ADHD Home > Methylin Side Effects
Adverse effects are possible while taking Methylin. Side effects may include headache, nausea, loss of appetite, or stomach pain. Rare side effects include anemia, hair loss, and changes in liver function. Although side effects of Methylin are usually minor and do not require treatment, seek prompt medical attention if you develop serious problems, like seizures, heart palpitations, or depression.
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Methylin® (methylphenidate hydrochloride). However, not everyone who takes these will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate them quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider.
(The side effects discussed below are not a complete list of reported side effects. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list with you.)
Methylin has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials, in which the side effects that a group of people taking the drug experience are documented and compared to another group not taking the medicine. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
Based on these studies, the most common side effects of Methylin include:
- Nervousness
- Insomnia
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
- Weight loss (see Methylin and Weight Loss).
Methylin can also cause a temporary slowing down of growth in children. This is usually small (less than an inch and less than two pounds), and children usually catch up to normal growth rates with time.
(Click Long-Term Side Effects of Methylin for more information on possible long-term side effects seen with the drug.)