What Is Considered a High Dose of Methylphenidate for Adults?
Many people suffer from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, otherwise known as ADHD, including millions of adults. Some of the most commonly prescribed medications to treat this condition are stimulants that ramp up the central nervous system, helping patients improve their focus, decrease restlessness, and control impulses. Still, stimulants like this can be among the most addictive prescription drugs, and that can make someone wonder what is a high-dose of methylphenidate for adults if they’ve been prescribed this kind of medication to treat ADHD.
Table of contents
» What Is Methylphenidate?
» What Are the Risks of Taking a High Dose of Methylphenidate?
» What Mental Health Side Effects Can Happen With High Doses of Methylphenidate?
» Can Adults Develop Tolerance to Methylphenidate?
» Key Takeaways on What Is a High-Dose of Methylphenidate for Adults
» Resources
What Is Methylphenidate?
Methylphenidate, which is available under many brand names in the United States, including Concerta, Italian, and Methylin, is a type of central nervous system stimulant that is prescribed to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder as well as narcolepsy, a chronic neurological sleep disorder. It’s an effective treatment for ADHD because it boosts the levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, helping the patient increase their attention and decrease restlessness.
It’s just one part of the overall treatment for this condition, which involves struggling with concentration, being overactive, and becoming easily distracted. It’s often combined with other therapies, such as educational or psychological components, to help the person manage these symptoms.
Because it is a powerful stimulant, methylphenidate can cause a wide variety of side effects, including:
- Chest pain
- Fast heartbeat
- Joint pain or muscle cramps
- Fever
- Rashes or hives
- Agitation or confusion
- Decreased sexual interest
- Urinary problems
- Feeling irritated or nervous
- Mood swings
- Nausea
- Itchy, crusty, dry, or flaking skin
- Tics and body movements
- Appetite loss
- Heartburn, vomiting, and upset stomach
- Hair loss
Stimulants like methylphenidate can be habit-forming, which is why doctors closely monitor how their patients are doing on this medication and will make adjustments to the dosage or change the medication if it’s not effective. In addition, methylphenidate is available in various formulations, including fast-acting versions and controlled-release tablets that provide long-term symptom relief. Doctors work with their patients to determine the best course of treatment and adjust the dosage as needed.
What Are the Risks of Taking a High Dose of Methylphenidate?
If you’re wondering what is a high-dose of methylphenidate for adults, it’s essential first to know the typical dosages that doctors will prescribe to their adult patients. Let’s start with the ADHD treatment guidelines:
- Short-Acting Chewable Tablets or Solution: The average dose is 20 to 30 milligrams per day, taken two to three times daily, 30 to 45 minutes before meals. Daily total dosages typically will not exceed 60 milligrams.
- Short-Acting Oral Tablets: 20 to 30 milligrams per day, split into two to three doses, taken 30 to 45 minutes before meals. The maximum daily dose will typically not be more than 60 milligrams.
- Long-Acting (Extended-Release) Oral Capsules: Doctors typically start with 10 to 20 milligrams once daily, taken in the morning, depending on the medication. The maximum daily dosage will vary from 60 to 100 milligrams, depending on the type of medication prescribed.
- Extended-Release Suspension or Chewable Tablets: Starting dose of 20 milligrams taken in the morning, with a maximum dose of 60 milligrams.
- Extended-Release Disintegrating Tablets: Starting dose of 17.3 milligrams taken once a day, each morning, with a maximum dose of 51.8 milligrams.
- Extended-Release Tablets: Starting dose of 18 to 36 milligrams taken once each morning, with a maximum dose of 72 milligrams.
When used as a narcolepsy treatment, patients typically will get short-acting versions of methylphenidate starting at 20 to 30 milligrams divided over two to three doses each day, with a maximum daily total of 60 milligrams.
While these are the standard dosages, some patients may require more or less of the medication to treat their symptoms effectively. One case study, for example, looked at a 38-year-old man who was diagnosed with ADHD at age nine and had been on a variety of medications to treat the condition.
When he was 22, after three years of not taking medicine for it, he was prescribed Ritalin and over the course of 14 months raised his daily dosage to a staggering 4,800 to 6,000 milligrams. Doctors reduced his dosage to 200 milligrams of Ritalin, but he still had severe ADHD, so his dosage was raised again. Eventually, he settled on 378 milligrams each day of extended-release methylphenidate, and that dealt with his symptoms.
If someone takes too much methylphenidate, they can experience distressing and even potentially life-threatening symptoms of overdose that can include:
- Blurry vision
- Chest pain
- Feeling faint or dizzy
- Racing or irregular heartbeat
- Fever
- Losing consciousness
- Pale or clammy skin
- Heart palpitations
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Seizures
- Trembling
- Difficulty breathing or speaking
- Weakness on one side of the body
If you or someone you love is experiencing a possible methylphenidate overdose, it’s crucial to get medical attention as soon as possible and talk to your doctor to prevent this from happening again.
What Mental Health Side Effects Can Happen With High Doses of Methylphenidate?
So, what is a high dose of methylphenidate for adults? For many medications containing this stimulant, the maximum daily dosage will be about 60 milligrams. However, some patients take much more or less of the drug. If someone takes too high a dose, they can experience many different side effects, including mental health issues that can include:
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Feeling disoriented or confused
- Aggression and hostility
- Mania (elevated mood, racing thoughts, inflated sense of self, and feeling like they don’t need sleep)
- Irritability and agitation
- Panic attacks
- Restlessness
- Severe depression
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
Researchers have found that the psychiatric side effects of methylphenidate can be very similar to cocaine and amphetamines—meaning that even though it’s a tightly controlled prescription medication, it’s still a potent stimulant that can cause things like nervousness, suspiciousness, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, suicidal thoughts, and even delirium.
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Can Adults Develop Tolerance to Methylphenidate?
Methylphenidate is like many other ADHD stimulant medications in its potential for misuse, and patients who take it can develop tolerance to this drug, which makes them feel like they need to take more to feel the same effects. Tolerance is more likely to happen to someone who is taking a high dose of the medication, as well as those who are struggling with increased stress, poor sleep, and other health issues.
If someone starts to struggle with tolerance to the drug, they can soon begin to experience dependency on the medication, or needing to take it to feel normal, and they can be at a high risk of substance use disorder. If this is happening to someone you love, it’s vital to help them understand how to get into rehab for addiction to get the help they need to beat this chronic condition.
Key Takeaways on What Is a High-Dose of Methylphenidate for Adults
- Stimulants are a standard treatment option for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adults.
- What is a high dose of methylphenidate for adults? Typically, patients receive a daily total of approximately 60 milligrams of this type of medication, depending on their individual needs and the formulation prescribed.
- Methylphenidate can cause many side effects, including sleep difficulty, appetite loss, stomach upset, and a fast heartbeat.
- People who take high doses of this drug are at risk of developing tolerance to it.
- It’s possible to overdose on this stimulant, which can lead to severe and even life-threatening symptoms.
If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction to methylphenidate or wants to know more about what is a high-dose of Methylphenidate for adults, WhiteSands Treatment can help. The staff at our Florida prescription drug addiction treatment center knows what it takes to break the physical and mental chains of addiction, once and for all. Call us at 877-855-3470 to get started on the road to recovery today.
Resources
- Mayo Clinic – Methylphenidate (Oral Route)
- National Library of Medicine – High Dose Methylphenidate Treatment in Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Case Report
- National Library of Medicine – Methylphenidate Abuse and Psychiatric Side Effects
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
