Side Effects Of Methylphenidate For Adults

Like all medicines, methylphenidate can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Common side effects of methylphenidate

These common side effects of methylphenidate may happen in more than 1 in 100 people. Side effects will depend on the type and brand of methylphenidate you're taking.

There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Keep taking your medicine but tell your doctor if these side effects bother you or do not go away.

Your doctor should review your medicine at least once a year to make sure there are no problems.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects are uncommon and happen in less than 1 in 100 people.

Methylphenidate can cause a small increase in your blood pressure and heart rate. Your doctor will usually measure your blood pressure and pulse every 6 months.

Call your doctor or call 111 straight away if you:

• have mood or personality changes, such as feeling aggressive, irritable, depressed, anxious or tense
• have fast or irregular heartbeats (palpitations)
• start seeing, feeling or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations)
• have started to get facial tics, which are quick, little movements in the muscles of your face that you cannot control - if this happens, your doctor may stop your treatment

Call 999 or go to A&E if you have:

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, methylphenidate may cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

Call 999 now if:

• your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
• you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
• your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
• your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
• you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
• someone faints and cannot be woken up
• a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

Other side effects

These are not all the side effects of methylphenidate. For a full list, see the leaflet inside the medicines packet.

Reporting side effects

You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.

Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects.

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