoholism. Chronic abusive use can lead to marked tolerance and psychological dependence.
Do not stop Ritalin suddenly. Stopping suddenly can cause withdrawal effects including depression or long-lasting over-activity. Careful supervision is required during withdrawal, especially after abusive use.
No, do not drink alcohol while taking Ritalin. Alcohol can make side effects worse. Also check that food and other medicines don’t contain alcohol.
Yes, some children taking Ritalin for a long time can have slower than normal growth. Your doctor will monitor this during treatment.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when scheduled. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.