Methylphenidate has a tendency to create habits. Never use additional patches, apply them more frequently, or leave them on for longer than your doctor has instructed. If you take methylphenidate in excess, you can continue to feel the desire to take big doses of the drug and might notice strange changes in your behaviour. If you see any of the following symptoms, you should contact your doctor right away. Sweating, dilated pupils, an unusually ecstatic mood, restlessness, trouble falling or staying asleep, anger, aggression, anxiety, lack of appetite, loss of coordination, uncontrollable movement of a part of the body, flushed skin, vomiting, stomach ache; or preparing, attempting, or even just having the thought of hurting or killing oneself or someone else. Moreover, let your doctor know if you often consume excessive amounts of alcohol, use illicit drugs, or abuse prescription pharmaceuticals.

Without first seeing your doctor, never stop using methylphenidate transdermal patches, especially if you have been abusing the drug. Your dose will likely be gradually reduced by your doctor, who will also closely watch you during this period. If you abruptly quit using methylphenidate transdermal patches after abusing the drug, you could have severe depression. Even if you haven’t misused the medicine, your doctor may need to keep a close eye on you after stopping the usage of methylphenidate transdermal patches because your symptoms could get worse.

Your methylphenidate transdermal patches are not for sale, distribution, or sharing with others. Transdermal patches containing methylphenidate shouldn’t be sold or given away because they could hurt other people. Transdermal methylphenidate patches should be kept in a secure location to prevent inadvertent or intentional use by others. Keep track of the remaining patches so you can identify those that are missing.

When you start using methylphenidate transdermal patches for therapy and every time you acquire extra medication, your doctor or chemist will provide you the manufacturer’s patient information leaflet (Medication Guide). If you have any questions, carefully read the information and ask your doctor or chemist. The Medication Guide is also available on the manufacturer’s website or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm085729.htm).

In order to treat the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, methylphenidate transdermal patches are employed (ADHD; more difficulty focusing, controlling actions, and remaining still or quiet than other people who are the same age). Methylphenidate is a member of the group of drugs known as central nervous system stimulants. It functions by altering the brain’s natural chemical composition.

Methylphenidate for transdermal use is available as a skin patch. Typically, it is put on once daily in the morning, two hours before an effect is required, and left on for up to nine hours. Ask your doctor or chemist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Follow the directions on the methylphenidate patches exactly.

A modest dose of methylphenidate will likely be prescribed by your doctor, who will then likely gradually increase it up to once per week.

Periodically, your doctor might advise you to stop taking methylphenidate patches so that you can determine if you still require the drug. Pay close attention to these guidelines.

Put the patch on your hip. Applying the patch to skin that is greasy, itchy, red, swollen, or otherwise inflamed or affected by a rash or another skin condition is also not advised. Applying at the waistline is not recommended since tight garments may rub the patch off. Avoid applying a patch to the same area twice; instead, place it on the hip that wasn’t covered the previous day.

As long as they are put correctly, methylphenidate patches are intended to stay in place throughout routine everyday activities including swimming, showering, and bathing. The patches could, however, become loosened or come off over the day, particularly if they get wet. Ask your child how, when, and where the patch was when it fell off if it happens. Reapplying a patch that has come off or become loose cannot be done with a dressing or piece of sellotape. Instead, properly dispose of the patch. A new patch should then be applied to a different area, and the old one should be removed at the appointed time.

Avoid using direct heat sources while wearing the patch, such as hair dryers, heating pads, electric blankets, and heated waterbeds.

While applying, removing, or discarding a methylphenidate patch, take care to avoid touching the adhesive side with your fingers. If you unintentionally touch the patch’s adhesive side, finish applying or removing it and then thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water.

