Why is this drug prescribed?

Cylert is used to help treat children who have attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity. However, this condition does not always require drug treatment. Drugs such as Cylert should be taken as part of a comprehensive treatment plan offering psychological and educational support to help the child become more stable.

Children who have attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity may show signs of:

Emotional mood swings
Hyperactivity
Impulsive actions
Moderate to severe distractibility
Short attention span

Most important fact about this drug

Cylert has been known to cause rare cases of liver damage, some serious enough to be fatal. Children taking Cylert should have their liver function tested every 2 weeks. If the child develops any signs of liver damage, call your doctor immediately. Warning signs include fatigue, loss of appetite, digestive problems, yellow skin or eyes, and pain in the upper right section of the abdomen.

How should you take this medication?

Cylert should be taken once a day, in the morning.

---If you miss a dose...

Have your child take it as soon as you remember, then go back to the regular schedule. If you do not remember it until the next day, skip the missed dose and go back to the regular schedule. Do not give 2 doses at once.

---Storage instructions...

Store at room temperature.

What side effects may occur?

Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for your child to continue taking Cylert.

• The most common side effect may include:
  Insomnia

• Less common side effects may include:
  Depression, dizziness, drowsiness, hallucinations, headache, hepatitis and other liver problems, increased irritability, involuntary, fragmented movements of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, and legs, loss of appetite, mild depression, nausea, seizures, skin rash, stomachache, suppressed growth, uncontrolled vocal outbursts (such as grunts, shouts, and obscene language), weight loss, yellowing of skin or eyes

• Rare side effects may include:
  A rare form of anemia with symptoms such as bleeding gums, bruising, chest pain, fatigue, headache, nosebleeds, and abnormal paleness

Why should this drug not be prescribed?

Your child should not be using Cylert if he or she is allergic to it or if he or she has liver problems.

Special warnings about this medication

Cylert may cause dizziness. Warn your child to be careful climbing stairs or participating in activities that require mental alertness.

Although there have been no reports that Cylert is physically addictive, it is chemically similar to a class of drugs that are potentially addictive. Make sure your child takes no more than the prescribed dosage.

Children who take this drug on a long-term basis should be carefully monitored for signs of stunted growth.

Your doctor will be extra cautious if your child has kidney problems.

Children who have a psychiatric illness who take Cylert may experience increasingly disordered thoughts and behavioral disturbances.

Possible food and drug interactions when taking this medication

If Cylert is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Cylert with the following:

Seizure medications such as Tegretol
Other drugs that affect the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) such as Ritalin

Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

This drug is for use only in children, and its effects in pregnancy have not been adequately studied. Cylert should be used during pregnancy only if it is clearly necessary. The drug may appear in breast milk and affect the baby.

Recommended dosage

The recommended beginning dose is 37.5 milligrams daily. Dosages may be gradually increased if needed. Most children take doses ranging from 56.25 to 75 milligrams a day. The maximum recommended daily dose of Cylert is 112.5 milligrams. Significant improvement is gradual and may not be apparent until the third or fourth week of treatment with Cylert.

Your doctor may occasionally stop treatment with Cylert to see whether behavioral problems return and whether further treatment with Cylert is necessary.

Overdosage

Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical help immediately.

• Symptoms of Cylert overdose may include:
  Agitation, coma, confusion, convulsions, delirium, dilated pupils, exaggerated feeling of well-being, extremely high temperature, flushing, hallucinations, headache, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, increased reflex reactions, muscle twitches, sweating, tremors, vomiting

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