Ritalin LA Dosage

The typical Ritalin LA dosage when starting the drug is 20 mg a day, taken in the morning. If you are switching to Ritalin LA from another methylphenidate product, you start with the same total dosage as your previous prescription. Therefore, if you were taking Ritalin 10 mg twice a day, your new Ritalin LA dosage would be 20 mg, taken once a day.

Ritalin LA Dosage: An Overview

The dose of Ritalin LA® (methylphenidate extended-release) that your healthcare provider prescribes will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age
  • Other ADHD medications you may have tried
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you are currently taking.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your Ritalin LA dosage unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Ritalin LA Dosage for ADHD

People who are new to methylphenidate products (such as Concerta®, Ritalin®, Ritalin SR®, Metadate ER®, Metadate CD®, Methylin®, or Methylin ER®) should start with Ritalin LA 20 mg, taken once daily in the morning. However, your healthcare provider may decide to start you at a lower dose (such as Ritalin LA 10 mg, taken once daily in the morning).
 
People who have been on methylphenidate before should start at the same dose of Ritalin LA per day. For instance, if you were taking Ritalin 10 mg twice a day, you would start at Ritalin LA 20 mg once daily. The maximum recommended dose of Ritalin LA is 60 mg a day.
 
Your healthcare provider can increase your Ritalin LA dosage at weekly intervals, if necessary.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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