Foquest
Medically reviewed
| Name of Medication | Foquest |
|---|---|
| Medication type | Long-acting stimulant |
| Generic Name of Medication | Methylphenidate HCL |
| How to use this medication | Use this drug as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely. Take in the morning. Some drugs may need to be taken with food or on an empty stomach. For some drugs it does not matter. Check with your pharmacist about how to take this drug. Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or crush. You may sprinkle contents of capsule on applesauce. Do not chew. Swallow right away and follow with water or juice. Some products may also be sprinkled on yogurt. Read the package insert or talk with your pharmacist if you are not sure. After mixing, take your dose right away. Do not store for future use. If you have been taking this drug for a long time or at high doses, it may not work as well and you may need higher doses to get the same effect. This is known as tolerance. Call your doctor if this drug stops working well. Do not take more than ordered. Limit your use of caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate. Use with this drug may cause nervousness, shakiness, and a fast heartbeat. Have your blood work checked if you are on this drug for a long time. Talk with your doctor. If you are taking this drug and have high blood pressure, talk with your doctor before using OTC products that may raise blood pressure. These include cough or cold drugs, diet pills, stimulants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen, and some natural products or aids. |
| How to store this medication | Store at room temperature protected from light. Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom. Store this drug in a safe place where children cannot see or reach it, and where other people cannot get to it. A locked box or area may help keep this drug safe. Keep all drugs away from pets. |
| How to dispose of this medication | Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area. |
| Potential side effects | Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat. Signs of high blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight. Signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes. Joint pain. Purple patches on the skin or mouth. Change in eyesight. Seizures. Shakiness. Trouble controlling body movements. Sweating a lot. Restlessness. Change in color of hands, feet, or other areas. Skin may turn pale, blue, purple, or red. Numbness, pain, tingling, or cold feeling of the hands or feet. Any sores or wounds on the fingers or toes. Muscle pain or weakness, dark urine, or trouble passing urine. Change in sex interest. Call your doctor right away if you have a painful erection (hard penis) or an erection that lasts for longer than 4 hours. This may happen even when you are not having sex. If this is not treated right away, it may lead to lasting sex problems and you may not be able to have sex. New or worse behaviour and mood changes like change in thinking, anger, and hallucinations have happened with this drug. Tell your doctor if you or a family member have any mental or mood problems like depression or bipolar illness, or if a family member has committed suicide. Call your doctor right away if you have hallucinations; change in the way you act; or signs of mood changes like depression, thoughts of suicide, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, thinking that is not normal, anxiety, or lack of interest in life. |
| What to tell your doctor before taking this medication | If you are allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had. If you have any of these health problems: Glaucoma, agitation, anxiety, or overactive thyroid. If you or a family member have any of these health problems: Blood vessel disease, high blood pressure, heart structure problems or other heart problems, or Tourette's syndrome or tics. If you ever had a stroke If you have taken certain drugs for depression or Parkinson's disease in the last 14 days. This includes isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline, or rasagiline. Very high blood pressure may happen. If you are taking any of these drugs: Linezolid or methylene blue. If you have a rare hereditary health problem like glucose-galactose malabsorption, fructose intolerance, or sucrase-isomaltase deficiency. Some of these products have sucrose. This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems. |
| Be sure to tell all your health providers | Yes |
