Methylphenidate (Oral Route)

Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Methylphenidate (Oral Route)

Drug Information provided by: Micromedex

US Brand Names

  • Concerta
  • Metadate CD
  • Metadate ER
  • Methylin
  • Methylin ER
  • Ritalin
  • Ritalin LA
  • Ritalin-SR

Description

Methylphenidate belongs to the group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. It is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is an uncontrollable desire for sleep or a sudden attack of deep sleep.

Methylphenidate works in the treatment of ADHD by increasing attention and decreasing restlessness in children and adults who are overactive, cannot concentrate for very long, or are easily distracted and impulsive. This medicine is used as part of a total treatment program that also includes social, educational, and psychological treatment.

This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.

Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although not specifically included in product labeling, methylphenidate may be used in certain patients with the following condition:

  • Depressive disorder secondary to physical illness in patients who cannot take antidepressant medicines.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Tablet, Extended Release
  • Capsule, Extended Release
  • Tablet, Chewable
  • Solution
  • Tablet
Before Using

DR601847

Portions of this document last updated:

Nov. 1, 2009

Source: Drug Information provided by: Micromedex

Copyright © 2009 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.


Text Size: smaller largerlarger