Concerta Side Effects

Generic Name: methylphenidate hydrochloride

Please note - some side effects for Concerta may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

Side Effects of Concerta - for the Consumer

Concerta Extended-Release Tablets

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Concerta Extended-Release Tablets:

Dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; headache; increased sweating; loss of appetite; nausea; nervousness; stomach pain; trouble sleeping; weight loss.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Concerta Extended-Release Tablets:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; joint pain; purple or brownish red spots on the skin); behavior changes (eg, aggression, hostility, restlessness); blurred vision or other vision problems; chest pain or discomfort; confusion; dark urine; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; hallucinations; mental or mood changes (eg, abnormal thoughts, agitation, anxiety, depression, irritability, panic attacks, persistent crying, unresponsiveness, unusual sadness); one-sided weakness; seizures; severe or persistent dizziness or headache; shortness of breath; slurred speech; suicidal thoughts or attempts; tremor; uncontrolled speech or muscle movements; yellowing of the eyes or skin.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

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Concerta Side Effects - for the Professional

Concerta

The following are discussed in more detail in other sections of the labeling:

• Drug Dependence [see Box Warning]
• Hypersensitivity to Methylphenidate [see Contraindications (4.1)]
• Agitation [see Contraindications (4.2)]
• Glaucoma [see Contraindications (4.3)]
• Tics [see Contraindications (4.4)]
• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors [see Contraindications (4.5) and Drug Interactions (7.1)]
• Serious Cardiovascular Events [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
• Psychiatric Adverse Events [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]
• Seizures [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]
• Long-Term Suppression of Growth [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)]
• Visual Disturbance [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)]
• Potential for Gastrointestinal Obstruction [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)]
• Hematologic Monitoring [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)]

The most common adverse reaction in double-blind clinical trials (>5%) in pediatric patients (children and adolescents) was abdominal pain upper. The most common adverse reactions in double-blind clinical trials (>5%) in adult patients were decreased appetite, headache, dry mouth, nausea, insomnia, anxiety, dizziness, weight decreased, irritability, and hyperhidrosis [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

The most common adverse reactions associated with discontinuation (≥1%) from either pediatric or adult clinical trials were anxiety, irritability, insomnia, and blood pressure increased [see Adverse Reactions (6.3)].

The development program for Concerta® included exposures in a total of 3906 participants in clinical trials. Children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD were evaluated in 6 controlled clinical studies and 11 open-label clinical studies. Safety was assessed by collecting adverse events, vital signs, weights, and ECGs, and by performing physical examinations and laboratory analyses.

Table 3. Concerta® Exposure in Double-Blind and Open-Label Clinical Studies

Patient Population	N	Dose Range
Children	2216	18 to 54 mg once daily
Adolescents	502	18 to 72 mg once daily
Adults	1188	18 to 108 mg once daily

Adverse events during exposure were obtained primarily by general inquiry and recorded by clinical investigators using their own terminology. Consequently, to provide a meaningful estimate of the proportion of individuals experiencing adverse events, events were grouped in standardized categories using MedDRA terminology.

The stated frequencies of adverse events represent the proportion of individuals who experienced, at least once, a treatment-emergent adverse event of the type listed. An event was considered treatment-emergent if it occurred for the first time or worsened while receiving therapy following baseline evaluation.

Throughout this section, adverse reactions are reported. Adverse reactions are adverse events that were considered to be reasonably associated with the use of Concerta® based on the comprehensive assessment of the available adverse event information. A causal association for Concerta® often cannot be reliably established in individual cases. Further, because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.

The majority of adverse reactions were mild to moderate in severity.

Commonly Observed Adverse Reactions in Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials

Adverse reactions in either the pediatric or adult double-blind adverse reactions tables may be relevant for both patient populations.

Children and Adolescents

Table 4 lists the adverse reactions reported in 1% or more of Concerta®-treated children and adolescent subjects in 4 placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials.

