File:Methylphenidate.svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
methylphenidate
Sign in to saveAlso known as RIT124, methyl alpha-phenyl-alpha-2-piperidinylacetate, alpha-phenyl-2-piperidineacetic acid methyl ester, methyl phenidylacetate, methylphenidan, methyl alpha-phenyl-alpha-(2-piperidyl)acetate, α-phenyl-2-piperidineacetic acid methyl ester, methyl α-phenyl-α-(2-piperidyl)acetate
Methylphenidate, sold under the brand name Ritalin and Concerta, among others, is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. It may be taken by mouth or applied to the skin, and different formulations have varying durations of effect. For ADHD, the effectiveness of methylphenidate is comparable to atomoxetine but modestly lower than amphetamine. However, methylphenidate is preferred as a first-line treatment in children, while amphetamine is preferred in adults. Methylphenidate reduces core ADHD symptoms and
OverviewAI-generated
Methylphenidate is a chemical compound with the formula C₁₄H₁₉NO₂. It was discovered in 1944. The substance has a melting point of 74.5 and a boiling point of 136. Its mass is listed as 233.141579, while its weight is recorded as 233.31. The defined daily dose is 30.
The IUPAC name for this compound is methyl 2-phenyl-2-piperidin-2-ylacetate. It possesses a charge of 0, an xlogp of 0.2, and a tpsa of 38.3. The molecule contains one hydrogen bond donor and three hydrogen bond acceptors. It is referenced by 2,563 other encyclopedia articles.
Synthesized by Vinony from 22 facts across 4 sources: Wikidata, PubMed, PubChem, Vinony graph. Generated from structured data (not the Wikipedia text) and checked against those facts — may still contain errors.
Key facts
- Drug.Watchedfields
- changed
- Drug.verifiedrevid
- 464371569
- Drug.image
- Methylphenidate.svg
- Drug.image_class
- skin-invert-image
- Drug.width
- 200px
- Drug.imageL
- D-threo-Methylphenidate-3D-Ball-And-Stick-Model.png
- Drug.image_classL
- bg-transparent
- Drug.widthL
- 125px
- Drug.imageR
- L-threo-Methylphenidate-3D-Ball-And-Stick-Model.png
- Drug.image_classR
- bg-transparent
- Drug.widthR
- 125px
- Drug.tradename
- Ritalin, Concerta, others
- Drug.MedlinePlus
- a682188
- Drug.DailyMedID
- Methylphenidate
- Drug.pregnancy_AU
- D
- Drug.dependency_liability
- Physical: NonePsychological: Moderate
- Drug.addiction_liability
- Moderate
- Drug.routes_of_administration
- Medical: Oral, transdermalRecreational: Oral, insufflation, sublingual, rectal, intravenous
via Wikipedia infobox
Chemical data
- Formula
- C14H19NO2
- Molecular weight
- 233.31 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- methyl 2-phenyl-2-piperidin-2-ylacetate
- SMILES
- COC(=O)C(C1CCCCN1)C2=CC=CC=C2
- InChIKey
- DUGOZIWVEXMGBE-UHFFFAOYSA-N
- XLogP
- 0.2
- Polar surface area
- 38.3 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 1
- H-bond acceptors
- 3
- Formal charge
- 0
via PubChem
Research
11,000 papers- An update on the clinical pharmacology of methylphenidate: therapeutic efficacy, abuse potential and future considerations.Expert review of clinical pharmacology · 2020
- Pharmacokinetics and clinical effectiveness of methylphenidate.Clinical pharmacokinetics · 1999
- [Methylphenidate].Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine · 2015
- [Methylphenidate misuse].Praxis · 2012
- Age-dependent effects of cumulative methylphenidate exposure on brain structure and symptom amelioration in youth with ADHD: A longitudinal MRI study.Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry · 2025
via PubMed
~44 min read
Encyclopedic overview
37 sectionsContents
- Uses
- Medical
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Narcolepsy
- Other medical uses
- Enhancing performance
- Available forms
- Immediate-release
- Modified-release
- Skin patch
- Parenteral formulation
- Contraindications
- Adverse effects
- Overdose
- Addiction and dependence
- Biomolecular mechanisms
- Interactions
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacodynamics
- Pharmacokinetics
- Chemistry
- Detection in biological fluids
- History
- Society and culture
- Names
- Cost
- Legal status
- Controversy
- Etymology
- Research
- Apathy
- Schizophrenia
- Addiction
- Social anxiety
- Footnotes
- References
- External links
Methylphenidate, sold under the brand name Ritalin and Concerta, among others, is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. It may be taken by mouth or applied to the skin, and different formulations have varying durations of effect. For ADHD, the effectiveness of methylphenidate is comparable to atomoxetine but modestly lower than amphetamine. However, methylphenidate is preferred as a first-line treatment in children, while amphetamine is preferred in adults. Methylphenidate reduces core ADHD symptoms and may do so in part by enhancing executive functions, such as working memory, sustained attention, and inhibitory control.
At therapeutic doses, methylphenidate increases alertness and concentration and reduces hyperactivity and impulsive behavior in individuals with ADHD. Common side effects include loss of appetite, weight loss, trouble sleeping, and small increases in heart rate and blood pressure. Long-term treatment in children has been associated with slightly slower growth. Methylphenidate can be misused; dependence and withdrawal are mainly reported with high-dose or non-medical use and are uncommon at therapeutic doses.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “methylphenidate” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.