Daytrana is a drug prescribed for treating ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). It is a central nervous stimulant of the amphetamine class of drugs. Daytrana is available in dosage strengths of 10, 15, 20, and 30mg, and is administered through a transdermal patch applied to the skin. The Daytrana patch contains the same stimulant as Ritalin, but it's administered differently. Can the Daytrana Patch Be Abused? For Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). FDA added a new warning to the drug label to describe this skin condition, which is known as chemical leukoderma.
Generic Name: methylphenidate transdermal (meth il FEN ih date)
Brand Names:Daytrana
Brand Names:Daytrana
Medically reviewed by P. Thornton, DipPharm Last updated on Feb 21, 2019.
What is Daytrana?
Daytrana is a skin patch that contains methylphenidate, a central nervous system stimulant. Methylphenidate affects chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control.
Daytrana patches are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) .
Daytrana may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important Information
You should not use Daytrana if you have glaucoma, tics or Tourette's syndrome, or severe anxiety, tension, or agitation. Do not use methylphenidate if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, including isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.
Methylphenidate may be habit forming. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction.
Using Daytrana improperly can cause death or serious side effects on the heart.
Before taking this medicine
Do not use Daytrana if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.
You should not use Daytrana patches if you are allergic to methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate, and others), or if you have:
- glaucoma;
- a personal or family history of tics (muscle twitches) or Tourette's syndrome;
- severe anxiety, tension, or agitation (stimulant medicine can make these symptoms worse); or
- if you have ever had a skin reaction when using any type of adhesive bandage or transdermal skin patch.
Daytrana is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 years old.
Some stimulants have caused sudden death in certain people. Tell your doctor if you have:
- heart problems or a congenital heart defect;
- high blood pressure; or
- a family history of heart disease or sudden death.
To make sure Daytrana is safe for you, tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has ever had:
- a skin disorder (such as eczema, psoriasis), skin sensitivity to soaps, lotions, cosmetics, or glues;
- depression, mental illness, bipolar disorder, psychosis, or suicidal thoughts or actions;
- blood circulation problems in the hands or feet;
- a seizure;
- an abnormal brain wave test (EEG); or
- drug or alcohol addiction.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
How should I use Daytrana?
Use Daytrana exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Using this medicine improperly can cause death or serious side effects on the heart.
Read all patient information, medication guides, and instruction sheets provided to you. Daytrana skin patches come with a dosing schedule that shows when to apply and remove the skin patch based on 9 hour time frames. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Methylphenidate may be habit-forming. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.
Apply the Daytrana patch to a clean and dry area on your hip. Press firmly onto the skin with the palm of your hand for about 30 seconds. The patch should stay on while swimming or bathing. The effects of this medicine may not be noticeable until 2 hours after applying the skin patch.
Wash your hands after applying a Daytrana skin patch.
Remove the patch 9 hours after it was applied. Peel off slowly and fold the Daytrana patch in half so it sticks together. Flush the folded patch down the toilet or place it into a waste can with a lid. Use baby oil or lotion to remove any adhesive residue that stays on your skin.
If you discontinue using Daytrana, ask your pharmacist where to locate a drug take-back disposal program. If there is no take-back program, fold the used patch together and flush any unused patches at that time down the toilet. Disposal of medicines by flushing is recommended to reduce the danger of accidental overdose causing death. This advice applies to a very small number of medicines only. The FDA, working with the manufacturer, has determined this method to be the most appropriate route of disposal and presents the least risk to human safety.
Apply a new patch to the opposite hip. Do not wear a Daytrana patch on the same side of the body two days in a row.
If a patch falls off, replace it with a new one. Then remove the new patch after it has been 9 hours since you applied the first patch. Do not wear a patch longer than 9 hours per day, even if you apply a new Daytrana patch to replace one that has fallen off. Use the dosing schedule provided to track your patch wearing time.
Over time, Daytrana transdermal can cause your skin to lighten around areas where the patches are worn. This effect may be permanent. Check your skin often. Tell your doctor if you see new areas of lighter color under or around a skin patch. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice.
If you have trouble sleeping or loss of appetite in the evenings, try removing the skin patch earlier in the day. Never cut the Daytrana skin patch to try and reduce the amount of medicine you receive while wearing it.
Children using this medicine should be warned never to remove the skin patch and place it onto another person. Serious side effects may result.
While using Daytrana, your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits. Your heart rate, blood pressure, height and weight may also need to be checked often.
Keep each Daytrana patch in its sealed pouch until you are ready to use it. Store at room temperature away from heat and moisture. Do not refrigerate or freeze. Throw away any unused patches if it has been more than 2 months since you opened the original package.
Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new package. Methylphenidate is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.
Daytrana dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for Attention Deficit Disorder:
Daytrana Transdermal System.
Dose should be titrated to effect based on the following recommended titration schedule:
Week 1: 10 mg/9 hour patch daily
Week 2: 15 mg/9 hour patch daily
Week 3: 20 mg/9 hour patch daily
Week 4: 30 mg/9 hour patch daily
It is recommended to apply the patch topically to hip area 2 hours before an effect is needed and to remove the patch 9 hours after application. However, wear time should be individualized according to the needs and response of the individual patient.
Dose should be titrated to effect based on the following recommended titration schedule:
Week 1: 10 mg/9 hour patch daily
Week 2: 15 mg/9 hour patch daily
Week 3: 20 mg/9 hour patch daily
Week 4: 30 mg/9 hour patch daily
It is recommended to apply the patch topically to hip area 2 hours before an effect is needed and to remove the patch 9 hours after application. However, wear time should be individualized according to the needs and response of the individual patient.
See also:
Methylphenidate dosage information (in more detail)
What happens if I miss a dose?
Apply a patch as soon as you remember, and do not wear the patch for longer than 9 hours. You may need to shorten the wearing time to less than 9 hours if you apply a patch later than usual and you have sleep problems. Do not apply two patches at the same time to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Remove the patch right away and clean the skin area with soap and water. An overdose of methylphenidate can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include sweating, redness in your face, vomiting, shaking, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, and irregular heartbeat.
What should I avoid while using Daytrana?
Do not expose the skin patch to heat while you are wearing it. This includes heat from a heating pad, hot tub, electric blanket, or a heated water bed. Heat can cause the skin patch to release too much medicine at one time.
Avoid placing a patch on skin that is oily, irritated, or damaged. Avoid a skin area that will be rubbed by a waistband or tight clothing.
Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.
Daytrana side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Daytrana:hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using Daytrana and call your doctor at once if you have:
- redness, swelling, blistering, or skin color changes where the skin patch was worn (may also spread to other areas);
- a seizure;
- chest pain, trouble breathing, feeling like you might pass out;
- changes in your vision;
- hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real), new behavior problems, aggression, hostility, paranoia; or
- numbness, pain, cold feeling, unexplained wounds, or skin color changes (pale, red, or blue appearance) in your fingers or toes.
Methylphenidate can affect growth in children. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medicine.
Common Daytrana side effects may include:
- dizziness, mood swings;
- tics;
- nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, weight loss;
- sleep problems (insomnia); or
- skin redness, bumps, or itching where a patch was worn.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also:
Methylphenidate side effects (in more detail)
What other drugs will affect Daytrana?
Daytrana Vs Vyvanse
Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:
- an antidepressant;
- blood pressure medication;
- a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);
- a cold or allergy medicine that contains a decongestant such as pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine; or
- seizure medicine.
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with methylphenidate, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.
See also:
Methylphenidate drug interactions (in more detail)
Further information
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Daytrana only for the indication prescribed.
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Copyright 1996-2019 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 7.01.
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