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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about Quillivant XR (methylphenidate HCl)

Quillivant XR is the first once-daily, extended-release liquid methylphenidate used for the treatment of ADHD. Quillivant XR is a central nervous system stimulant prescription liquid medicine that is taken by mouth once in the morning, with or without food. Quillivant XR may help increase attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in people with ADHD. It is not known if Quillivant XR is safe and effective in children under 6 years of age.

Quillivant XR may be used as part of a treatment program for ADHD that may include counseling or other therapies.

The “XR” stands for “eXtended Release.”

Quillivant XR contains methylphenidate that uses technology to allow for a continuous release of medication throughout the day. This means that Quillivant XR only needs to be taken once each day in the morning.

In a clinical study performed in a laboratory classroom, Quillivant XR was given once daily in the morning for 4 to 6 weeks, where the right dose was identified for each patient, and after remaining for 1 week on that dose. At the end of the 1-week period each child's attention and behavior were measured. Quillivant XR was found effective at reducing the symptoms of ADHD in children ages 6-12 years at all measured times (45 minutes; 2, 4, 8, 10, and 12 hours after taking) compared to a sugar syrup.

The effectiveness of Quillivant XR was assessed in a laboratory classroom study. Teachers and raters used a rating scale (SKAMP) to evaluate the efficacy of Quillivant XR on attention and behavior in children with ADHD ages 6-12 years. Quillivant XR was demonstrated to work at 45 minutes and keep working for 12 hours after taking. In a clinical study performed in a laboratory classroom, Quillivant XR was found effective at reducing the symptoms of ADHD in children ages 6-12 years at all measured times (45 minutes; 2, 4, 8, 10, and 12 hours after taking) compared to a sugar syrup.

The most common side effects reported were mood swings, skin scratching, lack of sleep, involuntary rapid movement or speech, decreased appetite, vomiting, motion sickness, eye pain, and rash

Based on accumulated data from other methylphenidate products, the most common (≥5% and twice the rate of placebo) adverse reactions are appetite decreased, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, weight decreased, anxiety, dizziness, irritability, affect lability, tachycardia, and blood pressure increased.

Quillivant XR is banana-flavored.

Store Quillivant XR in a safe place at 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C). Keep Quillivant XR and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Quillivant XR comes as a powder that your pharmacist will mix for you into a liquid. Depending on the prescription from your doctor, you will be given 1 or 2 bottles (containing the liquid form of Quillivant XR), with the bottle adapter already fully inserted by the pharmacist. You will also be given 1 oral dosing dispenser. Please refer to the Instructions for Use for a full description of each item.

  • Take Quillivant XR exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may adjust the dose until it is right for you or your child
  • Take Quillivant XR once each day in the morning
  • Quillivant XR should be used with the oral dosing dispenser provided with the product. If the oral dosing dispenser is missing or not provided, please contact your pharmacist for a replacement
  • Quillivant XR can be taken with or without food. Taking Quillivant XR with food may shorten the time it takes for the medicine to start working
  • From time to time, your healthcare provider may stop Quillivant XR treatment for a while to check ADHD symptoms
  • Your healthcare provider may do regular checks of the blood, heart, and blood pressure while taking Quillivant XR
  • Children should have their height and weight checked often while taking Quillivant XR. Quillivant XR treatment may be stopped if a problem is found during these check-ups
  • In case of poisoning, call your poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room

Take Quillivant XR exactly as prescribed by your doctor and as instructed by your pharmacist. Quillivant XR is taken once each day in the morning.

Quillivant XR was demonstrated to start working 45 minutes after taking. In a clinical study performed in a laboratory classroom, Quillivant XR was found effective at reducing the symptoms of ADHD in children ages 6-12 years at all measured times (45 minutes; 2, 4, 8, 10, and 12 hours after taking) compared to a sugar syrup.

Quillivant XR works in 45 minutes and keeps working for 12 hours after taking. That means that when taken at 7 am, Quillivant XR may be effective through evening. In a clinical study performed in a laboratory classroom, Quillivant XR was found effective at reducing the symptoms of ADHD in children ages 6-12 years at all measured times (45 minutes; 2, 4, 8, 10, and 12 hours after taking) compared to a sugar syrup.

Quillivant XR is a federally controlled substance (CII) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Keep Quillivant XR in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away Quillivant XR may harm others, and is against the law. Tell your healthcare provider if you or your child have (or have a family history of) ever abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines, or street drugs.

A Caregivers' Practical Resource Booklet Icon

ADHD – A Caregiver’s Practical Resource, a booklet that provides helpful educational information about ADHD.

Important Safety Information & Approved Use

DYANAVEL® XR (amphetamine), Quillivant XR® (methylphenidate HCI), and QuilliChew ER® (methylphenidate HCI) are federally controlled substances (CII) because they can be a target for people who abuse prescription medicines or street drugs. DYANAVEL XR, Quillivant XR, and QuilliChew ER have a high chance for abuse and misuse and may lead to substance use problems, including addiction. Keep these medicines in a safe place to prevent abuse and misuse. Selling or giving away these medicines may harm others and is against the law. Your healthcare provider should check you or your child’s risk for abuse, misuse, and addiction before starting treatment with DYANAVEL XR, Quillivant XR, and QuilliChew ER and will monitor you or your child during treatment. Tell your physician if you, your child, or any family members have ever abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines, or street drugs.

See Additional Important Safety Information.

Important Safety Information & Approved Use

DYANAVEL® XR (amphetamine), Quillivant XR® (methylphenidate HCl), and QuilliChew ER® (methylphenidate HCl) are federally controlled substances (CII) because they can be a target for people who abuse prescription medicines or street drugs. DYANAVEL XR, Quillivant XR, and QuilliChew ER have a high chance for abuse and misuse and may lead to substance use problems, including addiction. Keep these medicines in a safe place to prevent abuse and misuse. Selling or giving away these medicines may harm others and is against the law.

