Jornay PM
Jornay PM is the first extended release ADHD stimulant medication taken in the evening and designed to control ADHD symptoms from daybreak to bedtime.
Generic Name: methylphenidate
What Is the ADHD Medication Jornay PM?
Jornay PM (Generic Name: methylphenidate) is a stimulant medication used to treat ADHD symptoms in patients age 6 and older. The formulation and delivery system of Jornay PM delayed release as well as extended release is unique. The medication is taken at night; its outer layer delays the release of medication for 10 to 12 hours, so the patient wakes up the next morning with a full therapeutic blood level of methylphenidate. This opens the door to greater organization, efficiency, focus, and emotional control early in the morning when getting up and ready for school or work. Subsequently, the extended release formulation releases medication in steady amounts throughout the day.
How Does the ADHD Medication Jornay PM Work?
Jornay PM (generic name: methylphenidate hydrochloride) is an extended release ADHD stimulant medication intended for children 6 years of age and older that can also be taken by adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD). Jornay capsules are filled with microbeads, each of which has a delayed release and extended release layer. This technology keeps the medication from activating for 10 to 12 hours — meaning the effects are felt when a child wakes up — and then releases medication into the body in steady amounts throughout the day.
Jornay PM contains the same active ingredient as medications such as Ritalin and Daytrana. According to the FDA, Jornay PM is a federally controlled substance (CII) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. It has not been studied in children under the age of 6.
How Is Jornay PM Used to Treat ADHD Symptoms?
The effects of Jornay PM are first felt up to 12 hours after ingestion, so the drug manufacturer (Ironshore Pharmaceuticals) recommends taking it between 6:30 and 9:30 pm, under supervision from a physician. The pills should be taken at the same time every evening and can be taken with or without food but should be done so consistently.
Capsules can be opened and sprinkled onto applesauce or a similar food for children who have difficulty swallowing pills. The food and medicine mixture should be ingested completely right away and should not be chewed.
Before starting or refilling a Jornay PM prescription, read the medication guide included with your pills, as it may be updated with new information.
This guide should not replace a conversation with your doctor, who has a holistic view of your or your child’s medical history, other diagnoses, and other prescriptions. If you have questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist before you begin taking the medication.
What Dosage of Jornay PM is Used to Treat ADHD Symptoms?
As with all medications, follow your Jornay PM prescription instructions exactly.
Jornay PM is a capsule available in five doses: 20 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg, and 100 mg — a doctor can help determine the best dose and time to take Jornay PM. Doses may be titrated weekly in increments of 20 mg. The optimal dosage varies patient by patient. It is not determined by age, weight, or height, but rather by how a person metabolizes the medication, and the condition treated. Your doctor may adjust your daily dosage until you or your child experiences the best response — that is, the lowest dosage at which you experience the greatest improvement in symptoms without side effects.
If a dose is missed, Jornay PM should be taken as soon as it’s remembered in the evening. If it’s not remembered until the next day, skip the dose and wait until that evening. Jornay PM should not be taken in the morning.
What Side Effects Are Associated with Jornay PM?
Taking methylphenidate medications such as Jornay PM can pose potentially serious side effects such as new or worse behavior and thought problems, new or worse bipolar symptoms, and new manic or psychotic symptoms. Children ages 6 to 12 with ADHD may experience the following side effects: trouble sleeping, nausea, decreased appetite, mood swings, restlessness, vomiting, and headache.
There has been some concern that stimulants may cause a slowing of growth in children and adolescents, however research findings are mixed. Some studies show no impact on growth at all,1 while others find what is considered “negligible” slowing of growth.2 If you find evidence of suppressed growth in your child, talk to your doctor about what steps might help.
What Precautions Are Associated with Jornay PM?
Store Jornay PM in a secure place out of the reach of children, and at room temperature. Do not share your Jornay PM prescription with anyone, even another person with ADHD. Sharing prescription medication is illegal, and can cause harm.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Jornay PM, as it will cause a more rapid release of the medication into the bloodstream. Children who are allergic to methylphenidate hydrochloride or any of the ingredients in Jornay PM, or are taking or have taken within the past 14 days an antidepressant called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) should not take Jornay PM.
Report to your doctor any heart-related problems or a family history of heart and blood pressure problems before beginning any new prescription. Patients with structural cardiac abnormalities and other serious heart problems have experienced sudden death, stroke, heart attack, and increased blood pressure while taking Jornay PM. Stimulants can increase blood pressure and heart rate. Physicians should monitor these vital signs closely during treatment. Call your doctor immediately if you or your child experiences warning signs such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting while taking Jornay PM.
Also disclose to your physician all mental health issues including any family history of suicide, bipolar illness, tics, or depression. Call your doctor immediately if you or your child experiences new or worsening mental health symptoms, including psychotic or manic symptoms. Additionally, if a child has numbness, pain, skin color change, or unexplained wounds and/or sensitivity to temperature in the fingers or toes, a physician should be contacted.
CNS stimulants, like Jornay PM, have a high potential for dependence and abuse, so signs of those tendencies should be monitored for while the medication is being taken.
Jornay PM is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to methylphenidates.
If you’re thinking of becoming pregnant, discuss the use of Jornay PM with your doctor. The safety of Jornay PM for children under age 6 has not been established.
What Interactions Are Associated with Jornay PM?
Jornay PM should not be taken concomitantly with MAOIs or within 14 days after discontinuing MAOI treatment. Concomitant use of MAO inhibitors and CNS stimulants can lead to a life-threatening hypertensive crisis.
Tell your doctor if you are taking seizure medications, blood thinners, blood pressure medication, or any medication containing a decongestant.
Share a list of all vitamin or herbal supplements, and prescription and non-prescription medications you take with the pharmacist when you fill your prescription, and let all doctors and physicians know you are taking Jornay PM before having any surgery or laboratory tests. The above is not a complete list of all possible drug interactions.
More Information on Jornay PM and Other ADHD Medications
- Free Download: Medication Tracking Log
- Free Download: A Parent’s Guide to ADHD Medications
- Read: Jornay PM: A New Methylphenidate Formulation Now Available In the U.S.
- Read: The Most Popular ADHD Medications: Comparison Chart
- Find: ADHD Specialists and Clinics Near You
Sources
1Pediatrics (2014.) “ADHD, Stimulant Treatment, and Growth: A Longitudinal Study.” https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/134/4/e935/77034/ADHD-Stimulant-Treatment-and-Growth-A-Longitudinal
2Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. (2019.) “Trajectories of Growth Associated With Long-Term Stimulant Medication in the Multimodal Treatment Study of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.” https://www.jaacap.org/article/S0890-8567(19)31443-1/fulltext
