Recovery from behavior and developmental effects of chronic oral methylphenidate following an abstinence period.

Chronic oral methylphenidate (MP) exposure in rats is associated with numerous developmental and behavioral consequences. The present study investigated the persistence of the effects of chronic oral MP exposure after abstinence from MP use. Male and female rats were exposed to daily orally self-administered water, low dose MP (LD), or high dose (HD) MP for 13 weeks, followed by a 4-week abstinence period.