Methylphenidate Products
Methylphenidate has been a treatment for ADHD since the 1940's. There are now many different preparations with variances in duration of effect and manner of administration.
| Brand | Duration (hr) | Available Strength (mg) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| ConcertaR | 10-12 | 18, 27, 36, 54 | Osmotically-released preparation; 22% short acting and remainder released over approximately 11 hr. cannot be sprinkled, MUST be swallowed whole. |
| DaytranaR | 9 |
10, 15, 20 & 30 (12.5-37-5 cm2) |
Available as a patch. Avoids first pass through liver, so dose is half the standard dose. Local irritation may be problematic. |
| Focalin XRR | 9-10 | 5, 10, 15, 20 | Available as d-isomer (active isomer) so dose is half the standard dose, 50% immediate release |
| Metadate CDR | 9-10 | 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 | Can sprinkle; 40% immediate release |
| Ritalin LAR | 9-10 | 10, 20, 30, 40 | Can sprinkle; 50% immediate release |
|
Methylphenidate |
4 |
5, 10, 20 tab |
Short acting preparation; useful in children with marked appetite suppression, or who need a little more after their long-acting preparation has worn off |
| MethylinR | 4 |
2.5, 5, 10 mg chewable 5 mg/5 ml; 10 mg/5 ml |
Useful for children who can not swallow pills; may require prior authorization from some insurance providers |
Effective dose of methylphenidate is usually approximately 0.9-1.8 mg/kg/day for children ages 6- 12, with a maximum of 60 mg for sprinkle forms or 72 mg for Concerta. Doses for DaytranaR and Focalin XRR are half this dose (i.e. 0.5-0.9 mg/kg/day). In all cases dose is titrated to desired effect, with attention toward undesirable side-effects.
