Methylin and Adults: An Overview
Methylin® is a prescription medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (
ADHD) in children. It is also used to treat
narcolepsy in adults. There are currently two forms of Methylin available:
- Methylin Chewable Tablets® (methylphenidate chewable tablets)
- Methylin Oral Solution® (methylphenidate oral solution).
However, Methylin is not approved for use in adults with ADHD.
Methylin Use in Adults With ADHD
Methylin has not been adequately studied as a treatment for ADHD in adults, meaning that no large studies have been conducted on the benefits and risks of using it in this fashion. However, a healthcare provider may prescribe Methylin for adults in certain situations. This is considered an "
off-label" use for the drug. "Off-label" is when a prescription medicine is used to treat a disease or condition for which it has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (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 in an off-label fashion: for different conditions, in different doses, or for different lengths of time. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a medicine for off-label use if he or she feels that it is appropriate for your situation.
Most stimulants (including Methylin) 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 the drug.