Table 4. Adverse Reactions Reported by ≥1% of Concerta®-Treated Children and Adolescent Subjects in 4 Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trials of Concerta®

System/Organ Class Adverse Reaction	Concerta® (n=321) %	Placebo (n=318) %
* Terms of Initial insomnia (Concerta®=0.6%) and Insomnia (Concerta®=2.2%) are combined into Insomnia.
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Abdominal pain upper	6.2	3.8
Vomiting	2.8	1.6
General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions
Pyrexia	2.2	0.9
Infections and Infestations
Nasopharyngitis	2.8	2.2
Nervous System Disorders
Dizziness	1.9	0
Psychiatric Disorders
Insomnia*	2.8	0.3
Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders
Cough	1.9	0.9
Oropharyngeal pain	1.2	0.9

The majority of adverse reactions were mild to moderate in severity.

Adults

Table 5 lists the adverse reactions reported in 1% or more of Concerta®-treated adults in 2 placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials.

Table 5. Adverse Reactions Reported by ≥1% of Concerta®-Treated Adult Subjects in 2 Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trials*

System/Organ Class Adverse Reaction	Concerta® (n=415) %	Placebo (n=212) %
* Included doses up to 108 mg.
Cardiac Disorders
Tachycardia	4.8	0
Palpitations	3.1	0.9
Ear and Labyrinth Disorders
Vertigo	1.7	0
Eye Disorders
Vision blurred	1.7	0.5
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Dry mouth	14.0	3.8
Nausea	12.8	3.3
Dyspepsia	2.2	0.9
Vomiting	1.7	0.5
Constipation	1.4	0.9
General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions
Irritability	5.8	1.4
Infections and Infestations
Upper respiratory tract infection	2.2	0.9
Investigations
Weight decreased	6.5	3.3
Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders
Decreased appetite	25.3	6.6
Anorexia	1.7	0
Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders
Muscle tightness	1.9	0
Nervous System Disorders
Headache	22.2	15.6
Dizziness	6.7	5.2
Tremor	2.7	0.5
Paresthesia	1.2	0
Sedation	1.2	0
Tension headache	1.2	0.5
Psychiatric Disorders
Insomnia	12.3	6.1
Anxiety	8.2	2.4
Initial insomnia	4.3	2.8
Depressed mood	3.9	1.4
Nervousness	3.1	0.5
Restlessness	3.1	0
Agitation	2.2	0.5
Aggression	1.7	0.5
Bruxism	1.7	0.5
Depression	1.7	0.9
Libido decreased	1.7	0.5
Affect lability	1.4	0.9
Confusional state	1.2	0.5
Tension	1.2	0.5
Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders
Oropharyngeal pain	1.7	1.4
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders
Hyperhidrosis	5.1	0.9

The majority of ADRs were mild to moderate in severity.

Other Adverse Reactions Observed in Concerta® Clinical Trials

This section includes adverse reactions reported by Concerta®-treated subjects in double-blind trials that do not meet the criteria specified for Table 4 or Table 5 and all adverse reactions reported by Concerta®-treated subjects who participated in open-label and postmarketing clinical trials.

Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: Leukopenia

Eye Disorders: Accommodation disorder, Dry eye

Vascular Disorders: Hot flush

Gastrointestinal Disorders: Abdominal discomfort, Abdominal pain, Diarrhea

General Disorders and Administrative Site Conditions: Asthenia, Fatigue, Feeling jittery, Thirst

Infections and Infestations: Sinusitis

Investigations: Alanine aminotransferase increased, Blood pressure increased, Cardiac murmur, Heart rate increased

Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders: Muscle spasms

Nervous System Disorders: Lethargy, Psychomotor hyperactivity, Somnolence

Psychiatric Disorders: Anger, Hypervigilance, Mood altered, Mood swings, Panic attack, Sleep disorder, Tearfulness, Tic

Reproductive System and Breast Disorders: Erectile dysfunction

Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders: Dyspnea

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Rash, Rash macular

Vascular Disorders: Hypertension

Discontinuation Due to Adverse Reactions

Adverse reactions in the 4 placebo-controlled studies of children and adolescents leading to discontinuation occurred in 2 Concerta® patients (0.6%) including depressed mood (1, 0.3%) and headache and insomnia (1, 0.3%), and 6 placebo patients (1.9%) including headache and insomnia (1, 0.3%), irritability (2, 0.6%), headache (1, 0.3%), psychomotor hyperactivity (1, 0.3%), and tic (1, 0.3%).