To apply the patch, follow these steps:

• The skin in the area where you intend to place the patch should be washed and dried. Make sure there are no powders, oils, or lotions on the skin.
• Discard the drying agent that is included in the tray after opening it to reveal the patches.
• Take one bag out of the tray, then use scissors to slit it open. Don’t cut the patch, please. Never apply a patch that has been sliced or otherwise damaged.
• The protective liner should be facing you as you hold the patch after removing it from the pouch.
• The lining may be peeled in half. It should be simple to remove the liner. Use a different patch and properly dispose of the patch if the liner is difficult to remove.
• Apply the patch to the skin using the other half of the liner as a grip.
• The patch should be firmly applied before being smoothed down.
• Using one hand, hold the patch’s adhesive side down. With the help of the other hand, carefully peel off the final portion of the protective liner while pulling back the opposite side of the patch.
• For around 30 seconds, press the entire patch firmly in place using the palm of your hand.
• Using your fingertips, gently push the patch’s edges on the skin all the way around. Make sure the patch is firmly affixed to the skin throughout.
• The protective liner and empty pouch should be disposed of in a locked trash bin away from the reach of kids and animals. The pouch or liner should not be flushed down the toilet.
• After handling the patch, wash your hands.
• On the administration chart that is provided with the patches, note the time you applied the patch. To determine when the patch has to be removed, consult the timeline in the patient information that is included with the patches. If your doctor has instructed you to apply the patch for fewer than 9 hours, do not adhere to these periods. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about how to remove the patch; otherwise, carefully follow his or her directions.
• When it’s time to take off the patch, softly peel it off with your fingertips. Apply an oil-based product, such as mineral oil, petroleum jelly, or olive oil, to the edges of the patch and gently spread the oil underneath if it is attached firmly to your skin. Call your doctor or chemist if the patch is still difficult to remove. To dislodge the patch, avoid using nail polish remover or adhesive remover.
• The adhesive sides of the patch should be together when folding it in half. Press firmly to close the patch. The patch should be disposed of in a closed trash container that is out of children’s and pets’ reach or flushed down the toilet.
• Rub the area with oil or lotion carefully to remove any adhesive that may still be present on the skin.
• Sanitise your hands.
• On the administration chart, note when you removed the patch and how you disposed of it.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your chemist or doctor.

Ask your doctor or chemist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before using methylphenidate patches,

• Inform your physician and chemist if you have any allergies to methylphenidate, other drugs, other skin patches, soaps, lotions, cosmetics, skin adhesives, or any of the components in methylphenidate patches. For a list of the ingredients, consult your chemist or the prescription guide.
• Inform your physician if you are using an MAO inhibitor, such as phenelzine, isocarboxazid, linezolid, or methylene blue (Marplan, Zyvox) (Nardil), if you are now taking, or have recently taken, tranylcypromine (Parnate), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar). Most likely, your doctor will advise you to wait at least 14 days after your last MAO inhibitor dose before applying methylphenidate patches.
• Inform your doctor and chemist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Incorporate any of the following: drugs for high blood pressure; anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) including warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); antidepressants such clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), and imipramine (Tofranil); phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), and primidone (Mysoline), as well as over-the-counter remedies for colds, allergies, and nasal congestion; steroid creams, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline, as well as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluvoxamine (Luvox), and paroxetine (Paxil) (Zoloft). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• Inform your doctor if you or anyone in your family has ever experienced motor tics (repeated, uncontrollable movements), verbal tics (uncontrollable, repetitive noises or movements), or Tourette’s syndrome (repetition of sounds or words that is hard to control). Furthermore let your doctor know if you have tension, worry, or agitation. Glaucoma is an elevated pressure in the eye that can result in vision loss. Your physician might advise against using methylphenidate patches.
• Inform your doctor if anyone in your family has ever experienced a sudden death or has an abnormal heartbeat. A recent heart attack, heart defects, high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, heart or blood vessel illness, artery hardening, or any other cardiac issues should also be disclosed to your doctor. Your heart and blood vessels will be checked by your doctor during the examination. If you have a heart issue or there is a significant chance that you will develop a heart condition, your doctor will probably advise you not to take methylphenidate patches.
• Inform your doctor if you or anyone in your family is currently experiencing or has ever experienced depression, mania (a frenzied, unusually exuberant mood), bipolar disorder (a mood that fluctuates from depressed to excited), or has ever contemplated or attempted suicide. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had seizures, an abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG; an examination that gauges electrical activity in the brain), or any other medical conditions; mental illness, issues with the circulation in the fingers or toes, or a skin disease like eczema (a condition that causes the skin to be dry, itchy, or scaly), vitiligo, a disorder in which patches of skin that are flaky and white or yellow in hue appear, or psoriasis, a skin condition in which red, scaly patches appear on some parts of the body (a condition in which patches of the skin lose color).
• Inform your physician if you are nursing a baby, intend to get pregnant, or are already pregnant. Call your doctor if you get pregnant while wearing methylphenidate patches.
• You should be aware that wearing methylphenidate patches may prevent you from safely operating machinery or operating a vehicle. Prior to understanding how this drug affects you, avoid using machinery or driving a car.
• Inform your surgeon or dentist that you are using methylphenidate patches if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.
• You should be aware that portions of your skin may brighten or lose colour as a result of wearing methylphenidate patches. Although this loss of skin colour is permanent, it is not hazardous. Skin colour loss can happen anywhere on your body, but it typically happens where the patch was put. Call your doctor right away if you detect any changes in your skin’s colour.
• You should be aware that methylphenidate should be used in conjunction with other therapies, such as counselling and specialised instruction, in order to effectively treat ADHD. Ensure that you adhere to all recommendations from your therapist or doctor.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

