Trade Name for Methylphenidate ER 18 mg
The trade name for methylphenidate extended-release 18 mg is Concerta. 1
Formulation Details
Concerta is the brand name for the OROS (Osmotic Release Oral System) methylphenidate formulation available in 18 mg strength. 1 This represents the starting dose for children naïve to stimulant treatment and is equivalent to methylphenidate 5 mg given three times daily. 1
Key Characteristics of Concerta 18 mg:
Delivery mechanism: Uses an osmotic-release oral system (OROS) that produces an ascending-pattern plasma drug level through timed drug-delivery 1
Duration of action: Provides once-daily dosing with efficacy extending into the early evening (up to 12 hours post-dose) 1, 2
Pharmacokinetic profile: Contains 22% of the total daily dose as an immediate-release overcoat, with the remaining 78% delivered through the osmotic system 2
Other Methylphenidate ER Brand Names:
While Concerta is the specific answer for 18 mg ER formulation, other methylphenidate extended-release trade names include:
- Ritalin SR (sustained release) 1
- Ritalin LA (long-acting) 3
- Biphentin 1
- Foquest 1
- Metadate CD (available in 20 mg, not 18 mg) 4, 2
Important Clinical Distinction:
Generic non-OROS formulations of methylphenidate ER are not therapeutically equivalent to brand-name Concerta, despite being labeled as "generic Concerta." 5 Studies demonstrate clinically significant differences in ADHD symptom control between OROS and non-OROS formulations at equivalent doses, with patients showing mean T-score reductions of 23 points on inattention scales when switched from non-OROS to OROS formulations. 5