Summary
Ethylphenidate is structurally related to methylphenidate (Ritalin) and acts as a dopamine-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. It is notably caustic and damaging to nasal tissue, making insufflation particularly risky despite being common. The substance was banned in the UK in 2015 and placed in Schedule I in the United States in 2024. Users report less euphoria and more functional effects compared to other stimulants, but compulsive redosing is a significant risk. Overdose can cause cardiovascular complications and stimulant psychosis.
Dose Information
| ROA | Light | Common | Strong | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 20-40mg | 40-80mg | 80-120mg | 120mg+ |
| Rectal | 5-15mg | 15-30mg | 30-50mg | 50mg+ |
Light
Common
Strong
Heavy
Onset, Duration & After-effects
| ROA | Onset | Peak | Offset | After Effects | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | 20-60 min | 1-3 hrs | 2-3 hrs | 1-6 hrs | 240-0 min |
| Insufflated | 5-10 min | 1-3 hrs | 2-3 hrs | 1-6 hrs | - |
| Rectal | 6-18 min | - | - | 60-0 min | 120-0 min |
Tolerance
Build-up
develops rapidly after a single use (serotonergic psychedelic)
Reset
7–14 days for baseline
Effects
Positive
- Stimulation
- Warm fuzzy body high
Negative
- Increased heart rate
- Vasoconstriction
- Teeth grinding
- Chest pain
- Jaw Tension
- Restlessness
- Increased Heart Rate
- High blood pressure
Positive
- Focus enhancement
- Euphoria
- Analysis enhancement
- Wakefulness
- Motivation enhancement
- Focus/mental clarity
- Abstract thinking
- Cognitive euphoria
- Empathy, love, and sociability enhancement
Negative
- Compulsive redosing
- Anxiety
- Cognitive fatigue
- Depression
- Irritability
- Compulsion to redose
- Paranoia
- Thought deceleration
- Time distortion
- Thought acceleration
- Increased desire to talk
Positive
- Increased music appreciation
- Increased libido
Negative
- Appetite suppression
- Dehydration
- Light sensitivity
- Appetite Suppression
- Double vision
- Increased sex drive
- Increased sexuality
- Visual and auditory hallucinations