Eli5:how do ritalin xr and other prolonged action pills work?

Question

In special how they last 12 hours in the digestive system

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

Pills work due to your stomach acid breaking it down and then your body digests it. The chemicals in the pills are then distributed to your different organs, blood, intestines, brain, etc. Now some pills that you want immediate effects are very weak, so the stomach acid digests it quickly. Prolonged action pills are stronger, tougher so the stomach acid takes longer to break it down. So over time, the chemicals will distribute more slowly.