What Is Methylphenidate Used For?
Methylphenidate is primarily used to treat ADHD. ADHD is a syndrome usually diagnosed in children, but it can carry over to adulthood or be diagnosed in adults. A person with ADHD has a hard time focusing on a single task at a time, is easily distracted, has a short attention span and can be hyperactive. The stimulant effect helps a person focus by making them less distractible, improving their ability to sustain attention, reducing the urge to be impulsive and improving activity level.
The drug is also used to treat narcolepsy, a sleep disorder where people suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness and have difficulty staying asleep at night. Stimulants such as methylphenidate help to make the person more awake during the day and combat the drowsiness associated with narcolepsy. It is a second-line treatment for narcolepsy, so it will only be used if other treatment options have not worked.