Get Informed: Ritalin LA
Active Ingredient(s)
Methylphenidate
What does it do?
This product is used in the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy. It is thought to work on the brain stem arousal system to produce a stimulant effect.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Jul-31 4:04 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Jul-30 9:01 PM
Other Names
- Concerta
- Ritalin
- Methylphenidate
- Ritalin SR
- Metadate CD
- Methylin
- Daytrana
- Metadate
- Ritalin LA
- Metadate ER
- Methylin ER
- Concerta XL
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category
- C
Black Box Warning
This product has a black box relating to its risk of drug dependency and the possibility of other abnormal behavior with long term use.
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 05 Dec 1955
- Est US Patients*
- 4,229,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Ritalin LA or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Ritalin LA Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Ritalin LA used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 31,200 patients that use Ritalin LA (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Attention Deficit Disorder | 83% |
mild
severe
|
| Chronic Fatigue | 20% |
mild
severe
|
| Fibromyalgia | 3% |
mild
severe
|
| Other | 7% |
mild
severe
|
How well does Ritalin LA work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 31,200 users taking Ritalin LA (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 88%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Ritalin LA outweigh the bad things.
- 6%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Ritalin LA.
Common Side Effects of Ritalin LA
iGuard regularly polls our more than 31,200 users taking Ritalin LA (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
39% of patients experience side-effects on Ritalin LA
1% of patients experience significant side-effects on Ritalin LA
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Loss of Appetite
-
Anxiety
-
Insomnia
-
Headache
-
Mood/Behavior Changes
-
Abdo Pain/Cramps
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Dizziness, Drowsiness, Fatigue, Light Sensitivity, Nausea/Vomiting, Tics/Twitches, Weight Loss
Global Patient Feedback for Ritalin LA (Methylphenidate) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
(Part 3 of 3) and/or driving off to a model airplane field and getting some worthwhile conversation from those far more positive and normal. Eating helps, but that is not the solution to really feeling good inside. The real solution is to realize that surrounding yourself with a network of positive normal law biding friends built over time and participating in worthwhile events to meet them is the solution to a happy life, not surrounding with depressed emotionally dysfunctional family!!!
55 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-04-25 03:23:40
Question/Comment:
(Part 2 of 3) they know it all and that my meds are having a negative effect on my behavior such as lashing out when stress builds far too high and bottled inside. In reality their negativity is the problem and my desire not to listen to it. The only thing that seems to work when this occurs is to isolate myself from the source by leaving the house and going for a drive to see the beauty of nature,
55 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-04-25 03:20:55
Question/Comment:
(Part 1 of 3) I do not have anything negative to report about Concerta. My dose has been increased from 36mg to 36mg + 18mg daily for a total dose presently of 54mg, with possible increase to 36mg x 2 for a total of 72mg. It has helped some, but I will say, large increase in stressors will yield a less than satisfactory feeling of improvement. The need to reduce daily stressors in my life remains critical to my improvement of my daily moods and feelings. Often family members seem to think
55 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-04-25 03:18:53
Question/Comment:
After being diagnosed with OCD i was given Fluoxetine it worked perfectly for two months but after stopped helping completely.
After 5 years of different medications i developed severe depression and chronic fatigue connected wit an unrelated physical illness i did some research on the internet and came across Ritalin and other stimulants. Although very reluctant my dr here in UK agreed to give it a try. It has helped immensely distracting from the OCD and getting rid of the fatigue but not making me hyped like i was worried it might. Although we both agree it's only a temporary measure until my physical symptoms are sorted and the right antidepressant as found.
The only downside is it only lasts about 3 hours before you need another pill thus making it seem somewhat addictive went in truth you just want relief from your terrible symptoms.
If you have OCD, Depression Chronic fatigue or any combination of those and have tried everything else i suggest getting your doc to give Ritalin a try no matter how reluctant they are.
(Note: I use brand name Ritalin, not generic)
20 yr old male in the UK
20 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-23 04:37:36
Question/Comment:
Concerta has the fewest cardiovascular negative effects of the drugs in this class. I discussed this with my cardiologist. he agrees the benefits outweigh the risks for me.
When will we stop "rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic"? You are not going to improve your health until you reasonably put your trust in a "healer". Take the medicine that s/he offers in good faith, use your experience and common sense to guide your course. Healers are supposed to do that, and I believe most of them do!
58 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-12 15:28:20
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
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Patient Comments About
Ritalin LA