Your healthcare provider should check you or your child’s risk for abuse, misuse, and addiction before starting treatment with DYANAVEL XR, Quillivant XR, and QuilliChew ER and will monitor you or your child during treatment. Tell your physician if you, your child, or any family members have ever abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines, or street drugs.

DYANAVEL XR, or Quillivant XR and QuilliChew ER, should not be taken if you or your child are allergic to amphetamine or methylphenidate hydrochloride, respectively, or any of the ingredients in these medicines, or are taking or have taken within the past 14 days an anti-depression medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or MAOI including the antibiotic linezolid and the intravenous medicine methylene blue.

DYANAVEL XR, Quillivant XR, and QuilliChew ER can cause serious side effects. Tell the doctor:

  • if you or your child have heart problems, heart defects, high blood pressure, or a family history of these problems. This is important because sudden death has occurred in children 6 to 17 years old with heart problems or defects, and sudden death, stroke, and heart attack have happened in adults. Your doctor should check you or your child carefully for heart problems before starting any of these medicines. Call the doctor right away if you or your child have any signs of heart problems such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting while taking any of these medicines.
  • Since increases in blood pressure and heart rate may occur, the doctor should regularly check these during treatment.
  • if you or your child have mental problems, or a family history of suicide, bipolar illness, or depression. This is important because new or worsening behavior and thought problems or bipolar illness may occur. New symptoms such as seeing or hearing things that are not real, believing things that are not true, being suspicious, or having new manic symptoms may occur. Call the doctor right away if there are any new or worsening mental symptoms during treatment.
  • if you or your child have circulation problems in fingers and toes (called peripheral vasculopathy, including Raynaud’s phenomenon). Fingers or toes may feel numb, cool, painful, sensitive to temperature, and/or change color from pale, to blue, to red. Call the doctor right away if any signs of unexplained wounds appear on fingers or toes while taking DYANAVEL XR, Quillivant XR, or QuilliChew ER.
  • if your child is having slowing of growth (height and weight); Your child should have his or her height and weight checked often while taking DYANAVEL XR, Quillivant XR, or QuilliChew ER.
  • New or worsening tics or worsening Tourette’s syndrome. Tell your healthcare provider if you or your child get any new or worsening tics or worsening Tourette’s syndrome during treatment.
  • There have been cases of increased eye pressure and acute angle closure glaucoma, an emergency that results from a rapid increase in your eye pressure with Quillivant XR and QuilliChew ER. Call your healthcare provider right away if you or your child develop changes in your vision or eye pain, swelling, or redness.
  • if you or your child develop painful and prolonged erections (priapism), seek medical help right away. Priapism has occurred with methylphenidate (Quillivant XR and QuilliChew ER). Because priapism can cause long-lasting damage, it should be checked by a doctor right away.
  • if you or your child have symptoms of serotonin syndrome - agitation, hallucinations, coma, or other changes in mental status; fast heartbeat; sweating or fever; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; high or low blood pressure; problems controlling movements or muscle twitching; muscle stiffness or tightness. Serotonin syndrome may occur when DYANAVEL XR is taken with certain other medicines and may be life-threatening. Stop DYANAVEL XR and call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
  • if you or your child have phenylketonuria (PKU). QuilliChew ER contains phenylalanine as part of the artificial sweetener, aspartame. The artificial sweetener may be harmful to people with PKU or who are allergic to phenylalanine.
  • if you or your child are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if DYANAVEL XR, Quillivant XR, or QuilliChew ER will harm your unborn baby. There is a pregnancy registry for females who are exposed to DYANAVEL XR, Quillivant XR, or QuilliChew ER during pregnancy. The purpose of the registry is to collect information about the health of females exposed to DYANAVEL XR, Quillivant XR, or QuilliChew ER and their baby. If you or your child becomes pregnant during treatment with DYANAVEL XR, Quillivant XR, or QuilliChew ER, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the National Pregnancy Registry for Psychostimulants at 1-866-961-2388 or visit https://womensmentalhealth.org/clinical-and-research-programs/pregnancyregistry/othermedications/.
  • You and your child should not breastfeed while you are taking DYANAVEL XR. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will take Quillivant XR or QuilliChew ER or breastfeed.

Common side effects of amphetamine products include:

  • dry mouth
  • nausea
  • extreme mood changes
  • decreased appetite
  • trouble sleeping
  • dizziness
  • weight loss
  • restlessness
  • increased heart rate
  • stomach pain

Common side effects of methylphenidate products inlude:

  • decreased appetite
  • stomach pain
  • irritability
  • trouble sleeping
  • weight loss
  • mood swings
  • nausea
  • anxiety
  • fast heart beat
  • vomiting
  • dizziness
  • increased blood pressure
  • indigestion

Talk to your doctor if you or your child have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking DYANAVEL XR, Quillivant XR, or QuilliChew ER.

You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

APPROVED USE

DYANAVEL XR, Quillivant XR, and QuilliChew ER are central nervous system (CNS) stimulant prescription medicines used for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in people 6 years and older. These medicines may help increase attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in people with ADHD.

It is not known if DYANAVEL XR, Quillivant XR, and QuilliChew ER are safe and effective in children under 6 years of age.

See Medication Guide for DYANAVEL XR, Quillivant XR, and QuilliChew ER.

See Full Prescribing Information for DYANAVEL XR, Quillivant XR, and QuilliChew ER, including Boxed Warning about Abuse, Misuse and Addiction.

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