Methylphenidate: What Is It And What Is It For?

Methylphenidate is a drug primarily prescribed for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is also used to treat other conditions.

Methylphenidate is a drug indicated for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is also used to treat postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and narcolepsy.

However, it can also be used, of course, always under medical prescription, to treat cases of fatigue and depression resistant to usual treatments.

Know a little about the history of methylphenidate

The use of stimulants for the symptomatic treatment of narcolepsy dates back to the 1930s, when ephedrine and amphetamine began to be prescribed.

Subsequently, thanks to clinical research,  significant progress was observed in hyperactive children who had received amphetamines, in particular benzedrine. It was as early as 1944, during World War II, that methylphenidate was synthesized for the first time.

During the war, many chemical variants of amphetamine were experimented with in the search for molecules with similar properties. However, methylphenidate had the fewest side effects.

Methylphenidate was then patented in 1954. The action of this drug on the human organism has revealed fewer neurovegetative side effects than the drugs of its class known to date.

What is methylphenidate used for?

This drug belongs to the class of compounds with a piperidine structure. It increases the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain through its ability to inhibit the reuptake of the respective monoamine transporters.

Methylphenidate is similar in structure to amphetamine, but it is not neurotoxic. Its effects are therefore not the same. Let’s see in more detail for which pathologies this drug is indicated.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD

It is a neurobiological disorder that appears in childhood and affects more than 5% of children worldwide. At present, the exact causes of the onset of this disease are not known. The possibility that it is a combination of several risk factors acting together is assessed.

However, although the exact causes are not known, it turns out that genetic and environmental factors have a great influence on its development. Additionally, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has a 76% chance of being inherited.

On the other hand, with regard to the characteristic symptoms of this disease, we can mention 3 central symptoms:

• Attention deficit
• Hyperactivity
• Impulsiveness

The association of these symptoms with ADHD depends on certain conditions:

• Take place before the age of 7
• Maintain over time for at least 6 months
• Affect at least two areas of the child’s life
• Have a significant impact, significantly deteriorating their performance

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome

This syndrome is characterized by dizziness or a feeling of fainting in the person who has it. It is triggered when the autonomic nervous system is not functioning properly.

In postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, the blood vessels do not constrict enough to ensure adequate blood supply to the brain.

Thus, in an attempt to maintain a sufficient blood supply for the proper functioning of the brain, the autonomic nervous system increases the frequency of the heartbeat and tachycardias appear.

Methylphenidate is indicated to treat this pathology. It may first occur after a virus infection or after an injury. However, it is very difficult to know if any of these circumstances are causing this condition.

Research is currently underway to better understand the cause of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

Narcolepsy

This disorder is characterized by extreme daytime sleepiness and sudden sleep attacks. People with narcolepsy often have difficulty staying awake for long periods of time, regardless of the circumstances.

As with the other two conditions, the specific cause of narcolepsy is unknown. However, hypocretin levels in patients with this disorder have been found to be low. It is a substance in the brain that helps regulate wakefulness and sleep states.

Conclusion

Methylphenidate is a prescription drug. It is primarily used for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. But also other pathologies.

You should follow the doctor’s directions and the pharmacist’s recommendations, as this is a drug that has serious side effects. Its misuse could have serious health consequences.