Description
Advantages
No real advantage. Brand name no longer available.
Disadvantages
The tablets are simply short-acting methylphenidate. The ER dose does not last much longer than the shorter acting tablets. The chewable tabs and the liquid are short-acting and multiple doses would be needed, causing variability throughout the day.
Excerpt from the book: ADHD Medications: Does It Work and Is It Save? Available on Amazon
Methylin was a version of methylphenidate that came in four differ- ent forms: an immediate-release tablet, a chewable tablet, an extended- release tablet, and a liquid. However, the brand name for each of these four preparations has been discontinued, although pharmacists will still fill a prescription for “Methylin” with a generic. And that is just as well, because other brand name and generics of each of those four prepara- tions are better choices of each of the four preparations. This informa- tion is included for completeness only.
Methylin tablets have been discontinued, but they were actually the same as plain old Ritalin, raw methylphenidate in a tablet form. Many different generics have essentially the same characteristics.
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Methylin chewable tablets have also been discontinued, but for children who cannot swallow a pill, QuilliChew ER (see below) is a better option anyway, because QuilliChew ER lasts about eight hours whereas Methylin chewable tablets only lasted about 4–5 hours.
Methylin liquid was a good medication because it was easy to fine- tune the dose of medication without being restrained by pills that, for exam- ple, come in 5mg, 10mg, or 15mg preparations. However, Methylin liquid is also short acting. Quillivant XR is another liquid form of methylpheni- date, but due to a unique manufacturing process, it lasts eight hours while still having the advantage of a liquid that will allow fine-tuning of the dose and make it easy to swallow. Quillivant XR is, therefore, a better medica- tion, although it is much more expensive if not covered by insurance.
Methylin ER has also been discontinued. It was initially a generic of Ritalin SR, which has also been discontinued. Neither preparation adds much therapeutic benefit, because Ritalin SR and Methylin ER only lasted about 5–6 hours.
