Table 6.

An outline of dosing strategies for methylphenidate formulations (approved by the FDA for ADHD in adults)

Brand name	Dosing (times per day)	Onset of effect	Overall duration of effect	Dose range/provisional maximum dose
Short-acting
Ritalin®	2–3	1–2 h	4 h	10–60 mg in divided doses Provisional maximum dose: 150 mg/day
Methylin®	2–3	1 h	4 h
Medikinet CR®	2	5–8 h
Intermediate-acting
Methylin ER®	2–3	n.a	n.a	n.a
Ritalin SR®	1	1.5 h	8 h	n.a
Metadate ER®	1	n.a	8 h	n.a
Long-acting
Quillichew ER®	1	45 min	8 h	Provisional maximum dose: 150 mg/day
Concerta®	1–2	The immediate-release component ⇒ the first peak plasma concentration: 1–2 h following the ingestion The slow-release component ⇒ the second peak plasma concentration: about 7 h following the ingestion	7–12 h
Quillivant XR®	1	45 min	12 h
Aptensio XR™	1	1 h	12 h
Jornay PM®	1	8–10 h	> 12 h
Adhansia XR®	1	1 h	13–16 h

ADHD attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ER/XR extended release, FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration, n.a. no data available, SR sustained release

Adapted from Banaschewski et al. (2006), Kooij (2013) and Mattingly et al. (2020)