FDA approval expands range of Metadate (methylphenidate) dosages

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this month approved the use of 40-mg, 50-mg, and 60-mg Metadate CD CII (methylphenidate HCI, manufactured by UCB) Extended-Release Capsules for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The capsules are already available in 10 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg strengths, with a recommended starting dose of 20 mg once daily.

"The new strengths will allow for the full range of immediate-release doses (30% of the total) from a single capsule," said James M. Swanson, MD, PhD, professor of pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine. "The addition of these doses will allow physicians greater flexibility in tailoring a treatment regimen to the individual needs and responses of each patient."