Ritalin SR for Adults: An Overview
Ritalin SR for Adults With ADHD
The use of
Ritalin SR for adults with ADHD has not been adequately studied, meaning that no large studies have been conducted on the benefits and risks of using the medication to treat
adult ADHD. However, your healthcare provider may prescribe Ritalin SR for adult ADHD in certain situations. When used in this fashion, 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 (or in an age group) 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 an off-label use if he or she feels that the medicine is appropriate for your situation.
Most stimulants (including Ritalin SR) should be used with caution in people with
high blood pressure (
hypertension) or heart problems (including
heart disease and
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 Ritalin SR.
