A rush of caffeine through the skin

4th February 2016

Enaie Azambuja

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A new bracelet called Joule contains FDA-approved patches that deliver caffeine through the skin, taking away the discomfort after the caffeine rush, while also placing the patch in an area without much fat resistance, allowing the substance to flow faster into the body. The body absorbs each patch (the equivalent of a cup of coffee) over the course of four hours — giving wearers long-lasting alertness without the jitteriness.

The unisex band features an adjustable strap, ensuring that the caffeine patch touches the wearer's skin. It's sweat-proof and hypo-allergenic.

Furthermore, the user attaches an adhesive patch made with guarana extract, which has twice the caffeine concentration as coffee beans. The supplement aims to suppress appetite and reduce mental and physical fatigue, though the US National Library of Medicine's website says there's insufficient evidence to rate its effectiveness.

Other ingredients in the patch include flaxseed oil, a unique seaweed commonly used as an herbal remedy, and several amino acids.

Joule begins administering the caffeine as soon as it comes in contact with the skin. The caffeine is released gradually, helping to reduce instability.

Joule launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo on February 3. When the bracelet starts to ship later this year, it will cost $29, including 30 patches. Additional 30-day supplies will cost $27.

The company is currently seeking FDA approval for Joule as a natural health product because its ingredients provide clinical-level potency. The patches, which are made by an undisclosed third-party, are already FDA-approved.

The company isn't the first to try to disrupt coffee consumption. A growing "smart drugs" movement aims to use chemical supplements to make people feel better, smarter, and more alert. Many of these smart drugs are pills that promise a "burst of intense mental focus" or "deep sleep optimisation."

Though most smart drugs, called nootropics, are generally regarded as safe by the FDA, they often contain a list of ingredients which are unintelligible to the folk.