Methylphenidate Patch

The methylphenidate patch (marketed under the brand name Daytrana) is licensed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. The patch is applied once a day and can be worn for up to nine hours. Methylphenidate, which is a stimulant that produces a calming effect in children with ADHD, begins absorbing into the bloodstream through the skin approximately two hours after the patch is applied. Weight loss, insomnia, and vomiting are some of the more common side effects seen with the methylphenidate patch.

 

What Is the Methylphenidate Patch?

The methylphenidate patch (Daytrana™) is a prescription medication that is used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. It is a skin patch that is applied once daily (in the morning) and worn for nine hours, eliminating the need to take medication at school.
 
Methylphenidate is a stimulant that is commonly abused, so there are special rules for prescribing the methylphenidate patch (see Daytrana: A Controlled Substance).
 
(Click What Is the Methylphenidate Patch Used For? for more information on uses of the patch, including possible off-label uses of the medication.)
 

Who Makes the Methylphenidate Patch?

The methylphenidate patch is manufactured by Shire Pharmaceuticals.
 

How Does the Methylphenidate Patch Work?

The methylphenidate patch contains a stimulant, but it has effects that are opposite from what would be expected of a stimulant. While stimulants (like caffeine) can cause hyperactivity, the methylphenidate patch has a calming effect. While it is not known exactly how the methylphenidate patch produces a calming effect, it is known that it affects certain chemicals in the brain (see Methylphenidate and D2 Receptors).
 
As the name implies, the methylphenidate patch is a skin patch containing the stimulant methylphenidate. The methylphenidate is absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream. After the methylphenidate patch is applied, it takes about two hours before the medicine begins to take effect. After the patch is removed, the effect slowly wears off.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;