ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/methylphenidate
US brand names:Ritalin, Concerta
Methylphenidate is dosed at 0.5–2 mg/kg PO q12h in dogs, per Crowell-Davis/Murray/Dantas, Veterinary Psychopharmacology, Ch.15 Table 15.1, p.219 (corpus PDF p.247) — Methylphenidate 2-4 mg/kg, repeatable several times a day; plus Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) p.861 (PDF p.889) 0.25-4 mg/kg PO q24h — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Veterinary Psychopharmacology (Crowell-Davis) — ISBN 9781119226246, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119226246. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Blocks dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake transporters increasing catecholamine levels in CNS. Paradoxical calming in ADHD-like conditions.
DEA Schedule II. Very limited veterinary use. Investigated for narcolepsy and hyperkinesis in dogs. Tachycardia, hypertension, anorexia. Abuse potential.
Species references:All Dog (Domestic) drugs
Controlled substance in the US
Controlled-drug status and schedules differ by country — check your local scheduling rules.
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| Species | Route | Dose | Frequency | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog (Domestic) | PO | 0.5–2 mg/kg | q12h | Weak | Crowell-Davis/Murray/Dantas, Veterinary Psychopharmacology, Ch.15 Table 15.1, p.219 (corpus PDF p.247) — Methylphenidate 2-4 mg/kg, repeatable several times a day; plus Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) p.861 (PDF p.889) 0.25-4 mg/kg PO q24h — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Veterinary Psychopharmacology (Crowell-Davis) — ISBN 9781119226246, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119226246 |
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