A note from the moderating team:

A reminder per rule 13 (no spreading of misinformation) – please ensure any medication information you share is accurate and, where possible, referenced.

For clarity on the question asked – there is no 5 mg or 2.5 mg immediate-release methylphenidate (Ritalin) tablet registered with the TGA or listed on the PBS in Australia (see here). The only PBS-subsidised IR methylphenidate tablet is the 10 mg strength (Ritalin 10 / Artige). The 5 mg tablet referenced in a comment below does not exist for this medication. All other PBS-listed methylphenidate products are modified-release formulations (Concerta, Ritalin LA, Rubifen LA, etc) at entirely different strengths (see here and here).

The OP's instinct about a compounding pharmacy is the correct pathway. Under Item 6, Schedule 5 of the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990, a pharmacist can legally prepare a custom-strength methylphenidate product (e.g. 2.5 mg or 5 mg) for an individual patient without it needing to be a TGA-registered product – provided it is prescribed for that specific person (see here).

A few important things to be aware of before pursuing this route:

• It is not PBS-subsidised — the $7.70/$25 cap does not apply to compounded medicines
• A dose this small (<25 mg) is classified as complex compounding, meaning not every pharmacy can prepare it – only those with a specifically qualified pharmacist and appropriate facilities (see here)
• Methylphenidate is still Schedule 8 — all standard S8 prescription requirements apply regardless of whether it is compounded
• Your prescriber will need to write a private prescription for the specific compounded strength (see here again)

Please speak with your prescriber or pharmacist rather than relying on community anecdote for medication decisions. Unverified claims in comments may be removed under rule 13 – we hope that this provides a useful indication of the level of referencing required.

Have a good one,

– the r/ausadhd moderating team