Key Takeaways
This article is about methylphenidate 36 mg
It explains how someone who already uses methylphenidate 36 mg can continue treatment after relocating to the Netherlands, focusing on prescriptions, pharmacies, insurance, and the way controlled medicines are handled.
A Dutch prescription is essential
A prescription from abroad, such as one issued in Mexico, is useful as proof of your treatment history but is not enough for long-term dispensing in Dutch pharmacies. For ongoing use, the prescription must come from a Dutch general practitioner (GP) or psychiatrist.
A letter from your current psychiatrist helps a lot
Arriving with a clear letter in English from your current psychiatrist—summarising diagnosis, dose, duration of treatment, and how well it works—makes it easier for a Dutch GP or psychiatrist to take over prescribing, even though they always make their own decision.
Pharmacies can supply several 36 mg brands
Prolonged-release methylphenidate 36 mg is available in the Netherlands from several manufacturers, including Mylan, Xiromed, TEVA, and Concerta. Prescriptions are usually sent electronically to a pharmacy of your choice, and you can call ahead to check whether your preferred brand is in stock.
Insurance covers ADHD medication with limits
Short-acting methylphenidate is generally fully reimbursed from the basic health-insurance package. Long-acting options such as Concerta are only partly covered; the annual personal contribution for these medicines is capped at 250 euros per person.
Appointments and costs differ by route
Seeing your GP is usually the easiest and cheapest option, because GP care is covered. Some psychiatrists offer short online consultations focused on assessment and prescription; in one case, an online interview plus prescription cost 160 euros and was not reimbursed by insurance.
Controlled-medicine rules shape everyday practice
Methylphenidate is a controlled medicine in the Netherlands. Prescribing goes through licensed Dutch psychiatrists and GPs, and some GPs are cautious. A well-written letter from your current psychiatrist often makes the difference between hesitation and a clear decision to continue treatment.
Story & Details
From a foreign prescription to a Dutch one
A person who moves to the Netherlands while taking methylphenidate 36 mg often brings a prescription from home and a treatment that already works. The first surprise is that this prescription is not enough for Dutch pharmacies to keep dispensing the medicine. Because methylphenidate is treated as a controlled substance, pharmacies expect to see prescriptions issued by a doctor registered in the Netherlands.
The foreign prescription still matters. It shows what dose you use, how long you have been on it, and that another doctor considered it appropriate. But it is treated as documentation, not as something that can simply be “transferred” into the system. The Dutch prescriber has to look at it and choose to take over responsibility.
The crucial role of the GP and the psychiatrist
In everyday practice, the starting point is the general practitioner. Registering with a local GP and booking an appointment is usually the first concrete step. Bringing a short, clear letter in English from your current psychiatrist is extremely useful. That letter should spell out the diagnosis (for example ADHD), the exact medicine and dose (methylphenidate 36 mg prolonged-release), how long you have used it, previous medication trials, and any relevant side-effects.
Many GPs will consider that information and, if everything is consistent and there are no worrying factors, will agree to continue prescribing within the Dutch framework. Others feel less comfortable with stimulants, particularly in adults, and prefer to refer patients to a psychiatrist. That is not a rejection of the diagnosis; it is often about workload, monitoring responsibilities, and the tighter rules around controlled medicines.
In parallel, some psychiatrists offer brief online consultations specifically aimed at people who already have an established diagnosis abroad and need a local prescription. In one real example, an online interview plus prescription was priced at 160 euros, with the explicit remark that this fee was not covered by insurance, whereas going through the GP generally was.
How prescriptions reach pharmacies and how brands fit in
Once a Dutch prescriber has decided to continue methylphenidate, the prescription is usually sent electronically to a pharmacy. Patients commonly choose a community pharmacy near home or work. When you collect the medicine, you show proof of identity and the pharmacist checks that the prescription is complete and valid.
At the 36 mg prolonged-release strength, several brands are widely used. Concerta is the best-known branded version, and generic equivalents from companies such as Mylan, Xiromed, and TEVA are also available. Pharmacies do not always keep every brand in stock at every dose, because they depend on wholesalers and insurers. If you know that one particular brand suits you best, it is sensible to call the pharmacy in advance to confirm whether it is available and, if not, how long it would take to order it.
People living in Amsterdam or nearby towns report that methylphenidate is “available everywhere” in the sense that local pharmacies understand the medicine and can obtain it. The fine details—exact brand, how quickly it arrives, and what it costs—vary from pharmacy to pharmacy.
Insurance, co-payments, and the 250-euro limit
Dutch health insurance can seem complicated, but in this area the pattern is clear. Short-acting methylphenidate used for ADHD is generally fully reimbursed from the basic insurance package. The costs still count toward the annual deductible, but no extra personal contribution applies.
Long-acting medicines such as Concerta and some other ADHD drugs are treated differently. Insurers usually reimburse up to the price of an agreed cheaper alternative, and the rest is a personal contribution for the patient. This personal contribution for medicines is capped at 250 euros per person per calendar year. After that, further personal contributions for those medicines stop for the remainder of the year. This rule is important for anyone using a long-acting brand every day.
Practical questions about costs are best answered at the pharmacy counter. Pharmacists can check, in real time, what the basic insurance will cover for a given brand and strength, how much of the 250-euro limit has already been used, and whether a cheaper or fully covered alternative exists that would still fit your treatment plan.
Why some doctors are cautious with stimulants
Reports in the Netherlands have raised concerns about the non-medical use of ADHD medication, especially among students who obtain stimulants without a prescription to help them study or stay awake. Methylphenidate taken in this way can cause insomnia, palpitations, increased anxiety, and mood swings, and using it without medical supervision is illegal.