In the 2 placebo-controlled studies of adults, 25 Concerta® patients (6.0%) and 6 placebo patients (2.8%) discontinued due to an adverse reaction. Those events with an incidence of >0.5% in the Concerta® patients included anxiety (1.7%), irritability (1.4%), blood pressure increased (1.0%), and nervousness (0.7%). In placebo patients, blood pressure increased and depressed mood had an incidence of >0.5% (0.9%).

In the 11 open-label studies of children, adolescents, and adults, 266 Concerta® patients (7.0%) discontinued due to an adverse reaction. Those events with an incidence of >0.5% included insomnia (1.2%), irritability (0.8%), anxiety (0.7%), decreased appetite (0.7%), and tic (0.6%).

Tics

In a long-term uncontrolled study (n=432 children), the cumulative incidence of new onset of tics was 9% after 27 months of treatment with Concerta®.

In a second uncontrolled study (n=682 children) the cumulative incidence of new-onset tics was 1% (9/682 children). The treatment period was up to 9 months with mean treatment duration of 7.2 months.

Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Increases

In the laboratory classroom clinical trials in children (Studies 1 and 2), both Concerta® once daily and methylphenidate three times daily increased resting pulse by an average of 2 to 6 bpm and produced average increases of systolic and diastolic blood pressure of roughly 1 to 4 mm Hg during the day, relative to placebo. In the placebo-controlled adolescent trial (Study 4), mean increases from baseline in resting pulse rate were observed with Concerta® and placebo at the end of the double-blind phase (5 and 3 beats/minute, respectively). Mean increases from baseline in blood pressure at the end of the double-blind phase for Concerta® and placebo-treated patients were 0.7 and 0.7 mm Hg (systolic) and 2.6 and 1.4 mm Hg (diastolic), respectively. In one placebo-controlled study in adults (Study 6), dose-dependent mean increases of 3.9 to 9.8 bpm from baseline in standing pulse rate were observed with Concerta® at the end of the double-blind treatment vs. an increase of 2.7 beats/minute with placebo. Mean changes from baseline in standing blood pressure at the end of double-blind treatment ranged from 0.1 to 2.2 mm Hg (systolic) and -0.7 to 2.2 mm Hg (diastolic) for Concerta® and was 1.1 mm Hg (systolic) and -1.8 mm Hg (diastolic) for placebo. In a second placebo-controlled study in adults (Study 5), mean changes from baseline in resting pulse rate were observed for Concerta® and placebo at the end of the double-blind treatment (3.6 and –1.6 beats/minute, respectively). Mean changes from baseline in blood pressure at the end of the double–blind treatment for Concerta® and placebo-treated patients were –1.2 and –0.5 mm Hg (systolic) and 1.1 and 0.4 mm Hg (diastolic), respectively [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1]).

Postmarketing Experience

The following additional adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of Concerta®. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency:

Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: Pancytopenia, Thrombocytopenia, Thrombocytopenic purpura

Cardiac Disorders: Angina pectoris, Bradycardia, Extrasystoles, Supraventricular tachycardia, Ventricular extrasystoles

Eye Disorders: Diplopia, Mydriasis, Visual impairment

General Disorders: Chest pain, Chest discomfort, Drug effect decreased, Hyperpyrexia, Therapeutic response decreased

Immune System Disorders: Hypersensitivity reactions such as Angioedema, Anaphylactic reactions, Auricular swelling, Bullous conditions, Exfoliative conditions, Urticarias, Pruritus NEC, Rashes, Eruptions, and Exanthemas NEC

Investigations: Blood alkaline phosphatase increased, Blood bilirubin increased, Hepatic enzyme increased, Platelet count decreased, White blood cell count abnormal

Musculoskeletal, Connective Tissue and Bone Disorders: Arthralgia, Myalgia, Muscle twitching

Nervous System Disorders: Convulsion, Grand mal convulsion, Dyskinesia

Psychiatric Disorders: Disorientation, Hallucination, Hallucination auditory, Hallucination visual, Mania

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: Alopecia, Erythema

Vascular Disorders: Raynaud's phenomenon

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Side Effects by Body System - for Healthcare Professionals

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have frequently included tic. Convulsions and migraine have also been reported. Dizziness, drowsiness, dyskinesia, and Tourette's syndrome have been reported rarely. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) and reversible ischemic neurological deficit have been reported very rarely.

Most reported cases of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) involved patients who were treated concomitantly with other drugs associated with NMS.

