Drug & supplement interaction

Ergot + methylphenidate transdermal system

methylphenidate transdermal system brand name: Daytrana.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

methylphenidate transdermal system falls into 2 drug categories that Ergot can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Certain ergot alkaloids, such as dihydroergotamine, act as serotonin agonists.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Ergot and methylphenidate transdermal system

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Ergot interacts with whole categories of medication. methylphenidate transdermal system falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Ergot in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

SEROTONERGIC DRUGS

1 of 2

Why this applies to methylphenidate transdermal system

methylphenidate transdermal system falls under SEROTONERGIC DRUGS — the group Ergot interacts with.

Certain ergot alkaloids, such as dihydroergotamine, act as serotonin agonists. Theoretically, combining serotonergic drugs with ergot might increase the risk of serotonergic side effects including serotonin syndrome and cerebral vasoconstrictive disorders. Monitor patients for signs of serotonin syndrome and other serotonergic side effects if using ergot with serotonergic drugs.
Serotonergic drugs include the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft); tricyclic and atypical antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), and imipramine (Tofranil); triptans such as sumatriptan (Imitrex), zolmitriptan (Zomig), and rizatriptan (Maxalt); opioids such as methadone (Dolophine) and tramadol (Ultram); and many other medications.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist: your Daytrana patch (methylphenidate) nudges up certain brain chemicals, including serotonin, to help with focus and attention. Ergot alkaloids can also act on serotonin pathways. Put the two together and, in theory, you could stack too much serotonin activity. That's what we call serotonin syndrome, and signs include agitation, a racing heart, sweating, shivering, muscle twitching, or feeling unusually warm and restless.

Honestly, this is a weak, mostly theoretical concern based only on scattered anecdotal reports, not solid studies. On top of that, raw ergot is genuinely toxic and shouldn't be used as a home supplement at all. Please don't change your patch on your own. Just loop in your pharmacist or doctor before mixing anything ergot-related with it.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Singhal AB, Caviness VS, Begleiter AF, et al. Cerebral vasoconstriction and stroke after use of serotonergic drugs. Neurology 2002;58:130-3. PubMed
  2. Eadie MJ. Convulsive ergotism: epidemics of the serotonin syndrome? Lancet Neurol 2003;2:429-34. PubMed
Moderate

STIMULANT DRUGS

2 of 2

methylphenidate transdermal system also falls under STIMULANT DRUGS.

Co-administration of stimulant drugs with ergot may increase the risk of vasoconstriction.
Some stimulant drugs include albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin), diethylpropion (Tenuate), dopamine, epinephrine, phentermine (Ionamin), pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), and many others.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version. Ergot itself is a powerful blood-vessel tightener, and the methylphenidate in the Daytrana patch is a stimulant that can also raise blood pressure and narrow blood vessels a bit. Put the two together and those effects can stack up. The worry is squeezing blood vessels too much, which could show up as cold hands and feet, tingling, headache, a faster or pounding heartbeat, or higher blood pressure.

I'll be honest with you: this is based on weak, mostly anecdotal evidence, so it's more of a caution than a proven danger. That said, raw ergot is toxic and shouldn't be used as a supplement at all. Please loop in your pharmacist or doctor before combining anything like this rather than changing your patch on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Eadie MJ. Convulsive ergotism: epidemics of the serotonin syndrome? Lancet Neurol 2003;2:429-34. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Ergot Also Interacts With Other Medications

Ergot has 461 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the methylphenidate transdermal system one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 461 No known interaction 2,369 (incl. methylphenidate transdermal system)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Ergot

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Ergot. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With methylphenidate transdermal system

This page covers Ergot only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the methylphenidate transdermal system page lists 68 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Ephedra (major), Lithium (major), Peyote (major), Rauvolfia Vomitoria (major) and Sida Cordifolia (major).

By severity: 5 major · 57 moderate · 6 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the methylphenidate transdermal system page

“Daytrana, the methylphenidate skin patch for ADHD, is itself a stimulant, and that shapes nearly this whole list, which I read as one that calls for real care. Of the 68 supplement ingredients on file, 44 are stimulants too, so pairing them can push heart rate and blood pressure higher than either alone.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the methylphenidate transdermal system interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Ergot and methylphenidate transdermal system Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Ergot
Top half

#701 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication methylphenidate transdermal system
Steady interest

#1,501 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Ergot

What is Ergot?

Ergot
  • Heavy menstrual or uterine bleeding
  • Bleeding after childbirth
  • Migraine headaches
  • Stimulating uterine contractions

Ergot is a toxic fungus that grows on rye and contains powerful chemicals (ergot alkaloids) that strongly narrow blood vessels and squeeze the uterus. Because raw ergot is poisonous and the dose is impossible to control safely, it should never be used as a home remedy or supplement. Some purified ergot chemicals are used as prescription drugs under strict medical supervision, but the crude herb is not safe to take.

Read the full Ergot monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Methylphenidate Transdermal Patch

What Is Methylphenidate Transdermal Patch Used For?

Brand name: Daytrana

Methylphenidate Transdermal System — available as Daytrana and Methylphenidate Transdermal System — is approved to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in pediatric patients ages 6 to 17 years.

It is not recommended for children under 6, because younger patients had higher drug exposure in the body and a higher rate of side effects such as weight loss compared to older children at the same dose.

See full Methylphenidate Transdermal Patch drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Ergot

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Ergot — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
461Moderate
0Minor
2,368No known interaction
461 Moderate 2,368 No interaction
Moderate

461 interactions

Showing 60 of 461 moderate interactions — see all 461 on the Ergot page.

No interaction 2,368 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Ergot against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,368 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Ergot list.

See the full Ergot interactions page
See every supplement checked against methylphenidate transdermal system, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Ergot monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place methylphenidate transdermal system supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against methylphenidate transdermal system, ranked by severity Methylphenidate Transdermal Patch drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Ergot and methylphenidate transdermal system Together: Common Questions

Can you take Ergot with methylphenidate transdermal system?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Ergot and methylphenidate transdermal system?
methylphenidate transdermal system belongs to more than one drug category, and Ergot interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Ergot and methylphenidate transdermal system interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.