The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a methylphenidate patch for the treatment of ADHD.
According to Dr. Joseph Biederman, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, "Some patients may have difficulty swallowing the tablets and patients may prefer to use the patch."
According to those whose testified before the FDA, a "substantial fraction" of children with ADHD have difficulties swallowing methylphenidate tablets. For them, the patch will provide a viable option.
The patch, which needs to be applied twice a day, can be left on the skin for nine hours. However, researchers say it continues to work up to two hours after it's removed.
One interesting problem with any medicine delivered by patch is sensitization. The user's body develops antibodies to the medicine in the patch. If the user later takes an oral version of the medicine an allergic reaction occurs. Although this hasn't occurred in any of the children who tried the methylphenidate patch, it is a concern.
Family Practice News, 05/1/06
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