How and when to take methylphenidate for children

Always follow the instructions that come with your child's medicine carefully. Different brands of methylphenidate tablets and capsules may have different instructions.

Dosage

Your child's dose of methylphenidate depends on whether they've been prescribed standard or slow release medicine. In some cases, the specialist may prescribe both.

Your child will usually start on a low dose of methylphenidate, taken once or twice a day. Their doctor will increase the dose gradually, until they find the dose that works best for them.

If your child starts on standard methylphenidate tablets, their doctor may later switch them to slow release tablets or capsules. They only have to take this once a day.

Standard tablets

The usual starting dose for children is 5mg, given once or twice a day.

Your child's doctor may increase their dose gradually (usually weekly) until they find the dose that works best. Your child may need to take it 2 or 3 times a day.

Slow release tablets and capsules

The usual starting dose for:

• tablets is 18mg, given once a day in the morning – your child's doctor may gradually increase the dose by 18mg at a time (usually weekly, up to a maximum of 54mg) until they find the dose that works well for your child
• capsules is 10mg, given once a day in the morning – your child's doctor may increase the dose gradually (usually weekly, up to a maximum of 60mg) until they find the dose that works well for your child

How to give your child methylphenidate

Give your child their tablet or capsule with a drink of water, milk or juice. Tell them to swallow the medicine whole, not chew it.

Depending on what type of methylphenidate your child needs, they'll need to take it at different times. If your child is taking slow release methylphenidate, such as:

• Equasym XL, give it to them before breakfast
• Medikinet XL, give it to them with or after breakfast

For other types of methylphenidate, give your child their dose first thing in the morning. If they have 2 doses a day, give the next dose around lunchtime (early afternoon). If they've been prescribed 3 doses, they can take the last dose in the late afternoon or evening.

Try to leave at least 4 hours between doses.

If your child has 3 doses, try to give them the last one at least 4 hours before bedtime so it does not affect their sleep.

Let your child's school know if they need to take their medicine during the school day.

If your child has problems swallowing standard tablets, such as Medikinet or Ritalin, then it's OK to crush them up. Mix the crushed tablets with a small amount of soft food such as yogurt, honey or jam.

If your child takes slow release capsules, you can open the capsule and mix the contents with a small amount of soft food such as yogurt, honey or jam.

Give your child the mixture straight away and tell them to swallow it without chewing.

Do not crush or break slow release tablets because the medicine will not work properly.

Check the leaflet that comes with the medicine for when to take it and whether to take it with food.