It was estimated that the number of doses of methylphenidate used globally in 2013 increased by 66% compared to 2012. In 2020, it was the 41st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 15 million prescriptions. It is available as a generic medication.In the United Kingdom, through the National Health Service, the drug is first-line medication for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Uses
Methylphenidate is most commonly used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Methylphenidate is used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The addition of behavioural modification therapy can have additional benefits on treatment outcome. The dosage may vary and is titrated to effect, with some guidelines recommending initial treatment with a low dose. Immediate release methylphenidate is used daily along with the longer-acting form to achieve full-day control of symptoms. Methylphenidate is not approved for children under six years of age.In children over the age of 6 and adolescents, the short-term benefits and cost effectiveness of methylphenidate are well established. A number of reviews have established the safety and effectiveness for individuals with ADHD over several years.Approximately 70% of those who use methylphenidate see improvements in ADHD symptoms. Children with ADHD who use stimulant medications generally have better relationships with peers and family members, perform better in school, are less distractible and impulsive, and have longer attention spans.
However the onset to peak effect is 2 hours and the clinical effects remain up to 2 hours after patch has been removed. The absorption is increased when the transdermal patch is applied onto inflamed skin or skin that has been exposed to heat. The absorption lasts for approximately 9 hours after application (onto normal, unexposed to heat and uninflamed skin). 90% of the medication is excreted in the urine as metabolites and unchanged drug. Cost
Brand-name and generic formulations are available. Legal status
Internationally, methylphenidate is a Schedule II drug under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances. In the United States, methylphenidate is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance, the designation used for substances that have a recognized medical value but present a high potential for misuse. In the United Kingdom, methylphenidate is a controlled Class B substance. Possession without prescription carries a sentence up to 5 years or an unlimited fine, or both; supplying methylphenidate is 14 years or an unlimited fine, or both. In Canada, methylphenidate is listed in Schedule III of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and is illegal to possess without a prescription, with unlawful possession punishable by up to three years imprisonment, or (via summary conviction) by up to one year imprisonment and/or fines of up to two thousand dollars. Unlawful possession for the purpose of trafficking is punishable by up to ten years imprisonment, or (via summary conviction) by up to eighteen months imprisonment. In New Zealand, methylphenidate is a class B2 controlled substance.