Rilatine Curve

Now · —

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Medication effect (combined)

Rebound

Intake

Now

Indicative curve based on average pharmacokinetics of methylphenidate IR. Amplitude scales linearly with the dose (10 mg ≈ half the height of 20 mg). Individual variation is possible.

How methylphenidate IR works

Effect

Peak effect ~43 min after intake
Effect mostly worn off after ~5 h (~done line) — a gradual tail remains
10 mg produces roughly half the effect of 20 mg

Rebound

Rebound dip starts ~4 h 45 min after intake, peaks ~5 h 15 min, ends ~7 h 15 min
Rebound is a compensatory drop below baseline as the brain readjusts

Taking a second dose

The second dose extends and raises the combined effect curve
The rebound of the first dose is suppressed — as long as the second dose keeps the combined effect above ~5% of peak, no rebound dip occurs
The eventual rebound (of the last dose) is more intense: the brain was exposed to a higher combined peak, so the compensatory drop is proportionally deeper
The later the second dose, the less amplification — because the first dose has already worn off more by then