Concerta across the active day.

What can be inferred

Concerta produces an early 1-2 hour shoulder, a broader 6-8 hour peak, and a gradual decline. Plasma exposure rises approximately in proportion to dose over 54-108 mg, but transporter occupancy is saturable. The modeled difference between 90 and 108 mg is therefore smaller for extracellular effect than for plasma concentration.

Regional meaning

The DA curve represents a striatal signal, where DAT is prominent. In prefrontal cortex, NET also clears dopamine, so a single whole-brain dopamine curve would be misleading.

Uncertainty

Body size, metabolism, age, food timing, neural firing, sleep, prior treatment, comorbidity, interacting medicines, and the formulation itself can move an individual far from the central trace. The plot predicts neither subjective experience nor clinical benefit.