Look up one drug

Ontario coverage, price, criteria word for word, Health Canada status and shortages for one product

Patient plan: look up a medication list

METHYLPHENIDATE HCL

All products: general benefit

Other products in the same Health Canada class (N06BA) — coverage varies; not interchangeable

  • Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine Spansules): general benefit
  • Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Mixed salt amphetamine (Adderall XR): general benefit
  • Modafinil (Alertec): not a benefit

Concerta · DIN 02247734 · 54mg · extended release tablet

General benefitMarketed · checked 2026-09-02
StatusGeneral benefit
Write on scriptno code needed
Patient paysPatient pays: program not supplied; amount cannot be determined.
Private plan unknown: ask. If yes, check its coverage and payer coordination; if no, see the public routes below.
Savings card: innoviCares lists Concerta (Ontario list dated 2026-09-10) — pays part of the brand-versus-generic difference after other coverage; free sign-up. (innovicares.ca ↗)
Savings card: RxHelp ONE lists Concerta (read 2026-09-10) — brand-name savings card, free; cannot be combined with another card on the same claim. (rxhelp.ca ↗)
Limit of one Prescription Drug Card Program / Patient Financial Assistance Card from any adjudicator per DIN and claim submitted. The RxHelpONE card CANNOT be combined with any other card or offer. (Terms of Use) (rxhelp.ca, Sep 10, 2026 ↗)
1 brand, same coverage
Concerta · DIN 02247734 Manufacturer: Janssen Inc.; listing date 2009-04-01 Health Canada: Marketed since 2003-07-23 · brand CONCERTA · ATC N06BA04 METHYLPHENIDATE · form Tablet (extended-release) · route Oral · ingredients METHYLPHENIDATE HYDROCHLORIDE 54 MG · company Janssen inc · schedule Controlled drugs (cdsa iii)
Check this DIN again · Health Canada product record

Ministry pays: $0.8479 per source unit.

Source explanation: The formulary price is what ODB pays; the cash price at the counter is set by the pharmacy.

Formulary data: Ontario extract of Aug 26, 2026 · Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=72014 · Verify on the e-Formulary ↗ (DIN 02247734)

Source record
DIN 02247734: Concerta Raw flags: sec3=Y Item: 282000030; group id 516; item number 1396; lccId None; manufacturer id JAN Source form: SR Tab; strength: 54mg Recorded listing: General benefit Source prices (unrounded): $5.3326; ministry $0.8479 Source: ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26 DIN=02247734 Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=72014 Therapeutic Notes (formulary) Notes: Patients greater than or equal to 6 years of age diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria and where symptoms are not due to other medical conditions which affect concentration, and who require 12-hour continuous coverage due to academic and/or psychosocial needs, and who meet the following: 1) Patients who demonstrate significant and problematic disruptive behaviour or who have problems with inattention that interfere with learning; AND 2) Prescribed by or in consultation with a specialist in pediatric psychiatry, pediatrics or a general practitioner with expertise in ADHD; AND 3) Have been tried on methylphenidate immediate release (IR) or methylphenidate slow release (SR) or Dexedrine IR or Dexedrine SR (Spansules), and have experienced unsatisfactory results due to poor symptom control, side effects, administrative barriers, or societal barriers. Administrative barriers include: - inability of a school to dose the child at lunch; - the school lunch hour does not coincide with the dosing schedule; - poor compliance with noon or afternoon doses; - the patient is unable to swallow tablets. Societal barriers include: - the patient or patient's caregiver(s) has(have) a history of substance abuse or diversion of listed immediate-release alternatives; - the patient or patient's caregiver(s) is/are at risk of substance abuse or diversion of listed immediate-release alternatives.
Interchangeable products
Act Methylphenidate ER · DIN 02441969 · $0.8479 Apo-Methylphenidate ER · DIN 02330377 · $0.8479 Taro-Methylphenidate ER · DIN 02539039 · $0.8479
Shortage status: avoided shortage; reports as of 2026-09-13T08:10:21.292534+00:00 (Health Product Shortages Canada) Source: https://healthproductshortages.ca/search?term=02247734
Shortage record checked 2026-09-13T08:10:21.292534+00:00
Other drugs in the same formulary class (28:20 C.N.S. Stimulants) and how they are covered

Matched class: 28:20 C.N.S. Stimulants

Drug-class inventory only. Lists recorded Ontario formulary products, not every Canadian medication; does not recommend treatment. Covered without a code on the Ontario formulary: DEXTROAMPHETAMINE SULFATE, MIXED SALT AMPHETAMINE Some products covered without a code (check the product listing): LISDEXAMFETAMINE DIMESYLATE 28:20 C.N.S. Stimulants

