a drug that stimulates the central nervous system and is used, in the form of its hydrochloride, to treat narcolepsy as well as attention deficit disorder
methylphenidate in American English
(ˌmeθəlˈfenɪˌdeit, -ˈfinɪ-)
noun
Pharmacology
a central nervous system stimulant, C14H19NO2, used in the control of hyperkinetic syndromes and narcolepsy
Word origin
[1955–60; methyl + phen- + -ide + -ate2]This word is first recorded in the period 1955–60. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: geodesic dome, life-support, opioid, rite of passage, software
Examples of 'methylphenidate' in a sentence
methylphenidate
Methylphenidate is a modest breakthrough of modern medicine.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The alert follows a study into the stimulant methylphenidate, which is used to treat attention deficithyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy.
The Sun (2016)
Unless you are a doctor or a pharmacist, the terms methylphenidate and sildenafil probably don't mean much to you.