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What to Expect from CONCERTA®
Overview:
Proven Results
Most children are started on a daily dose of 18 mg of CONCERTA®
Your child's dose may be adjusted to get the best results
CONCERTA® significantly improves ADHD symptoms
Track your child's progress and share results with your child's doctor
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Related links: Safety of CONCERTA® CONCERTA® Basics Is CONCERTA® Right for My Child?
What to Expect from CONCERTA®
Proven Results
Most children are started on a daily dose of 18 mg of CONCERTA®
Your child's dose may be adjusted to get the best results
CONCERTA® significantly improves ADHD symptoms
Track your child's progress and share results with your child's doctor
As a parent, you'll want know what to expect from your child's treatment with CONCERTA®. Every child is unique and will have his or her own response to ADHD medication. For your child to get the most out of treatment, it's important to work closely with your child's healthcare professional.
Your child only needs to take CONCERTA® once a day, in the morning, with or without food. CONCERTA® offers a unique time-released formulation that provides all-day ADHD symptom control. CONCERTA® improves focus. And can help your child control his or her hyperactive and/or impulsive behavior.
CONCERTA® comes in a range of doses so your child can get the right amount to help manage his or her symptoms. Most children are started on 18 mg of CONCERTA®. But it may be necessary to adjust this dosage to get the best treatment results. This adjustment process is called titration. CONCERTA® is FDA approved in dosages up to 54 mg per day for children and 72 mg per day for adolescents.
A typical dose adjustment schedule may look like this:
Week 1: One 18-mg tablet once daily
Week 2: Two 18-mg tablets once daily for a total of 36 mg
Week 3: Three 18-mg tablets once daily for a total of 54 mg
During the first few weeks of treatment, it's important that you and your child's healthcare professional discuss how your child's treatment is going. This may help your child quickly get to the dose that works best. Track your child's symptoms to monitor his or her treatment progress.
CONCERTA® has over 8 years of proven safety. But, like all ADHD medications, CONCERTA® has side effects. In studies of children and adolescents taking CONCERTA®:
- Less than 3% of patients had trouble sleeping
- Less than 1% had loss of appetite
- Less than 1% experienced moodiness
- The most common side effect was upper abdominal pain (5.9%)
Related links: Safety of CONCERTA® CONCERTA® Basics Is CONCERTA® Right for My Child?
CONCERTA® is a prescription product approved for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as part of a total treatment program that may include counseling or other therapies.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Talk to your healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. Only a healthcare professional can decide whether medication is right for you or your child.
CONCERTA® should not be taken by patients who have: allergies to methylphenidate or other ingredients in CONCERTA®; significant anxiety, tension, or agitation; glaucoma; tics, Tourette's syndrome, or family history of Tourette's syndrome; current or past use of monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI); esophagus, stomach, or intestinal narrowing. Children under 6 years of age should not take CONCERTA®.
Abuse of methylphenidate may lead to dependence. Tell your healthcare professional if you or your child has had problems with alcohol or drugs; has had any heart problems, heart defects, high blood pressure, or a family history of these problems; has had depression, abnormal thoughts or visions, bipolar disorder, or seizure. Contact your healthcare professional immediately if you or your child: develops abnormal thinking or hallucinations, abnormal or extreme moods and/or excessive activity; or if aggressive behavior or hostility develops or worsens while taking CONCERTA®. Your child's healthcare professional should check height and weight often and may interrupt CONCERTA® treatment if your child is not growing or gaining weight as expected.
Stimulants may impair the ability of the patient to operate potentially hazardous machinery or vehicles. Caution should be used accordingly until you are reasonably certain that CONCERTA® does not adversely affect your ability to engage in such activities.
The most common adverse reaction (>5%) reported in children and adolescents was upper abdominal pain. The most common adverse reactions (>10%) reported in adults were dry mouth, nausea, decreased appetite, headache, and insomnia.
CONCERTA® and OROS® are registered trademarks of ALZA Corporation
© Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2009. All rights reserved.
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Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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