Ritalin SR and Weight Loss (Cont.)

Using Ritalin SR for Weight Loss

Ritalin SR is not approved as a weight-loss medication by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, your healthcare provider may prescribe the medicine for weight loss for a short period of time in certain situations. This is considered an "off-label" use of the drug. Off-label is when a prescription medicine is used to treat a disease or condition for which the drug has not been approved 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 in an off-label fashion: for different conditions, in different doses, or for different lengths of time. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a medicine in this way when he or she feels that the medicine is appropriate for your situation.
 
While off-label uses for the treatment of many medical conditions are common, you should feel comfortable asking your doctor if he or she is using a medication or combination of medications in a manner that is not approved by the FDA.
 

Ritalin SR and Weight Loss: A Summary

Weight loss is a common side effect of Ritalin SR. In fact, it is so common that the medication is often abused for this purpose. While Ritalin SR is not approved as a weight-loss medicine, there may be some situations in which using the drug for weight loss is acceptable.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;