Metadate CD (generic: methylphenidate) is a prescription medication used to treat Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Metadate CD belongs to a group of drugs called central nervous system (CNS) stimulants, which work by changing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain.
This medication comes in capsule form and is usually taken once daily, in the morning, with or without food. Swallow Metadate CD capsules whole.
Common side effects of Metadate CD include headache, decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping.
Tell your doctor about all of the medicines that you or your child take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Metadate CD and some medicines may interact with each other and cause serious side effects. Sometimes the doses of other medicines will need to be adjusted while taking Metadate CD.
Your doctor will decide whether Metadate CD can be taken with other medicines.
Especially tell your doctor if you or your child takes:
- anti-depression medicines including MAOIs
- seizure medicines
- blood thinner medicines
- blood pressure medicines
- cold or allergy medicines that contain decongestants
Know the medicines that you or your child takes. Keep a list of your medicines with you to show your doctor and pharmacist.
Do not start any new medicine while taking Metadate CD without talking to your doctor first.
Active Ingredient: methylphenidate HCl
Inactive Ingredients: sugar spheres, povidone, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and polyethylene glycol, ethylcellulose aqueous dispersion, dibutyl sebacate, gelatin, and titanium dioxide.
The individual capsules contain the following coloring agents:
10 mg capsules: FD&C Blue No. 2, FDA/E172 Yellow Iron Oxide
20 mg capsules: FD&C Blue No. 2
30 mg capsules: FD&C Blue No. 2, FDA/E172 Red Iron Oxide
40 mg capsules: FDA/E172 Yellow Iron Oxide
50 mg capsules: FD&C Blue No. 2, FDA/E172 Red Iron Oxide
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Metadate CD is excreted in human breast milk.
Tell your doctor if you or your child is pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if Metadate CD will harm the unborn baby.
Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Metadate CD there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Metadate CD.
Metadate CD is a prescription medication used for the treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
- Take Metadate CD exactly as prescribed. Your doctor may adjust the dose until it is right for you or your child.
- Take Metadate CD once each day in the morning before breakfast. Metadate CD is an extended release capsule. It releases medicine into your body throughout the day.
- Metadate CD can be taken with or without food.
- Swallow Metadate CD capsules whole with water or other liquids. If you cannot swallow the capsule, open it and sprinkle the medicine over a spoonful of applesauce. Swallow the applesauce and medicine mixture without chewing. Follow with a drink of water or other liquid. Never chew or crush the capsule or the medicine inside the capsule.
- From time to time, your doctor may stop Metadate CD treatment for a while to check ADHD symptoms.
- Your doctor may do regular checks of the blood, heart, and blood pressure while taking Metadate CD. Children should have their height and weight checked often while taking Metadate CD. Metadate CD treatment may be stopped if a problem is found during these check-ups.
Metadate CD is a federally controlled substance (CII) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep Metadate CD in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away Metadate CD may harm others, and is against the law.
Tell your doctor if you or your child have (or have a family history of) ever abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines or street drugs.
Drug Dependence
Metadate CD 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 varying degrees of abnormal behavior. Frank psychotic episodes can occur, especially with parenteral abuse. Careful supervision is required during withdrawal from abusive use since severe depression may occur. Withdrawal following chronic therapeutic use may unmask symptoms of the underlying disorder that may require follow-up.
The following have been reported with use of methylphenidate HCl, USP and other stimulant medicines.
1. Heart-related problems:
- sudden death in patients who have heart problems or heart defects
- stroke and heart attack in adults
- increased blood pressure and heart rate
Tell your doctor if you or your child have any heart problems, heart defects, high blood pressure, or a family history of these problems.
Your doctor should check you or your child carefully for heart problems before starting Metadate CD.
Your doctor should check your or your child’s blood pressure and heart rate regularly during treatment with Metadate CD.
Call your doctor right away if you or your child has any signs of heart problems such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting while taking Metadate CD.
2. Mental (Psychiatric) problems:
All Patients
- new or worse behavior and thought problems
- new or worse bipolar illness
- new or worse aggressive behavior or hostility
Children and Teenagers
- new psychotic symptoms (such as hearing voices, believing things that are not true, are suspicious) or new manic symptoms
Tell your doctor about any mental problems you or your child have, or about a family history of suicide, bipolar illness, or depression.
Call your doctor right away if you or your child have any new or worsening mental symptoms or problems while taking Metadate CD, especially seeing or hearing things that are not real, believing things that are not real, or are suspicious.
Metadate CD should not be taken if you or your child:
- are very anxious, tense, or agitated
- have an eye problem called glaucoma
- have tics or Tourette’s syndrome, or a family history of Tourette’s syndrome. Tics are hard to control repeated movements or sounds.
- have severe high blood pressure or a heart problem
- have hyperthyroidism
- are taking or have taken within the past 14 days an antidepression medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or MAOI.
- are allergic to anything in Metadate CD. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients.
Metadate CD should not be used in children less than 6 years old because it has not been studied in this age group.
Before starting Metadate CD tell your or your child’s doctor about all health conditions (or a family history of) including:
- heart problems, heart defects, high blood pressure
- mental problems including psychosis, mania, bipolar illness, or depression
- tics or Tourette’s syndrome
- seizures or have had an abnormal brain wave test (EEG)
Tell your doctor if you or your child is pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
- Store Metadate CD in a safe place at room temperature, 59 to 86°F (15 to 30°C). Protect from moisture.
- Keep Metadate CD and all medicines out of the reach of children.
If you or your child takes too much Metadate CD or overdoses, call your doctor or poison control center right away, or get emergency treatment.
See “Drug Precautions” for information on reported heart and mental problems.
Other serious side effects include:
- slowing of growth (height and weight) in children
- seizures, mainly in patients with a history of seizures
- eyesight changes or blurred vision
Common side effects include:
- headache
- decreased appetite
- stomach ache
- nervousness
- trouble sleeping
- dizziness
Talk to your doctor if you or your child has side effects that are bothersome or do not go away.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.