What are considered equivalent amounts of Ritalin and Concerta?

Question

If someone is on 40mg of Ritalin per day (taken throughout the day), what dose of Concerta (a sustained-release version of Ritalin) would best approximate its effects?

Answer 1

Both are trade names of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride.

Concerta XL which is the real brand name is a slow release preparation of the above drug.

Ritalin 10 mg taken twice a day is equivalent 18 mg of Concerta taken once a day

Answer 2

I don't know the answer, but I know it has been addressed on the ADD Forums (http://www.addforums.com/).

I remember seeing a thread about the topic, but I don't remember the outcome.  It's probably not an easy answer, since the two meds are the same drug, but Concerta is packed in a special slow-release capsule.

Hope that helps :)