The means by which methylphenidate helps public with ADHD are not well understood. Some researchers have theorized that ADHD is caused by a dopamine imbalance in the brains of those affected. MPH is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, which means that it increases the level of the dopamine neurotransmitter in the brain by partially blocking the transporters that remove it from the synapses.
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Methamphetamine causes the norepinephrine and dopamine transporters to reverse their direction of flow. This inversion leads to a release of these transmitters from the vesicles to the cytoplasm and from the cytoplasm to the synapse, causing increased stimulation of post-synaptic receptors.

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If you did not know that above, I will summarize the difference:

* Methylphenidate increases the dopamine levels which are being blocked by the transporters – since it’s not being allowed to the synapse as needed.

* Methamphetamine doesn’t block the transporter, but as a replacement for reverses the path of the chemical dopamine back to the synapse which in turn stimulates the brain to produce more of that chemical (somehow lol).

They are akin, but work in different ways – as clarified above.

Oh – and really .. both are legal in prescribed medication form. Methylphenidate usually is known as Ritalin and Methamphetamine usually prescribed is known as Desoxyn. Both can treat ADHD and narcolepsy. It just happens that both are very commonly also turned into street drugs, and meth is often made from psuedophedrine and common house hold cleaning chemicals where as Ritalin is usually snorted for a quick hit.