FDA Warning & Label Change
Read More: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/817936
Methylphenidate, also marketed as Ritalin, has been noted to cause tics, heart problems, weight loss, and sleep problems. It has now been linked to a rare risk for priapism in males taking the stimulant for the treatment of ADHD according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The FDA disclosed in a press release that the stimulant may in rare instances cause prolonged and sometimes painful erections (priapism). In light of this, the FDA has updated drug labels to alert the public to this rare but serious side effect which may lead to permanent penis damage. The FDA warns (similar to Viagra) that patients who take methylphenidate and develop erections lasting longer than 4 hours should seek immediate medical treatment to prevent long-term problems with the penis.
The FDA also warns that nonstimulant ADHD drugs like atomoxetine (Strattera) have also been associated with priapism in young children, teenagers, and adults. Priapism appears to be more common in patients taking atomoxetine than in patients taking methylphenidate, so one has to cautiously consider atomoxetine products as alternatives to Ritalin.