Nervousness and insomnia may be controllable by reducing the dosage and omitting the drug in the afternoon or evening.

It is unclear whether CNS stimulant drugs (i.e., dextroamphetamine, methylphenidate, amphetamine-dextroamphetamine) have a role in either the development or worsening of tic disorders such as Tourette's syndrome. According to several case reports, use of CNS stimulant medications may have precipitated or exacerbated tic disorders in some patients with ADHD. Based on these cases, in Tourette's-susceptible patients, CNS stimulants may exacerbate motor and phonic tics that do not subside following discontinuation of the offending agent. In several controlled studies involving patients with ADHD and tic disorders, in the majority of patients, tics did not increase following use of CNS stimulants. In addition, controlled studies have not found that methylphenidate worsens motor tics in Tourette's syndrome nor has it increased tics in patients without Tourette's. However, it should be noted that tics were reported in 7% of patients using the methylphenidate patch compared to 1% to those taking it orally. Additional studies are required in order to clarify this association.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Nausea and vomiting appears to occur more frequently with the transdermal patch compared with oral administration.

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have rarely included changes in blood pressure and pulse rate, cerebral arteritis, occlusion, angina, arrhythmia, palpitations, bradycardia, extrasystoles, ventricular extrasystoles, supraventricular tachycardia, Raynaud's phenomenon, and tachycardia. A case of cardiac arrest has also been reported. Additionally, cerebrovascular vasculitis, cerebral hemorrhages, and cerebrovascular accidents have been reported.

Other

Other side effects have rarely included headache, peripheral coldness, and auricular swelling. A withdrawal syndrome has been reported with the abrupt discontinuation of methylphenidate.

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects have rarely included abnormal liver function ranging from transaminase elevation to hepatic coma; however, causality has not been established. Increased blood alkaline phosphatase, increased blood bilirubin, and increased hepatic enzymes have also been reported.

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects have rarely included leukopenia, anemia, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura, and thrombocytopenia; however, causality has not been established.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects have frequently included emotional lability and insomnia. Hallucination, mania, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and nervousness have also been reported. Emotional lability and insomnia appear to occur more frequently with the transdermal patch compared with oral administration. In patients wearing the transdermal patch for 12 hrs a day, the incidence of insomnia was 30%. Transient depressed mood and aggressive behavior have been reported rarely; however, causality has not been determined.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included bullous conditions, exfoliative conditions, urticarias, pruritus, rashes, eruptions, erythema, and exanthemas. Scalp hair loss has been reported rarely; however, causality has not been determined.

Methylphenidate topical patch is a dermal irritant. The resulting erythema does not typically cause an interference or discontinuation of treatment. However, further evaluation should be sought, if erythema, edema, and/or papules do not resolve or significantly reduce within 24 hours of patch removal. Consideration should be given to sensitization if erythema is accompanied by edema, papules, vesicles, or other evidence of more intense local reactions. Diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis should include appropriate diagnostic testing.

Ocular

Ocular side effects have included visual disturbances, mydriasis, difficulties with accommodation, diplopia, and blurring of vision.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects associated with methylphenidate topical patch have frequently included nasopharyngitis and nasal congestion.

Metabolic

Metabolic side effects have included anorexia, decreased appetite, and weight loss (primarily with prolonged therapy). Anorexia, decreased appetite, and weigh loss appears to occur more frequently with the transdermal patch compared with oral administration. In patients wearing the transdermal patch for 12 hrs a day, the incidence of anorexia was 46%.

Local

Local side effects associated with the topical patch have included application site reactions such as bleeding, bruising, burn, burning, dermatitis, discharge, discoloration, discomfort, dryness, eczema, edema, erosion, erythema, excoriation, exfoliation, fissure, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, induration, infection, inflammation, irritation, pain, papules, paresthesia, pruritus, rash, scab, swelling, ulcer, urticaria, vesicles, and warmth.

Hypersensitivity

One subject has been reported to have experienced erythema and edema at methylphenidate transdermal system application sites with concurrent urticarial lesions on the abdomen and legs resulting in treatment discontinuation. This subject was not transitioned to oral methylphenidate.

Hypersensitivity side effects including generalized erythematous and urticarial rashes, allergic contact dermatitis, angioedema, and anaphylaxis have been reported.

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects including arthralgia, myalgia, and muscle twitching have been reported.

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