What is the most important information I should know about Ritalin/Ritalin LA?

Ritalin/Ritalin LA may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Ritalin/Ritalin LA with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it. Do NOT take more than the recommended dose without checking with your doctor. If you are taking Ritalin/Ritalin LA for an attention deficit disorder, it should be used as a part of a treatment program that includes a variety of treatment measures (eg, psychological, educational, social). If your condition does not get better within 1 month or if it gets worse, check with your doctor. 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 another serious problem, talk with your doctor about other therapies to treat your condition. Ritalin/Ritalin LA may cause a prolonged (more than 4 hours) or painful erection. This could happen even when you are not having sex. If this is not treated right away, it could lead to permanent sexual problems such as impotence. Contact your doctor right away if this happens. Ritalin/Ritalin LA may cause circulation problems in the hands and feet. Tell your doctor if you have any numbness, pain, tingling, cold feeling, or skin color change (eg, from pale to blue or red) in your hands or feet. Call your doctor right away if you have any unexplained sores or wounds on your fingers or toes. Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Ritalin/Ritalin LA before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery. Before you start any new medicine, check the label to see if it has a decongestant in it. If it does or if you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Lab tests, including blood pressure, heart function, complete blood cell counts, and platelet counts, may be performed while you use Ritalin/Ritalin LA. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments. Ritalin/Ritalin LA may affect growth rate and weight gain in CHILDREN and teenagers in some cases. They may need regular growth and weight checks while they take Ritalin/Ritalin LA. Caution is advised when using Ritalin/Ritalin LA in CHILDREN; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially loss of appetite, stomach pain, weight loss, trouble sleeping, and fast heartbeat. Ritalin/Ritalin LA should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 6 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed. PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Ritalin/Ritalin LA while you are pregnant. It is not known if Ritalin/Ritalin LA is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Ritalin/Ritalin LA, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

When used for long periods of time or at high doses, Ritalin/Ritalin LA may not work as well and may require higher doses to obtain the same effect as when originally taken. This is known as TOLERANCE. Talk with your doctor if Ritalin/Ritalin LA stops working well. Do not take more than prescribed.

Some people who use Ritalin/Ritalin LA for a long time may develop a need to continue taking it. People who take high doses are also at risk. This is known as DEPENDENCE or addiction. Do not suddenly stop taking Ritalin/Ritalin LA. If you do, you may have WITHDRAWAL symptoms. These may include depression or other mental problems. If you need to stop Ritalin/Ritalin LA, your doctor will lower your dose over time.