Methylphenidate Movies

Methylphenidate Video No. 1 - Examine the dissolution of Ritalin (methylphenidate) under polarized illumination at a magnification of 100x with a playing time of 10.0 seconds. Choose a playback format that matches your connection speed: 28.8k (modem), 56.6k (modem), or T1/Cable/DSL, or download this video clip in MPEG format (4.42 MB).

Methylphenidate Video No. 2 - Crystallites of methylphenidate (Ritalin) swirl and bounce around the screen during dissolution. The digital video was recorded utilizing time-lapse cinemicrography under polarized illumination at a magnification of 200x with a playing time of 6.8 seconds. Choose a playback format that matches your connection speed: 28.8k (modem), 56.6k (modem), or T1/Cable/DSL, or download this video clip in MPEG format (2.9 MB).

More commonly known as Ritalin or Methylin, methylphenidate is a mild central nervous system stimulant prescribed primarily to treat attention deficit disorders and narcolepsy. Its mechanism is not completely understood, but methylphenidate presumably activates the brain stem arousal system and cortex to produce its stimulant effect. The drug can have a stabilizing effect for children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), helping to control behavioral problems such as distractibility, short attention span, hyperactivity, emotional ability, and impulsiveness.