Methylphenidate is taken orally as any of the brand names Adhansia, Aptensio, Biphentin, Concerta, Cotempla, Daytrana, Foquest, Jornay, Metadate, Methylin, Quillichew, Quillivant, Relexxii, or Ritalin. Methylphenidate is rapidly absorbed from the small intestine into the blood stream via the transporter P-glycoprotein or through diffusion. Methylphenidate can diffuse through many membranes, but P-glycoprotein has been found to help transport the drug some of the time. From there it travels to the liver where it is likely transported in by P-glycoprotein. In the liver Methylphenidate is metabolized by Carboxylesterase 1A1 into Ritalinic acid. While other Carboxylesterase are well understood, this one is less well understood and studied so it is unknown where exactly in the liver this metabolism takes place. 60%-86% is metabolized into ritalinic acid. This is transported out of the liver likely again by P-glycoprotein back into the blood vessel where it travels to the kidney and is excreted renally. A very small portion is excreted as Methylphenidate. 78%-97% is excreted as Ritalinc acid. Some is excreted as minor other metatbolites.

Methylphenidate Metabolism References