Methylphenidate (MPD)

Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant drug and substituted phenethylamine approved for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and narcolepsy. ADHD and other similar conditions are believed to be linked to sub-performance of the dopamine and norepinephrine functions in the brain, primarily in the prefrontal cortex, responsible for self-regulation functions of inhibition, motivation, memory, and the concentration/executive functions of reasoning, organizing, solving, and planning. Methylphenidate's pharmacological profile involves catecholamines, similar to other sympathomimetics of the phenethylamine class. In particular, methylphenidate is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor and also a much weaker norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, which increases the levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain.