Although Methylin (methyphenidate) is widely categorized as a stimulant drug and does contain an amphetamine-like backbone, however it is a much more complex structure. It is technically in a class of drugs called Norephinephrine Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors or NDRIs. The additional structures on this molecule also alter its interaction with the body and the neurons in our brains. And although methyphenidate is reported to have less euphoric effects than amphetamine, Methylin increases the dopamine levels that are being blocked by the transporters and are not being allowed to the synapse as needed. 

Methylin (Ritalin) is an orally administered central nervous system stimulant that is chemically and pharmacologically similar to amphetamines. Other than raising Dopamine levels, Methylin's exact mechanism of action in the CNS is not fully understood. The primary sites of activity appear to be in the cerebral cortex (gray matter) and the subcortical structures including the thalamus.

The cerebral cortex controls your thinking, voluntary movements, language, reasoning, and perception and is involved in decision-making, problem solving and emotion. The thalamus controls sensory and motor integration and is a relay for the signals throughout the body.

A positron emission tomography, or PET scan gave researchers at Brookhaven’s Benter for Imaging and Neurosciences the ability to study how Methyphenidate affected dopamine levels. The results showed that brain dopamine increased significantly approximately 60 minutes after Methyphenidate was ingested. Other drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, also work by increasing dopamine levels. Cocaine prevents dopamine from being reabsorbed into the nerve cells, which forces the levels higher in the brain – this is the identical action as Methylin.

However, the human body always tries to achieve and maintain homeostasis (equilibrium), and when the dopamine receptors are repeatedly stimulated, they become less sensitive to dopamine. This process is called desensitization, or tolerance, where exposure to a drug causes less action than it did previously. Desensitization decreases the number of receptors and the remaining receptors become less sensitive. A dysfunction of Dopamine neurotransmission has been implicated in a variety of neuro-psychiatric disorders including Tourette’s Syndrome, Parkinson’s Disease, Schizophrenia, and also in both drug and alcohol dependence. It is known that in people with Parkinson's disease have dopamine transmitting neurons that die, and as a result they contain almost no dopamine.

The vast majority of Methylin is used to treat the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with 95% being sold in the United States.
A study led by Dr. Eric Konofal found that 84% of children diagnosed with ADHD were found to have abnormally low levels of ferritin (an iron storage protein) compared to only 18% of children without ADHD. Low iron levels in the brain are known to alter dopamine activity, and an iron deficiency in infants causes slower brain development and lower school performances later in childhood.

The body uses Tyrosine (an amino acid) to synthesize Dopamine and Norepinephrine, the two neurotransmitters believed to be involved in ADHD. Some studies have shown that children with ADHD have lower levels of Tyrosine, which is found naturally in meats, whole grains, dairy products, fruits and legumes.
The Side Effects of Methylphenidate include:

Insomnia, nervousness, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, heart palpitations, angina, pulse increased or decreased, tachycardia, skin rash, dermatitis, anorexia or weight loss, dizziness drowsiness, dyskinesia, headache, toxic psychosis, blood pressure increased or decreased, cerebrovascular vasculitis, cerebral hemorrhages, anemia, abnormal liver function, depression, aggressive behavior, scalp hair loss, drug dependence syndrome.

According to Peter Breggin, M.D., author of Talking Back to Ritalin, “America now uses 90% of the world’s Ritalin – more than five times the rest of the world combined.”