Concerta for Adults

Using Concerta for adults with ADHD is considered an "off-label" use of the medication, meaning that even though the FDA has not approved the medication for this use, your healthcare provider can prescribe it if he or she believes it is appropriate for your situation. However, most stimulants (including Concerta) should be used with caution in people with high blood pressure or heart problems, including heart disease and congestive heart failure.

 

Concerta for Adults: An Overview

Concerta® (methylphenidate extended release) is a prescription medication licensed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and teenagers. Concerta is not approved to treat adult ADHD.
 

Concerta Use in Adults With ADHD

Concerta for ADHD treatment in adults has not been adequately studied, meaning that there have not been large studies conducted to look at the benefits and the risks of treating adult ADHD. However, your healthcare provider may prescribe Concerta for adults in certain situations. When used in adults, Concerta is considered an "off-label" use. An off-label use means that a prescription medicine is used to treat a disease or condition other than what it has been approved to treat by the FDA.
 
Although the FDA regulates how a medication can be advertised or promoted by the manufacturer, these regulations do not restrict a doctor's ability to prescribe the medication for different conditions, in different doses, or for different lengths of time. The practice of prescribing medication for periods of time or for conditions that are not FDA-approved is known as "off-label" use. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a medicine for an off-label use when he or she feels that the medicine is appropriate for your situation.
 
Most stimulants (including Concerta) should be used with caution in people with high blood pressure (hypertension) or heart problems (including heart disease and congestive heart failure). While this is not usually a concern for most children (who generally do not have high blood pressure or heart problems), it is definitely a cause for concern in adults. Be sure your healthcare provider checks you for high blood pressure or heart problems before you start Concerta.
 
(Concerta for Adults Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;