SHEET /vs/dexmethylphenidate-vs-methylphenidate · COMPARISON
Dexmethylphenidate vs Methylphenidate: what is the difference?
How they differ
from source
Dexmethylphenidate is the active half of methylphenidate, so the two share the formula C14H19NO2 and a weight of 233.3. The Ritalin molecule is a mix of two mirror-image forms, and nearly all of its effect on dopamine and norepinephrine comes from the d-threo form that Focalin isolates. Removing the inactive half changes how much is in a tablet, not how the active molecule works. Both are prescription stimulants for ADHD and controlled substances in the United States and the UK.
Side by side
| Dexmethylphenidate | Methylphenidate | |
|---|---|---|
| Formula | C14H19NO2 | C14H19NO2 |
| Molecular weight | 233.31 g/mol | 233.31 g/mol |
| Family | Stimulants | Stimulants |
| Everyday group | Prescription medicine | Prescription medicine |
| Functional groups | Amines, Aromatics, Esters | Amines, Aromatics, Esters |
| GHS signal wordThe supplier-filed hazard label, not a statement about ordinary use. | not recorded | Danger |
| Oral LD50A single acute animal measure. It ranks nothing about human safety. | not recorded | 190 mg/kg (oral, mouse) |
| CAS number | 40431-64-9 | 113-45-1 |
| PubChem CID | 154101 | 4158 |
Structural similarity 1.00 of 1, computed as a Morgan fingerprint Tanimoto coefficient. It measures shape, not effect.
Common questions
- What is the difference between Dexmethylphenidate and Methylphenidate?
- Dexmethylphenidate is the active half of methylphenidate, so the two share the formula C14H19NO2 and a weight of 233.3. The Ritalin molecule is a mix of two mirror-image forms, and nearly all of its effect on dopamine and norepinephrine comes from the d-threo form that Focalin isolates. Removing the inactive half changes how much is in a tablet, not how the active molecule works.
- Do Dexmethylphenidate and Methylphenidate have the same formula?
- Yes. Both are C14H19NO2 at 233.31 g/mol. They are isomers: the same atoms arranged differently, which is why they behave differently despite weighing the same.
Read the full records: Dexmethylphenidate and Methylphenidate.