Methylphenidate
Examples include Ritalin; other brands and release forms differ.
Questions for your prescriber: What is the exact formulation on my prescription, and which consumer medicine information applies?
Read the Australian CMI ↗UNDERSTAND THE MEDICINE. ASK BETTER QUESTIONS.
ADHD medicines,
explained carefully.
Start with the active ingredient and the exact formulation on the pack. This guide introduces common medicine names and points you to their Australian consumer information.
Written by Foundlab from consumer medicine information and official sources
Editorial approval recorded 26 September 2026. General information, not medical advice. Editorial approval is not a clinical review.
This page lists medicine names and reference links. For doses, side effects, interactions, switching or treatment decisions, read the linked CMI and speak with your prescriber or pharmacist.
Names you may hear
Brand examples help you recognise a medicine; they are not endorsements or a complete list. Availability, approved ages and subsidy rules are product-specific.
Dexamfetamine
Also called dexamphetamine. Example: Aspen Dexamfetamine.
Questions for your prescriber: What is the exact formulation on my prescription, and which consumer medicine information applies?
Read the Australian CMI ↗Lisdexamfetamine
Example: Vyvanse.
Questions for your prescriber: What is the exact formulation on my prescription, and which consumer medicine information applies?
Read the Australian CMI ↗Atomoxetine
Example: APO-Atomoxetine; check the brand on your pack.
Questions for your prescriber: What is the exact formulation on my prescription, and which consumer medicine information applies?
Read the Australian CMI ↗Guanfacine
Example: Intuniv modified-release tablets.
Questions for your prescriber: What is the exact formulation on my prescription, and which consumer medicine information applies?
Read the Australian CMI ↗Clonidine
Example: Catapres. Product indications must be checked.
Questions for your prescriber: What is the exact formulation on my prescription, and which consumer medicine information applies?
Read the Australian CMI ↗Check the exact product
Brand names and formulations can differ. Use the CMI for the product on your prescription or pack.
Check current PBS listings and eligibility. This page does not assign a subsidy status to an individual prescription.
Approval, prescribing permission and subsidy
These are different questions: what uses are in the product information, whether the practitioner can prescribe in your jurisdiction, and whether your circumstances meet PBS subsidy criteria. A medicine appearing here confirms none of these for an individual. NSW Health explains the distinction between state approval and PBS authority.
Five questions for your prescriber
- What benefit are we aiming for, and how will we recognise it?
- Why this ingredient and formulation for my circumstances?
- Is the proposed use within the approved product information for my age?
- Which side effects need prompt help, and what monitoring do I need?
- When is the review, and who do I contact before then?
Safety and further help
Read the full CMI for your pack, including interactions, pregnancy, driving and serious side effects. Tell your prescriber and pharmacist about other medicines and supplements. Ask them before starting, stopping or changing treatment.
In an emergency call 000. For suspected overdose, call the Australian Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26; do not wait for symptoms. Healthdirect safety guidance ↗
For supply questions, check the TGA medicine shortages database and speak to a pharmacist. A national shortage notice does not show stock at an individual pharmacy.