The forgotten patch can be used as soon as you recollect it. Nevertheless, you should still apply the patch at the scheduled time. Applying extra patches won’t make up for a forgotten dose.

Side effects from methylphenidate are possible. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Nausea
• Slim down
• Redness or little lumps on the skin where the patch was applied

Certain adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs or any of those in the IMPORTANT CAUTION section:

• Extreme fatigue
• Slow or challenging speech
• Dizziness
• An arm or leg that is weak or numb
• Fuzzy vision
• Alterations to vision
• Rash
• Itching
• Swollen or inflamed skin where the patch was applied
• Seizures
• Verbal or physical tics
• Assuming falsehoods to be true
• Feeling unusually wary about other people
• Variations in mood
• Uncommon sobbing or sadness
• Depression
• Hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
• Regular, uncomfortable erections
• Longer than four-hour erection
• Tingling, numbness, or pain in the fingers or toes, or sensitivity to temperature
• In the fingers or toes, the skin’s colour might vary from pale to blue to red
• Sores on the fingers or toes that are mysterious

Children and teenagers who have heart abnormalities or other major heart conditions are especially vulnerable to abrupt mortality from methylphenidate patches. Adults using this drug, particularly those with major cardiac conditions or heart abnormalities, may also experience a heart attack or stroke. If you or your child has chest pain, breathlessness, or fainting while taking this medication, contact your doctor straight away. Discuss the dangers of using this drug with your doctor.

The growth or weight gain of youngsters may be slowed with methylphenidate patches. The physician for your child will keep a close eye on their development. If you are worried about your child’s weight gain or growth while taking this medicine, talk to your child’s doctor. Discuss the dangers of giving your child methylphenidate patches with their doctor.

Patches containing methylphenidate may produce an allergic response. Some individuals who experience an adverse reaction to methylphenidate patches may never again be able to consume methylphenidate orally. Discuss the dangers of using methylphenidate patches with your doctor.

Further negative effects of methylphenidate are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this drug, call your doctor right away.

Keep this medication out of the reach of children and tightly closed in the original container. Keep it at normal temperature, away from sources of extreme heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Melphenidate patches shouldn’t be kept in the fridge or freezer. By opening each pouch, folding each patch in half with the sticky sides together, then flushing the folded patches down the toilet, you can get rid of old or unnecessary patches. Ask your chemist how to dispose of your medications properly.

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Remove any additional patches of methylphenidate that have been applied, then wipe the skin to get rid of any adhesive. then dial 1-800-222-1222 to reach your regional poison control centre. Dial 911 to reach the nearest emergency services if the sufferer has collapsed or has stopped breathing.

Overdose signs could include the following:

• Vomiting
• Agitation
• Body part shaking that is uncontrollable
• Seizures
• Coma (loss of consciousness for a period of time)
• Extreme happiness
• Confusion
• Hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
• Sweating
• Flushing
• Headache
• Fever
• Hammering, rapid, or erratic heartbeat
• Broad eyes (black circles in the middle of the eyes)
• Mouth and nose are dry

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor your body’s reaction to methylphenidate, your doctor will request specific lab tests.

Do not share your medication with anybody else. This medication cannot be renewed. In order to prevent running out of medication, make sure you plan regular doctor’s appointments.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.