Focalin

Brand Names

Focalin, Focalin XR

What is Focalin

Focalin (dexmethylphenidate) is a mild stimulant to the central nervous system. This medication is a modified version of Ritalin and contains only the most active component. It is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd) in patients 6 years of age and older. Dexmethylphenidate increases attention and decreases restlessness in children and adults who are hyperactive, cannot concentrate for very long or are easily distracted and impulsive. Focalin is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Side effects of Focalin

Stop using Focalin and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• dangerously high blood pressure
• fast or uneven heart rate
• blurred vision
• unusual behavior confusion
• twitching or tics
• insomnia
• loss of appetite
• upset stomach
• feeling restless, anxious or jittery

Indication

Focalin is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd). Symptoms of attention deficit disorders include continual problems with moderate to severe distractibility, short attention span, hyperactivity, emotional changeability and impulsiveness. It should be given as part of a total treatment program including psychological, educational and social measures.

Precautions

You should not use Focalin if you have allergic reaction to dexmethylphenidate or methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) or if you have glaucoma, epilepsy, motor tics, heart disease, a personal or family history of Tourette's syndrome.

Do not take Focalin if you have used a MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam) or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take Focalin before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.

Before taking this medicine tell your doctor if you have any type of heart problems, because some stimulants have caused sudden death in children and adolescents with serious heart problems or congenital heart defects.

You should tell you doctor if you have :

• severe depression or a history of mental illness
• a history of drug or alcohol addiction
• high blood pressure

You should also inform your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment, because it is unknown whether dexmethylphenidate passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not take Focalin without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Dosage forms

Focalin Oral (extended-release capsules) Dosage for adhd:

Adults:

• Patients not taking dexmethylphenidate, methylphenidate or patients taking stimulant medicines other than methylphenidate—10 milligrams (mg) once a day in the morning
• Patients taking methylphenidate—the dose per day will be half the dose of methylphenidate you are taking now, once a day.
• Patients using the regular dexmethylphenidate tablets will use the same number of milligrams per day as a single dose for the extended-release capsules.

Children 6 years of age and older:

• Patients not taking dexmethylphenidate, methylphenidate or patients taking stimulant medicines other than methylphenidate—5 milligrams (mg) once a day in the morning.
• Patients taking methylphenidate—the dose per day will be half the dose of methylphenidate you are taking now, once a day.
• Patients using the regular dexmethylphenidate tablets will use the same number of milligrams per day as a single dose for the extended-release capsules.

For Oral Dosage form (tablets):

Adults, teenagers and children 6 years of age and older:

• Patients not taking methylphenidate or patients taking stimulant medicines other than methylphenidate—2.5 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day, at least 4 hours apart.
• Patients taking methylphenidate—the dose per day will be half the dose of methylphenidate you are taking now, divided and taken two times a day at least 4 hours apart.