Key takeaways
Daytrana (methylphenidate) and Adderall (dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salts) are both stimulant medications used to treat ADHD, but they have some key differences. Daytrana is a patch applied to the skin, while Adderall is a tablet taken by mouth. Daytrana is typically used for children ages 6 to 17, whereas Adderall can be used by both children and adults. Daytrana takes about 2 hours to start working and lasts up to 12 hours, while Adderall starts working within an hour and lasts about 4 to 6 hours. Daytrana is available as a lower-cost generic, and so is Adderall. Both medications can cause side effects like trouble sleeping and loss of appetite, but Daytrana might also cause skin irritation where the patch is applied. Adderall is also used to treat narcolepsy, while Daytrana is not.
