Key facts
Active ingredient
Methylphenidate hydrochloride
Release
Prolonged release, Concerta XL equivalent
Typical duration
Up to 12 hours
Frequency
Once daily, in the morning
Prescribed by
Brand name, on MHRA advice
UK licence
Children from six. Adult initiation is not appropriate
Legal status
Schedule 2 controlled drug
What Delmosart is
Delmosart is a prolonged-release brand of methylphenidate licensed in the UK. It is bioequivalent to Concerta XL, meaning it is designed to deliver the same amount of drug into the bloodstream over the same period.
It is taken once in the morning and provides cover for up to twelve hours, with a portion released immediately and the remainder delivered gradually across the day. Tablets are swallowed whole rather than crushed, split or chewed.
Along with Xaggitin XL, it is one of two Concerta XL equivalents available here, and most people encounter it as an alternative when Concerta XL is unavailable.
One licensing difference worth knowing
Bioequivalent does not mean identically licensed. Delmosart is licensed for children aged six and over, and its product information states that starting treatment with Delmosart in adults is not appropriate, although continuing into adulthood may be appropriate where an adolescent has had clear benefit. Concerta XL and Xaggitin XL do hold adult licences. If you are an adult and your supply changes to Delmosart, that is worth raising.
What bioequivalent means in practice
Bioequivalent means the product has been shown to deliver the same active ingredient into the bloodstream at the same rate and to the same extent as the reference product. It is a measured regulatory standard, not a claim a manufacturer can simply make.
It does not mean the products are treated as interchangeable. The MHRA advises that modified-release methylphenidate is prescribed by brand name, and that applies to bioequivalent products as well.
Why brand still matters
Bioequivalence is established as an average across a study population, so individual responses can still differ. Prescribing by brand means any change is deliberate and can be discussed, rather than happening silently when a pharmacy substitutes. If your supply changes, mention it at your next review.
Dosage and duration
Delmosart is taken once daily in the morning and swallowed whole, with or without food. The dose is adjusted in steps at intervals of about a week with a review at each stage, as set out in our guide to titration.
Cover typically extends up to twelve hours. Because the delivery system does not dissolve completely, the tablet shell may be visible in the stool. That is expected and does not mean the medicine was not absorbed.
If cover consistently runs out well before the day does, that is worth reporting. It is often addressed by adjusting the dose or adding a small immediate-release dose rather than by changing brand, which would make little difference between bioequivalent products.
Controlled drug
Methylphenidate is Schedule 2, so it is treated differently from ordinary medicines rather than issued as a repeat prescription. Each prescription covers about a month, and identification may be requested at the pharmacy. Once your dose is stable, prescribing can sometimes move to your GP under a shared care agreement, although a practice can decline.
How Delmosart compares
Matched to Concerta XL, and longer than the eight-hour brands.
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
The useful comparison is with the eight-hour products. Moving between bioequivalent twelve-hour brands should not change your day; moving from an eight-hour brand to a twelve-hour one will.
Delmosart side effects
Like all medicines, this can cause side effects, and not everyone gets them. Most are mild, appear early, and settle within the first few weeks. Our general guide to ADHD medication side effects covers all the licensed options.
Common
- Reduced appetite, and sometimes weight loss
- Difficulty getting to sleep
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Stomach ache or nausea
- Feeling anxious, restless or irritable
- A modest rise in heart rate or blood pressure
Less common
- Low mood, or mood becoming more changeable
- Tics, or existing tics becoming more noticeable
- Slowed growth in children, which is why height and weight are monitored
- Palpitations
Because cover lasts into the evening, difficulty sleeping is a more common complaint with a twelve-hour product, and is often addressed by taking the dose earlier.
When to contact your prescriber
Seek medical advice promptly for chest pain, breathlessness, fainting, a fast or irregular heartbeat, signs of poor circulation in the fingers or toes, or new or worsening thoughts of self-harm. Seek advice urgently if reality starts to feel distorted, for example hearing or seeing things that are not there, believing things other people do not, or becoming unusually suspicious; or if mood becomes unusually elevated, racing or overactive with little need for sleep. Do not stop the medication abruptly without advice. Suspected side effects can also be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
- Appetite and weight Why it happens and how it is managed
- Supply and shortages Current status and what to do
Common questions
Is Delmosart the same as Concerta XL?
It is bioequivalent to Concerta XL, meaning it is designed to deliver the same drug in the same way. They are still prescribed by brand rather than treated as interchangeable.
How long does Delmosart last?
Up to twelve hours from a single morning dose.
Why was I given Delmosart instead of Concerta XL?
Usually supply. Where Concerta XL is unavailable a bioequivalent product may be supplied instead. Mention it at your next review.
Can Delmosart be crushed or split?
No. It must be swallowed whole, because crushing or splitting destroys the release mechanism and delivers the full dose at once.
Is Delmosart a controlled drug?
Yes. It is Schedule 2, so it is treated differently from ordinary medicines rather than issued as a repeat prescription, each prescription covers about a month, and identification may be requested at the pharmacy.
Important
This information is general and educational. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Decisions about starting, changing or stopping ADHD medication are always made together with a Consultant Psychiatrist following a full assessment.
Considering an ADHD assessment?
Any conversation about medication starts with a diagnosis. Our GMC-registered Consultant Psychiatrists assess adults and children. Assessments are £695 online and £1,095 in person in London or Manchester.
No GP referral needed. Appointments are usually available within weeks.
References
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management (NG87) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
- Methylphenidate hydrochloride British National Formulary
- Methylphenidate NHS medicines A to Z
- Yellow Card scheme Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Last reviewed September 2026. Next review due September 2027.
