What this episode covers

Stimulant prescribing for ADHD can feel complicated because of the number of medications and formulations available. In reality, most decisions come down to a small set of patterns you can apply consistently. This episode breaks stimulant prescribing into a simple, practical framework you can use in everyday outpatient care.

• How to choose between amphetamine and methylphenidate
• When to use long-acting vs short-acting medications
• How to titrate, switch, and adjust based on response

Quick clinical takeaways

• Most stimulant decisions come down to two classes: amphetamine vs methylphenidate
• Start with long-acting formulations in most patients for better adherence and lower misuse risk
• Use amphetamines when symptoms are more severe or clearly impairing
• Use methylphenidate when you want a more conservative starting point
• If one class doesn’t work, switch classes rather than formulations
• Increasing the dose increases intensity, not duration
• Use short-acting meds strategically to extend coverage, not replace long-acting agents
• You don’t need every medication—focus on a small core set you know well

Listen now

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Use these in clinic