This wider context helps explain why some GPs seem strict. They are responsible not only for the person in front of them, but also for ensuring that controlled medicines are not diverted to others. They are asked to monitor blood pressure and heart rate, review mental health regularly, and watch for signs of misuse.
A well-prepared patient can make that job easier. Arriving with documentation, describing clearly how the medicine helps and what side-effects have been checked, and being open to follow-up appointments sends a strong signal that this is about sustained, responsible treatment, not short-term performance enhancement.
Online platforms and controlled prescriptions
Experiences with purely online medical platforms vary. Some services choose not to prescribe controlled medicines at all, or impose strict limits, even for people with long-standing diagnoses. Anyone who has tried and failed to obtain a methylphenidate prescription through such a platform may find that traditional routes—GPs and psychiatrists rooted in the Dutch system—are more realistic for controlled medicines.
The key is to understand that, in the Netherlands, stimulants sit close to the legal and ethical boundary between necessary treatment and substances with misuse potential. The safest path for prescribers and patients alike remains a documented, face-to-face or video relationship with a clinician who knows the national rules.
Travelling with methylphenidate after settling in
People who move to the Netherlands do not leave their old lives behind. Family, studies, or work may mean frequent trips abroad. Once someone has a Dutch prescription for methylphenidate, crossing borders with the medicine becomes a new question.
For travel within the Schengen area, the Dutch authorities require a Schengen certificate for medicines that fall under the rules for controlled substances. This certificate confirms that you are allowed to carry the medicine, and it covers a specific period and quantity. For trips outside Schengen, a medical certificate is usually required instead. Both types of documents involve forms, signatures from the prescriber, and approval by the relevant office, but the procedures are standard and well explained by official information channels.
The habit to develop is simple: check the rules for your destination a few weeks before travelling, arrange the certificate in time, and carry it together with the medicine in its original packaging. Once that becomes routine, travelling with ADHD medication is manageable rather than stressful.
Conclusions
A steady route through a stricter system
For someone who relies on methylphenidate 36 mg, moving to the Netherlands does not mean starting treatment from scratch, but it does mean fitting into a new legal and medical framework. The turning point is a Dutch prescription, issued by a GP or psychiatrist who has taken the time to understand your history and is willing to take responsibility for the medicine.
From there, the system is structured but workable. Pharmacies can supply several prolonged-release brands at 36 mg, insurance covers ADHD medication within clear limits, and formal certificates make it possible to travel with controlled medicines without drama. There are safeguards and extra steps, yet with good documentation, open conversations, and a bit of planning, it is entirely possible to keep a familiar treatment going in a new country.
Sources
Government of the Netherlands – information on which medicines are reimbursed and how personal contributions work:
https://www.government.nl/topics/medicines/question-and-answer/which-medicines-are-reimbursed
Dutch health-insurance and consumer platforms – explanations of reimbursement for ADHD medication, including the 250-euro annual cap on personal contributions:
https://www.zorgwijzer.nl/vergoeding/adhd-medicijnen
https://www.consumentenbond.nl/zorgverzekering/vergoedingen/adhd-medicijnen
Patient and parent organisations – practical overviews of ADHD medication options and insurance rules:
https://balansdigitaal.nl/kennisbank/zorg/medicatie/vergoeding-van-adhd-medicatie
Medicines information databases – examples of 36 mg prolonged-release methylphenidate products (Concerta and generics such as Mylan, Xiromed, and TEVA):
https://www.geneesmiddeleninformatiebank.nl
Dutch public-health and policy reports – background on the controlled status of methylphenidate and concerns about non-medical use:
https://www.rivm.nl
Government travel advice – guidance on taking medication abroad and requirements for Schengen and medical certificates for controlled medicines:
https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/travel/medicines
https://www.government.nl/topics/medicines/question-and-answer/can-i-take-my-medication-abroad
YouTube – institutional explainer video on travelling with medicines that fall under Dutch controlled-medicines rules (CAK channel):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHta-eHODIs
Appendix
ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder)
A neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with functioning at school, at work, or in everyday life. Medicines such as methylphenidate are often used alongside psychological and educational support.
Co-payment (personal contribution for medicines)
The part of the price of certain medicines that patients in the Netherlands must pay themselves, on top of the general annual deductible. For ADHD medication, this personal contribution is limited by law to a maximum amount per year.
General practitioner (GP)
A community-based doctor who provides primary medical care, coordinates referrals to specialists, and often acts as the main contact for long-term treatment, including ADHD medication, once diagnosis and dosing are stable.
Methylphenidate
A psychostimulant medicine widely used as a first-choice pharmacological treatment for ADHD in children and adults. It works by influencing certain neurotransmitters in the brain to improve attention and reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity.
Opium Act medicine
A medicine classified under Dutch controlled-substance law, subject to stricter rules on prescribing, dispensing, possession, and international transport. Methylphenidate belongs to this group, which explains the additional safeguards around its use.
Prolonged-release methylphenidate
A formulation designed to release methylphenidate gradually over several hours, allowing once-daily dosing. At the 36 mg strength, it is available under brand names such as Concerta and generics from companies including Mylan, Xiromed, and TEVA.
Schengen certificate
An official document required for travellers who carry certain controlled medicines, including methylphenidate, to other countries in the Schengen area. It confirms that the medicine is prescribed for personal use and specifies the permitted quantity and duration.
Short-acting methylphenidate
A form of methylphenidate that is absorbed quickly and works for a limited number of hours, usually taken several times per day. It is typically fully reimbursed from the basic Dutch health-insurance package when prescribed for ADHD.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 