dexmethylphenidate
Adjunctive therapy • Brands: FOCALIN, FOCALIN XR
Last reviewed: 2025-12-29
General information
- Class: Adjunctive therapy
- Common US brands: FOCALIN, FOCALIN XR
- Therapeutic drug monitoring not routinely recommended.
- Last reviewed: 2025-12-29
Dosing & forms
- Forms/strengths: —
- Frequency: —
- Food: —
- Typical range: —
Mechanism (brief)
CNS stimulant; d-enantiomer of methylphenidate that inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake (DAT/NET).
Metabolism & Half‑life
- Metabolism: CES1 (carboxylesterase) to inactive metabolites
- Half‑life: Single-dose mean 3 h
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)
Recommended: No
Monitoring highlights
- —
Sources
- Focalin (dexmethylphenidate HCl) prescribing information — DailyMed (2025)
- Focalin XR (dexmethylphenidate HCl extended-release) prescribing information — DailyMed (2025)
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (NICE guideline NG87) — NICE (2018)
- Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents — Pediatrics (2019)
- Comparative efficacy and tolerability of medications for ADHD (systematic review and network meta-analysis) — Lancet Psychiatry (2018)