Methylphenidate vs Dexmethylphenidate — Cost, Coverage & Plan Comparison

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Up to 4 drugsCross-class or same-class

Start with the molecules your plan spends the most on. Most useful comparisons live within the same therapeutic class — switching across classes requires deeper clinical review.

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Federal data onlyNo PBM pricing assumed

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11 dimensions

Central Nervous System Stimulant

Methylphenidate

Brand: APTENSIO XR

First FDA approval: 1955-12-31

Central Nervous System Stimulant

Dexmethylphenidate

Brand: Focalin

First FDA approval: 2001-11-30

Lowest NADACAcquisition cost floor across all NDCs

$0.078Per unit

$0.217Per unit

Average NADACAcross all dosage forms and strengths

$4.11Up to $21.47

$2.15Up to $5.43

Generic manufacturersActive ANDA holders — FDA Orange Book

28141 total ANDAs filed

1370 total ANDAs filed

Annualized Part D spendCY2024 — CMS Part D Spending Dashboard

$81.8MFull year

$9.7MFull year

Part D claims (CY24)Total fills, all strengths

1.4M292K beneficiaries

122K28K beneficiaries

Avg cost per claimCalculated: total spend ÷ total claims

$58Per claim, all NDCs

$79Per claim, all NDCs

Part D plans surveyed2026 plan year — CMS Formulary file

329Across CMS plan year

Prior-authorization frictionPlan-NDC pairs requiring PA

882Substantial friction

311Substantial friction

Step therapy appliedPlan-NDC pairs requiring step therapy

8Limited friction

0None

FDA shortage statusLive cross-reference vs FDA Drug Shortage Database

Active shortageSee drug profile

NoneClear

Generic availableFDA Orange Book

Yes28 manufacturers

Yes13 manufacturers