Daytrana Patch

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning that the Daytrana patch (methylphenidate transdermal system), used for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) could be linked to a condition called chemical leukoderma. Chemical leukoderma is a permanent loss of skin color due to exposure to certain chemicals. The FDA issued its warning after a review of the adverse event reporting system.

The Daytrana patch is used to treat children and adolescents with ADHD by increasing their attention and decreasing restlessness. It is typically applied to the patient's hip and delivers medication through the skin.

On June 24, 2015, the FDA warned that the patch had been linked to 51 reports of permanent loss of skin color from April 2006 to December 2014. According to the FDA's warning, the onset of leukoderma ranged from two months after starting Daytrana treatment to four years. All patients who filed a report described a decrease in or loss of skin color. In some patients, skin color changed on parts of the body where the Daytrana patch was not applied. All cases of leukoderma were permanent.

The FDA recommends patients and their caregivers watch for new areas in which the skin color has changed. It is especially important to watch for skin discolorations in younger children as the Daytrana patch is often prescribed to younger patients as an alternative to taking an ADHD medication in pill form.

According to the FDA Drug Safety Communication on Daytrana, the Daytrana patch application site should be rotated daily, placing it on a different spot on the hip, and on the opposite hip, if possible. Common Daytrana side effects that have been reported are similar to other ADHD stimulant medications and include increased blood pressure and heart rate, nausea, decreased appetite and weight, aggressive behavior, anger, and irritability. The FDA also reports that while the Daytrana patch remains a popular ADHD medication for younger children as it eliminates the need to swallow a pill, the number of prescriptions dispensed in 2014 from U.S. outpatient retail pharmacies was approximately 109,000, reflecting a decrease from 136,500 in 2010.

Daytrana Patch Legal Help

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Last updated on Jul-15-15