ADHD + Methylphenidate; what are they?
ADHD, which stands for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is caused by a lack of specific neurotransmitters called norepinephrine, as well as by dopamine deficiency. Norepinephrine is responsible for a variety of things in the human body, but it is often referred to as the stress hormone. Dopamine, on the other hand, “helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centre” (Silver).
The educational and scientific magazine, Additude, has a YouTube video and article on “The Neuroscience of the ADHD Brain”, which further explains the cause of ADHD, as well as what ADHD does to the brain.
The chemical name for the compound C14H19NO2 is Methylphenidate. The chemical has many different names, ranging from brand names to slang names. The most commonly known brand names are Ritalin, Concerta, and Daytrana. Some examples are listed below;
Brand names: Ritalin, Concerta, Daytrana, Methylin
Slang names: Kiddie coke, Vitamin R, Smarties
Methylphenidate is used to treat ADHD, and occasionally narcolepsy. In order for one to legally acquire methylphenidate, the person must have a doctor’s prescription since it is classified as a Schedule II drug. To provide a base of reference, another Schedule II drug is cocaine.
However, just like most all medications, methylphenidate can also be abused; most commonly through using injections, or snorting.
In order for one to acquire methylphenidate without a prescription would be considered illegal, and therefore one would be in possession of an illicit drug.
According to the US National Institute of Medicine, “methylphenidate works by increasing dopamine levels [within the brain]” (2001). The article by the US NCBI, also mentions that various studies have found that the drug increased dopamine levels “[…] by blocking the activity of dopamine transporters, which remove dopamine once it has been released” (2001).
Within the brain, there are synapses at the ends of neurons—also known as nerve cells. Synapses are the things that permit chemical compounds such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, to pass through the nerves, and therefore through the entire brain. The synaptic cleft is the space between the two neurons. In the diagram above, the “methylphenidate, [is] blocking the dopamine transporter (A) [therefore causing] an accumulation of dopamine (circles, B) in the synaptic cleft.” (Robbins 2002)
The way it affects the brain is that since dopamine is the root of pleasure, it helps one focus by helping make a task the person focuses on more interesting. The methylphenidate pushes the dopamine forward from the pre-synaptic, or “sending” cell, through the synapse and towards post-synaptic, or “receiving” cell, and blocks the dopamine from retreating back through the pre-synaptic cell. What this does, is prolong the flow of the dopamine, and hence increase one’s focus.
*All sources are listed in the “Sources” link in the menu
"C"-ing ADHD 