Ritalin® (methylphenidate)

Primer

Ritalin® (methylphenidate) is a stimulant medication in the methylphenidate class used primarily in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Indications

Pharmacokinetics

  • Ritalin is the shortest-acting form of methylphenidate
  • Duration: 3-4 hours
  • Formulations: 5 (generic), 10, 20 mg tabs

Pharmacodynamics

  • Starting Dose: 5 mg BID to TID (Adults QID)
  • Titration: increase by 5mg qWeekly
  • Max Dose: 60 mg, all ages

Pearls

  • High abuse potential
  • Can be crushed
  • Ritalin SR (Sustained Release) also exists but is not really used clinically, since there is generally a really poor response in patients.

References

1) Mintzer, J., Lanctôt, K. L., Scherer, R. W., Rosenberg, P. B., Herrmann, N., Van Dyck, C. H., ... & ADMET 2 Research Group. (2021). Effect of Methylphenidate on Apathy in Patients With Alzheimer Disease: The ADMET 2 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA neurology.