Jornay PM (methylphenidate) is a prescription drug used to treat ADHD in adults and certain children. Jornay PM can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. Examples include reduced appetite, insomnia, nausea, and vomiting.

The active ingredient in Jornay PM is methylphenidate hydrochloride. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) The drug comes as an oral extended-release* capsule.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects that Jornay PM can cause. For a general overview of the drug, including details about its use for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), see this article.

* “Extended release” means the drug is slowly released into your body over a long period of time.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during their Jornay PM treatment.

Examples of Jornay PM’s commonly reported side effects include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Mild side effects have been reported with Jornay PM. These include:

  • nausea and vomiting
  • irritability
  • insomnia (difficulty sleeping)*
  • dizziness*
  • abdominal pain
  • reduced appetite
  • anxiety
  • mild allergic reaction*

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking Jornay PM unless your doctor recommends it.

Jornay PM may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Serious side effects have been reported with Jornay PM. These include:

If you develop serious side effects while taking Jornay PM, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.
† For more information, see the “Jornay PM and misuse” section below.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Jornay PM, visit MedWatch.

Jornay PM is prescribed to help treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children ages 6 years and older. Common side effects of Jornay PM were similar to those experienced by adults.

However, the following side effects were reported more commonly in children than adults in the drug’s studies.

  • slowed growth rate
  • weight loss

Your child’s doctor will monitor their weight and height regularly while they’re taking Jornay PM. If your child isn’t gaining weight or growing at an expected rate, the doctor may have them temporarily or permanently stop taking Jornay PM.

For more information about these or other potential side effects of Jornay PM in children, talk with your child’s doctor or a pharmacist.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Jornay PM’s side effects.

Are side effects of Jornay PM similar to those seen with Adderall?

Yes, Jornay PM and Adderall are stimulant medications that have some similar side effects.

Some common side effects of both Jornay PM and Adderall include:

To learn more about how these medications and their side effects compare, talk with your doctor. You can also learn more about Adderall’s side effects in this article.

How long do side effects of Jornay PM usually last?

How long side effects of Jornay PM will last depends on several factors. These include:

  • your age
  • other medications you may be taking
  • other health conditions you may have
  • how your body responds to Jornay PM

Usually, side effects of Jornay PM are mild and go away after a few weeks to months of treatment. However, children may experience long-term slowed growth or weight loss during treatment with Jornay PM. Your child’s doctor will monitor your child’s growth and weight while they’re taking Jornay PM.

If you experience bothersome side effects with Jornay PM, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

In some cases, your doctor may monitor your side effects of Jornay PM long term. Examples of these side effects include mental health changes and changes in your heart rate or blood pressure. If you already have one of these conditions, be sure to talk with your doctor before starting Jornay PM treatment. They can determine whether Jornay PM is a safe option for you.

Learn more about some of the side effects Jornay PM may cause.

Dizziness

Dizziness was a common but mild side effect reported in studies of Jornay PM.

Dizziness may cause symptoms such as:

  • lightheadedness
  • loss of balance
  • fainting
  • unsteadiness

Factors that can increase the risk of dizziness when taking Jornay PM include if you have low blood pressure or other gait or balance problems.

What might help

If you have dizziness during Jornay PM treatment, consider the following tips:

  • get up slowly from lying down or sitting
  • use support (such as handrails) to help with steadiness
  • drink plenty of water and get adequate rest
  • avoid sudden movements

If your dizziness isn’t relieved or is bothersome, talk with your doctor. They can suggest other ways to reduce dizziness.

Insomnia

Insomnia (difficulty sleeping) was commonly reported in studies of people taking Jornay PM.

Insomnia may cause symptoms such as:

  • difficulty falling asleep
  • waking up too early and being unable to fall back asleep
  • broken or interrupted sleep patterns
  • feeling tired
  • irritability

What might help

To help ease symptoms of insomnia, you may want to try:

  • limiting screen time close to bedtime
  • taking a warm shower or bath before bed
  • avoiding exercising late in the day
  • avoiding heavy meals, alcohol, and caffeine close to bedtime
  • trying a calming activity before bed, such as meditation or reading

If your insomnia is persistent or bothersome, talk with your doctor. They can suggest ways to help with your symptoms, including short-term prescription or over-the-counter remedies.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Jornay PM can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Symptoms can be mild to serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. Examples include:

  • an oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to Jornay PM, they’ll decide whether you should continue taking it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Jornay PM, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Jornay PM treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking a new drug or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how your symptoms affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how Jornay PM affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Below is important information you should consider before taking Jornay PM.

