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Methylphenidate

Medication CNS stimulant mental health
Aka: Ritalin, Concerta
Brands seen in Singapore: Ritalin, Ritalin LA, Concerta, Medikinet MR, Neurofind
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Adhd from age 6, and narcolepsy in adults (SG label)
When to take
HealthHub: not too late in the day for the plain tablets
Take with
With or without food · medikinet mr with or after food
Pros & cons
Pros
  • SG label: the la and mr forms are once-daily
  • HealthHub: most forms go with or without food
  • Registered in SG as tablets, capsules and er tablets
Cons
  • SG label: contraindicated with MAOIs within 2 weeks
  • HealthHub: appetite loss and poor sleep are common
  • SG label: contraindicated in tourette's and glaucoma
Sources
  1. HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg dataset d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084), Forensicclassification column; all 5,511 rows cached at /tmp/hsa_all.json and filtered locally, 27 Aug 2026 · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “RITALIN TABLET 10 mg SIN03542P | METHYLPHENIDATE HCl | Prescription Only | N06BA04; RITALIN LA CAPSULE 20 mg SIN12351P; CONCERTA EXTENDED-RELEASE TABLET 18/27/36/54 mg SIN12099P/SIN12431P/SIN12098P/SIN12100P; MEDIKINET MR SIN14752P; NEUROFIND SIN17020P — all 15 methylphenidate rows 'Prescription Only'”
  2. MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — RITALIN TABLET 10 MG [SIN03542P], product information and forensic classification · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “METHYLPHENIDATE HCL - 10 MG … Registration Number SIN03542P … Licence Holder NOVARTIS (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD … Forensic Classification PRESCRIPTION ONLY MEDICINES … ATC code N06BA04 … Prescription-only Medicines with Exemptions for Supply without Prescription: NA”
  3. MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — RITALIN [SIN03542P], indications · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Ritalin is indicated in the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children aged 6 years or older. Ritalin LA is indicated … in children … and in adults … Ritalin is indicated for the treatment of narcolepsy in adults”
  4. MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — RITALIN [SIN03542P], dosage regimen: doses not recommended · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Daily doses above 60 mg are not recommended for the treatment of narcolepsy, or for the treatment of ADHD in children. Daily doses above 80 mg are not recommended for the treatment of ADHD in adults (Ritalin LA only)”
  5. MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — RITALIN [SIN03542P], stated maximum doses · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “A maximum dose of 60 mg should not be exceeded … A maximum daily dose of 80 mg should not be exceeded … not exceeding a total dose of 60 mg in children and 80 mg in adults”
  6. MOH National Drug Formulary (Singapore) — RITALIN [SIN03542P], contraindications · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Hypersensitivity to methylphenidate … Hyperthyroidism. Pre-existing cardiovascular disorders including severe hypertension, angina … During treatment with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, or within a minimum of 2 weeks of discontinuing those drugs … Glaucoma. Phaeochromocytoma. Diagnosis or family history of Tourette's syndrome”
  7. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Methylphenidate, Medication Information Leaflet · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Methylphenidate is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) … Most methylphenidate preparations can be taken with or without food, except for Medikinet® MR. Medikinet® MR should be taken with or after food”
  8. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Methylphenidate, common side effects and timing · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Loss of appetite – weight loss may occur during the first few months of treatment … Nervousness, not being able to sleep … For immediate-release preparations, do not take it too late in the evening as it may cause trouble sleeping”
  9. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Methylphenidate, precautions · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “You have a history of or current medical conditions such as blood vessel disease, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, mental health disorders, glaucoma, overactive thyroid, seizures (fits) … (Tourette's syndrome or tics disorder)”
  10. HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Methylphenidate, what food or medication should I avoid · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Avoid taking alcohol when you are taking this medication as alcohol may interact with your medication and increase the risk of side-effects”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.