Definition

A medication that stimulates the central nervous system and is used to treat conditions like narcolepsy and attention deficit disorders, especially in children.

Example

The doctor prescribed methylphenidate to help manage the child's attention deficit disorder.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of methylphenidate?

Yeah, I think it's used to help with ADHD, right?

Exactly! Some of my friends take it to focus better in class.

That makes sense; I’ve seen it really help them concentrate.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Methylphenidate is formed from "methyl" (from Greek "mēthylē", meaning a chemical group derived from methane) and "phenidate" (from the root "phenyl" which comes from Greek "phainos", meaning to show or appear, combined with "-ate", a suffix used in chemistry to denote a compound). The word refers to a chemical compound that includes a methyl group and a phenyl group, used primarily as a medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Memory Tip

Think of 'methyl' as a chemical group derived from methane, and 'phenidate' as a compound that shows or appears in the context of medication. This helps you remember that methylphenidate is a chemical compound used in treating ADHD.

Visually Confused Words