Boxed warning: Risks of misuse and dependence

Jornay PM has a boxed warning for the risks of misuse and dependence. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Jornay PM is a stimulant medication that’s a Schedule II controlled substance. This means it has high risks of misuse and dependence. Misuse means taking a medication differently than how it was prescribed. With dependence, your body becomes used to the medication and needs it to function as usual.

To learn more about this boxed warning, see the “Jornay PM and misuse” section below.

Other warnings

Jornay PM can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Jornay PM is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Jornay PM. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

  • Mental health conditions. Taking Jornay PM can worsen symptoms of mental health conditions. Before taking Jornay PM, tell your doctor if you have bipolar disorder or other serious mental health conditions. Your doctor will decide whether this drug is safe for you. During your Jornay PM treatment, contact your doctor if you have new or worsening symptoms of mental health conditions, such as hallucinations, mania, or psychosis. You and your doctor can discuss whether you need to stop taking the medication.
  • Circulation problems. Jornay PM can cause problems with circulation, including Raynaud’s phenomenon, which causes reduced blood flow to your fingers and toes. Tell your doctor if you already have Raynaud’s phenomenon. They’ll decide whether Jornay PM is safe for you to take.
  • Heart or blood vessel problems.Stimulant medications such as Jornay PM can increase the risk of heart or blood vessel problems. Examples include high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. There is also a risk of sudden death. Your doctor likely won’t prescribe Jornay PM for you if you’ve had heart or blood vessel problems before.
  • Past allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Jornay PM or other similar medications in the past, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Jornay PM for you. Ask them what other medications may be safe options for you.
  • Pregnancy. It isn’t known whether Jornay PM is safe to take during pregnancy. See the “Pregnancy and breastfeeding with Jornay PM” section below for more information.
  • Breastfeeding. It’s not known whether Jornay PM is safe to take while breastfeeding. To learn more, see the “Pregnancy and breastfeeding with Jornay PM” section below.

Alcohol and Jornay PM

It’s not safe to drink alcohol while taking Jornay PM, as alcohol can cause the drug to be released more quickly into your body. Drinking alcohol with Jornay PM can also raise your risk of certain side effects, such as insomnia (difficulty sleeping).

In addition, combining Jornay PM and alcohol could worsen your attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms the next day.

If you have questions or concerns about avoiding alcohol while takingJornay PM, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding with Jornay PM

See below for information about Jornay PM’s safety during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Pregnancy

It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Jornay PM during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with Jornay PM.

If you take this drug while pregnant, your doctor may suggest signing up for the National Pregnancy
Registry for Psychiatric Medications. A pregnancy registry collects information about the safety of certain drugs when taken during pregnancy. You can learn more about the registry by visiting its website or by calling 1-866-961-2388.

Breastfeeding

It’s not known whether Jornay PM is safe to take while breastfeeding. Small amounts of methylphenidate (the active ingredient* in Jornay PM) pass into breast milk and could cause side effects in a child who’s breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before starting Jornay PM treatment.

* An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.

Jornay PM has a boxed warning for the risks of misuse and dependence. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts doctors and patients about dangerous and potentially life threatening drug effects.

Jornay PM is a Schedule II controlled substance, which means it has a high risk of misuse and dependence. Misuse means taking a drug in a way other than how a doctor prescribes it. Examples of misuse include taking the drug more often or at higher doses than recommended by your doctor. Dependence means your body has become used to the medication and needs it to function as usual.

Continued misuse of Jornay PM can lead to addiction (also known as substance use disorder). With addiction, you feel unable to stop taking a medication, even though it may be causing harm.

Your doctor will discuss the risks of misuse and dependence of Jornay PM with you. People with a history of substance misuse or addiction have a higher risk of misuse and dependence with Jornay PM.

You should take Jornay PM only as your doctor has prescribed. Misuse increases the risk of overdose, which can lead to serious effects, including fast heart rate, confusion, and loss of consciousness. In some cases, overdose can even be fatal.

Be sure to store Jornay PM securely to avoid misuse by others. If you have questions about your risk of misuse or dependence with Jornay PM, talk with your doctor.

Like most drugs, Jornay PM can cause a number of side effects that range from mild to serious. However, most are temporary and go away after a few days to weeks. If you have questions about side effects that Jornay PM can cause, talk with your doctor.

Examples of questions to help get you started include:

  • Does the risk of side effects depend on my dosage of Jornay PM?
  • Could my child continue to have slowed growth even after stopping Jornay PM treatment?
  • How do Jornay PM’s side effects compare with those of Concerta or Adderall?

To learn more about Jornay PM, see these articles:

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.