DEXTROAMPHETAMINE SULFATE

· 6 products · General benefit · strengths: 10mg, 15mg, 5mg · SR Cap, Tab

LISDEXAMFETAMINE DIMESYLATE

· 60 products · General benefit (54), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (6) · strengths: 10mg, 20mg, 30mg, 40mg, 50mg, 60mg, 70mg · Cap, Chew Tab

MIXED SALT AMPHETAMINE

· 24 products · General benefit · strengths: 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, 20mg, 25mg, 30mg · ER Cap

MODAFINIL

· 7 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit · strengths: 100mg · Tab Source: formulary-ed43-front-matter.txt Part V; ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26; class 28:20
Full class listing Related classes: 28:08 Analgesics, 28:10 Opiate Antagonists, 28:12 Anticonvulsants, 28:16 Psychotherapeutic Agents, 28:24 Sedatives and Hypnotics, 28:36 Antiparkinsonian Agents, 28:92 Miscellaneous Central Nervous System Drugs Same formulary class, not same indication: class membership alone does not establish equivalent uses.
Other drugs whose Health Canada label lists a similar indication: an integral part of a total treatment program for adhd that may include other measures
From Health Canada product monographs; label wording only, not a treatment recommendation. Matching is lexical and uses one held product label per generic; formulations and qualifying criteria may differ. Covered without a code on the Ontario formulary: DEXTROAMPHETAMINE SULFATE, MIXED SALT AMPHETAMINE ATOMOXETINE HCL · Listed, not a benefit (5), General benefit (40), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (14) Need for Comprehensive Treatment Program TEVA-ATOMOXETINE is indicated as an integral part of a total treatment program for ADHD that may include other measures (psychological, educational, and social) for patients with this syndrome. PM: https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00052053.PDF; date July 2, 2019; DIN 02314541; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph DEXTROAMPHETAMINE SULFATE · General benefit Need for Comprehensive Treatment Program: DEXEDRINE/DEXEDRINE SPANSULE is indicated as an integral part of a total treatment program for ADHD that may include other measures (psychological, educational and social) for patients with this syndrome. PM: https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00083629.PDF; date FEB 25, 2026; DIN 01924516; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph GUANFACINE · Limited Use, codes 540 Need for Comprehensive Treatment Program INTUNIV XR is indicated as an integral part of a total treatment program for ADHD that may include other measures (psychological, educational/vocational, social) for patients with this syndrome. PM: https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00082036.PDF; date not captured; DIN 02409100; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph LISDEXAMFETAMINE DIMESYLATE · General benefit (54), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (6) Need for Comprehensive Treatment Program VYVANSE is indicated as an integral part of a total treatment program for ADHD that may include other measures (psychological, educational/vocational, social) for patients with this syndrome. PM: https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00081828.PDF; date 2025-09-15; DIN 02322951; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph MIXED SALT AMPHETAMINE · General benefit Indications ADDERALL XR (mixed salts amphetamine extended-release capsules) is indicated for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in: • Children (6 – 12 years of age) • Adolescents (13 – 17 years of age) • Adults (18 years of age or older) Need for Comprehensive Treatment Program ADDERALL XR is indicated as an integral part of a total treatment program for ADHD that may include other measures (psychological, educational, social) for patients with this syndrome. PM: https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00081719.PDF; date 2025-09-12; DIN 02248808; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph Coverage source: ON formulary extract 2026-08-26
What the Health Canada label says it is for
INDICATION AND CLINICAL USE pms-METHYLPHENIDATE is indicated for the treatment of:  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Need for Comprehensive Treatment Program pms-METHYLPHENIDATE is indicated as an integral part of a total treatment program for ADHD that may include other measures (psychological, educational, social) for patients with this syndrome. Drug treatment may not be indicated for all patients with this syndrome. Drug treatment is not intended for use in the patient who exhibits symptoms secondary to environmental factors and/or other primary psychiatric disorders, including psychosis. Appropriate educational placement is essential in children and adolescents with this diagnosis and psychosocial intervention is often helpful. When remedial measures alone are insufficient, the decision to prescribe drug treatment medication will depend upon the healthcare professional’s assessment of the chronicity and severity of the patient’s symptoms. Long-Term Use The effectiveness of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablets for long-term use, i.e. for more than 4 weeks has not been systematically evaluated in placebo-controlled trials. Therefore, the healthcare profe… https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00068339.PDF PM date: October 17, 2022 Source product: PMS-METHYLPHENIDATE; DIN 00584991; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph posted by Health Canada; excerpt for lookup only.