Generic name: Methylphenidate Transdermal System [ meth-il-FEN-i-date ]
Brand name: Daytrana
Drug class: CNS stimulants

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 6, 2024.

Uses of Methylphenidate Transdermal System:

• It is used to treat attention deficit problems with hyperactivity.
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Methylphenidate Transdermal System?

• If you have an allergy to methylphenidate or any other part of methylphenidate transdermal system.
• If you are allergic to methylphenidate transdermal system; any part of methylphenidate transdermal system; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you have any of these health problems: Glaucoma, agitation, anxiety, or overactive thyroid.
• If you or a family member have any of these health problems: Blood vessel disease, high blood pressure, heart structure problems or other heart problems, or Tourette's syndrome or tics.
• If you have ever had a stroke.
• If you have taken certain drugs for depression or Parkinson's disease in the last 14 days. This includes isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline, or rasagiline. Very high blood pressure may happen.
• If you are taking any of these drugs: Linezolid or methylene blue.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with methylphenidate transdermal system.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take methylphenidate transdermal system with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Methylphenidate Transdermal System?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take methylphenidate transdermal system. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how methylphenidate transdermal system affects you.
• Heart attacks, strokes, and sudden deaths have happened in adults taking methylphenidate transdermal system. Sudden deaths have also happened in children with some heart problems or heart defects. Call your doctor right away if you have a fast, slow, or abnormal heartbeat; weakness on 1 side of the body; trouble speaking or thinking; change in balance; drooping on 1 side of the face; change in eyesight; chest pain or pressure; shortness of breath; or severe dizziness or passing out.
• You may need to have some heart tests before starting methylphenidate transdermal system. If you have questions, talk with your doctor.
• Check blood pressure and heart rate as the doctor has told you.
• This medicine may raise the chance of seizures in some people, including people who have had seizures in the past. Talk to your doctor to see if you have a greater chance of seizures while taking methylphenidate transdermal system.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking methylphenidate transdermal system.
• A severe and sometimes deadly problem called serotonin syndrome may happen if you take methylphenidate transdermal system with certain other drugs. Call your doctor right away if you have agitation; change in balance; confusion; hallucinations; fever; fast or abnormal heartbeat; flushing; muscle twitching or stiffness; seizures; shivering or shaking; sweating a lot; severe diarrhea, upset stomach, or throwing up; or severe headache.
• Rarely, low blood cell counts have happened with methylphenidate transdermal system. Call your doctor right away if you have any unexplained bruising or bleeding; signs of infection like fever, chills, or sore throat; or feel very tired or weak.
• Avoid use of heat sources (such as sunlamps, tanning beds, heating pads, electric blankets, heat lamps, saunas, hot tubs, heated waterbeds). Avoid long, hot baths or sunbathing. Your temperature may rise and cause too much drug to pass into your body.
• This medicine may lead to loss of skin color at or around where the patch is put on. Sometimes, this has happened at other areas. This may last even after methylphenidate transdermal system is stopped. The chance may be higher if you or someone in your family has ever had a skin problem called vitiligo. Talk with the doctor.
• This medicine may cause harm if chewed or swallowed. This includes used patches. If methylphenidate transdermal system has been put in the mouth, call a doctor or poison control center right away.
• This medicine may affect growth in children and teens in some cases. They may need regular growth checks. Talk with the doctor.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on getting pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks to you and the baby.

How is this medicine (Methylphenidate Transdermal System) best taken?

Use methylphenidate transdermal system as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• Do not use patches that are cut or do not look right.
• Wash your hands before and after use.
• Put patch on clean, dry, healthy skin on the hip. Do not put the patch on the waistline.
• Do not put on cuts, scrapes, eczema, or damaged skin.
• Put patch on in the morning and take off 9 hours later or as you have been told by the doctor.
• Put the patch in a new area each time you change the patch.
• Water from bathing, swimming, or showering can make the patch not stick well or fall off. If the patch falls off, do not touch the sticky side with your fingers.
• If the patch falls off, put on a new one on some other part of the same hip. Take the new patch off at the normal time.
• If you have been taking methylphenidate transdermal system for a long time or at high doses, it may not work as well and you may need higher doses to get the same effect. This is known as tolerance. Call your doctor if methylphenidate transdermal system stops working well. Do not take more than ordered.
• Limit your use of caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate. Use with methylphenidate transdermal system may cause nervousness, shakiness, and a fast heartbeat.
• Have your blood work checked if you are on methylphenidate transdermal system for a long time. Talk with your doctor.
• If you are taking methylphenidate transdermal system and have high blood pressure, talk with your doctor before using OTC products that may raise blood pressure. These include cough or cold drugs, diet pills, stimulants, ibuprofen or like products, and some natural products or aids.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• You may apply the patch later in the day. Then take off the patch at your normal time of day.
• Do not put on 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of high blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight.
• Signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
• Joint pain.
• Purple patches on the skin or mouth.
• Change in eyesight.
• Seizures.
• Shakiness.
• Trouble controlling body movements.
• Sweating a lot.
• Restlessness.
• Change in color of hands or feet from pale to blue or red.
• Numbness, pain, tingling, or cold feeling of the hands or feet.
• Any sores or wounds on the fingers or toes.
• Muscle pain or weakness, dark urine, or trouble passing urine.
• Change in skin color.
• Change in sex interest.
• Call your doctor right away if you have a painful erection (hard penis) or an erection that lasts for longer than 4 hours. This may happen even when you are not having sex. If this is not treated right away, it may lead to lasting sex problems and you may not be able to have sex.
• New or worse behavior and mood changes like change in thinking, anger, and hallucinations have happened with methylphenidate transdermal system. Tell your doctor if you or a family member have any mental or mood problems like depression or bipolar illness, or if a family member has committed suicide. Call your doctor right away if you have hallucinations; change in the way you act; or signs of mood changes like depression, thoughts of suicide, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, thinking that is not normal, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.

Related/similar drugs

What are some other side effects of Methylphenidate Transdermal System?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Dizziness.
• Feeling sleepy.
• Dry mouth.
• Headache.
• Upset stomach or throwing up.
• Weight loss.
• Feeling nervous and excitable.
• Not hungry.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Stomach pain or heartburn.
• Nose or throat irritation.
• Skin irritation.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Methylphenidate Transdermal System?

• Store at room temperature.
• Protect from light.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep patches in the pouch. Use within 2 months of opening tray.
• After you take off a skin patch, be sure to fold the sticky sides of the patch to each other. Throw away used patches where children and pets cannot get to them.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• This medicine comes with an extra patient fact sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it with care. Read it again each time methylphenidate transdermal system is refilled. If you have any questions about methylphenidate transdermal system, please talk with the doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer