Hi, I'm new to forum.  My 6 yr. old son started Daytrana last week after being on Focalin for 4 mos.  The onset of Focalin was too strong (we were giving 5mg in two doses over 30 mins.) and results weren't great; So far the Daytrana doesn't come on too strong (10mg);  his appetite is better than with the Focalin.  I can't say his attention is much better, we may have to increase to 15 mg.  But, at least he has not gotten into trouble at summer camp this past week. He was getting into trouble before with hitting.  His skin is very red after taking the patch off - reddness last about two hours.  We have not experienced any crash in the evening, but we also didn't with the Focalin.  The true test will come when school starts back.

I don't know yet about the insurance;  we got the card to pay for the first 40 patches.  The dr. wasn't very specific about having to take it off at exactly nine hours.  He mentioned that there were unconfirmed reports of it being left on longer and it working longer.    Hope this helps some.

hi

my son switched to Daytrona 10 Mg from Concetta 18mg (because he was having a hard time swallowing and the dosage didn't seem to work as well as it did in the beginning so Dr thought this might be right for him)

the back of the patch was a pain and my son had other side effects blurred vision, dizzy, lost weighed dramatically (and hes skinny already) and only wanted to eat once a day. i had to constantly encourage him to eat. constipation ,emotional would cry very easily and he is not like that normally,stomach ache ,nauseated i was not liking it + it takes 2 hours to kick in i was having to wake up at 5:30am to make sure it would be working by the time he went to school.

so i keep telling my self "trial and error" ,"trial and error" so because that daytrana was not working for us and was having dramatically worse side effects than positive we switched back to concerta and we worked on the swallowing as obtaining the daytrana took over 2 weeks to get he mastered swallowing. so now(yesterday) he switched back to the concerta er and upped to 27 mg . i hope this all pans out and this will be right for him

 good luck to all !!!! as this was not right for us

My son has been on the Daytrana patch for about 1 1/2 weeks.  We started with 15mg for about a week and it wasn't enough.  Then we tried the 20mg, which was better but he was still moody and aggressive.  We are now upping it to the 25mg patch.  Unfortunately, there are no pharmacies in my area that carry the patch yet, so it always has to be ordered.  They're ordering it today so we'll get it Friday.  He is thrilled with the patch because he really doesn't like taking pills, and he already has to take lithium at night in pill form.

I noticed that it really does take a long time to kick in.  The backing of the patch is a pain in the neck to get off!  I try to put the patch on about 1/2 hour before he gets up for camp, so I'm usually wrestling with the patch while he's squirming around trying to sleep.

We also got one of the cards for 40 free patches.  After that, my insurance (BC/BS of Mass.) is going to cover it but at the highest co-pay - $45 I think.  If it works it will be worth it!

I sent feedback to Shire about the backing and they actually sent me an email back...see below...there is hope to get it fixed.

Shire thanks you for your Daytrana product feedback.  We have received similar feedback from other caregivers and are currently investigating potential improvements to make it easier for caregivers to peel off the patch liner.  Please feel free to contact the Shire Customer line at 1-800-828-2088 if you require further assistance.

hi I am new to this forum, but we have been using the daytrana patch for 1 1/2 weeks.  My daughter was taking focalin xr 20mg, risperdal .25 in the morning and focalin 10 3xday to semi control her adhd.  The doctor replaced the focalin 10 3xday with the Daytrana 15mg patch.  I am happy to report that the patch is very easy to use, releases a steady dose and doesn't seem to have any side effects.  However, I think my daughter needs more milligrams.  It doesn't seem quite as effective as the focalin 10 3xday.  Her Dr. said we were using the 15mg as a starting point and that she may need an increase.  We are starting a stronger one tomorrow.  I will let you know how that works.  Overall, I am pleased with the patch.  It works a lot longer than any oral meds we have taken (and I think we've tried them all). 

Hope it works well for you

to lymom3:

OMG that backing is so hard to take off!!!!  I think that is one of those kinks that will have to be worked out.... hopefully soon.

Some days the patch peels easy; other days the adhesive sticks to it, but gently wiggling it back and forth bent in half at the middle corner seems to help not pull off the adhesive - on day 12 now I have only had to throw away one b/c I messed it up pulling to hard.  So far, results are going good.  Don't know yet if insurance will cover.  I e-mailed BCLA -haven't heard back yet.

I am happy to report that my twins (11 years) who have a most severe case of ADHD are doing quite well on the daytrana patch.  Of course the patch is in addition to focalin and straterra, but it is giving us some control in the late afternoons which we didn't have before.  I have been able to take them places in the evenings and NOT WORRY about them acting up.  This is a huge relief for me.  Now we seem to have one problem solved, only 999 more to go. LOL

I think once the manufacturer gets the kinks worked out, this is going to be a great thing for ADHD sufferers.

My son was just prescribed this to try, but I am having trouble finding a local pharmacy who has it in stock yet.  I did get the pre-paid card to try 40 doses. We will start with the highest dose as my son is 13 1/2 and he metabolizes quickly.  He is on 162 mg Concerta.

Re cost.....we are with BCBS of Oklahoma. I called our mail order pharmacy today (Caremark) to see if it would be covered and it will be. It will be $35 for a 90 day supply of patches.  If you have BCBS of another state, you might want to see if you have mail order coverage.   Okiemom

Hi all.  My 10year old has been on it for 3 weeks or so.  He is on 30 mg.  I am not happy with it at all.  It does seem to have a very slow initial absorbtion.  I read someone's post about 2 hours, for us it started out like that.  However, today it seemed like 4-5 hours before it was in full effect.  I don't think it work during school. 

I was also surprised at how drastically his skin reacts to the adhesive. 

Our pharmacist warned us against trying it due to one major side effect.  Apparently if your child becomes allergic to the medicine from the patch, you can't go back to the oral.  We tried it anyway, but will soon be on something else.

My son just started the patch today and we are having a hard time getting it to stick to him. I pressed it several times but it still curls on the ends. Anyone have a suggestion short of duck taping it to him?

lymom, regarding the backing: try bending the creased part back and forth a few times and then "roll" the edges off instead of trying to get a corner started with a fingernail or something, that seems to work much better for me. 

Its interesting to hear about the effects of it being left on for over the 9 hours, may be a new benefit that it can offer???

Hi Everyone,

Im new to this site. My 7yo has been on the patch for 5 days now. I am hating trying to get the tabs off the medication though. I try something new everyday and hope it works..lol They need to make it easier. My son was on 72mg of Concerta and it stopped working. Im hoping this patch helps. He has been on meds since he was 3 1/2. Just want to make sure he can sit and concentrate when school starts.

we are on the liquid form of that, but i am afraid of the patch...we have been told to take drug holidays for cody because he is so small...but i would love to know more info about the patch, specially for the kids that cant swallow the pills.

Steph

New here,

my 9yo dd was involved in the clinical trials for Daytrana, and we love it. It lasts 12 hours, you remove the patch after 9 and it lasts another 3.It cannot be cut in half however, and does need to be flushed when removed. I REALLY like that it comes in  4 different doses, 10, 15, 20, and 30 mgs. it makes it easy to get the right one.

i am curious to hear others experiences with it, as dd did tend to tic a bit on it.The reboundwas alot better than any other stim we have tried.

I am also going to ask her dr about the debit card, my insurance  does not cover it yet, and it gets expensive.

New here and to ADHD

My son is 6 years old and has been on MetadateCD for three weeks.  He is on the 30mg capsules and hates taking it, even with yogurt.  I have not heard about a patch.  Where can I find out more information about it?  The Metadate does not seem to be working very well and he is not eating a thing.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I am new to this or any adhd forums, I have an 11 year old son presently on the Daytrana patch 20mg. It has been a wonderful thing for us. He has been on it for appx 1 month. My MD who I dont particulartly like personal but believe he has great insight to what he is doing (pediatric neuroligist) has been a wonderful doctor I wish everyone had one like him. My son has been on medication since kindergarden we have run the gamit of all of them. They dont last lone enough cant get through homework ect. Yes the patch is hard to get the backing off . It gets easier as you get used to it. Through experience it takes appx 11/2 to 2 hrs to kick in. When I get up befor I wake him I tell him I am putting on his patch and place it on him about 5:45 am that way it is kicking in about the time he gets to school at 7:45. My physician has not advocated leaving it on for more than 9 hrs. He just kind of shruged and said studies show it last up to 12 hrs and thats about how long I leave it on. Till about 6:00 at night get through homework ect. We have not experienced any sleeping problems, and are getting through homework with out fights and battles. The patch does leave a mark for appx 3 days. This has beem my sons choice of medication. He has issues with tags in clothing, scocks ect. We initially tried the patch and he had fits (it itched, hurt when it came off, left a red mark) He went back to his old medication after a week Adderall XR 20 mg and Adderall 5mg after school in appx one week he asked me to go back on the patch. He felt he was doing much better on it, and was willing to deal with it being uncomfortable and he has.

Gilda,

I have 12 year old twins who have been on the patch for about 3 months and we love it.  Although I still find that there is a decrease in appetite.   I can't get them to eat anything while they are on meds.  But they make up for it in the evenings.  The dr. says not to worry as long as their growth and weight gain is appropriate for the age.  Definitely ask your doctor for more info and if your child could benefit.  We have seen tremendous improvement with the patch.  

Jfla2,

my 12 yr. son has developed the red patches you described.  They take a long time to go away and his hips look like a patchwork quilt. LOL  I discussed this with his doctor and that is a problem with the patch.  She suggested we put benadryl cream at night on the red spots to help them go away quicker.  My son also complains of burning and itching for about 1 hour after he puts the patch on.  But the benefits of the patch far outweigh the negatives for us and we continue to use it. Now we are just trying to find out ways to stop the red spots.

Has anyone here been told that the patches are waterproof?  They come off EVERY TIME my kids go swimming.  They will stay on in the shower though. 

My ds has been on the patch for over a week.  We are starting 20 mg on Monday since we aren't seeing much of a change.  He is more attentive after school than he is during.  Nice for me-bad for teacher!  I also have had problems with the backing.  Called Shire and gave them the lot number and they are sending me a trial card for 40 patches!!  Nice, my copay is $50.  They also said to bend the patch and put it on a table, put your finger in the middle and pull from the middle.  Works sometimes.

Hey Candyhound,

Auntie was just posting to "bump" this thread back to the top so it does not get buried.

HTH (hope that helps)

I guess we are lucky. My son takes his concerta in the a.m. then puts on the patch about 2pm so that he is covered until nearly bed time.  Today was really his first day of using it all day.   Today we used band aids on top of the patch to keep it next to his skin. Its 11 pm and he just took it off. He seemed ok this evening ...no backtalk no matter how many things I asked him to do ( ie clean up after himself). He ate dinner at 8pm and made popcorn about 10. It doesnt seem to effect his appetite but we will see.

I should also add that he had an introductory lesson in EEG neurofeedback today...what an interesting system. I could actually see his brain waves on the computer screen.
At the age of 16 I am continuing to try to find something that will help him gain better control of himself and help improve his performance in all areas of his life.

I have asked my son's dr. about the patch and she said that she won't prescribe it because she hasn't had enough research done on it yet.  She said she has alot of questions about the patch and she is concerned about it being pulled off by another student at school that may see it or even the child themselves who is using the patch.  I guess if you have a child who down right refuses to take any meds. then that would be a great concern.  We are now on our fourth try of meds.  We just need something now that would work well in the p.m.  I've heard good things about the patch outside of the dr. office though.  Guess we won't be trying it anytime soon though unless the dr. changes her mind.  Thanks for listening!

Hello

I'm new here and my 8 yr.old son just started the patch and so far so good, he is on 10 mg. and had a "wonderful" day in 2 nd grade. It released 1.5 mg per hour and my son did excellant and I put it on him at 7:00 am and took it off at 4:00 pm and by 6:00 pm the meds were gone and he even was able to eat lunch and afternoon snack, and supper, he did get alittle agravaited at first but we worked thru that. I pray for this to work!!!  The pill was a much more harder crash for him and he told me that he didn't feel angry or weird at all yesterday. Today I'll be able to see how he does all day on it. On another board there is another child on it and she as well has good reports using the patch so there might be the rainbow at the end after all.....We'll see.

Thanks!

Diane / From Texas

There have been a couple of recent threads on tics with stimulants:

http://www.adhdnews.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21245& PN=2

http://www.adhdnews.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21276& PN=1

hope that helps

We are considering trying the patch for my 11 yo ds with ADHD.  He currently does ok with 45 mg Concerta but he needs a booster for evening sports or other late activities.  He is going through the stage of not wanting to take a booster at all and he really benefits from it.  We are hearing and reading of other good effects from teh patch but we would mainly be changing to get longer coverage at school ( and home).  Our concern is that he may need 2 patches becasue he is already on such a high does of Concerta.  Has anyone gone to patches from 45 mg or higher of Concerta?  If so, what mg patch ended up working for your child?  I'm not sure we'd want to have to use two patches and I know the insurance doesn't cover the patch as well as pills.  Any thoughts?

Anyone else have trouble applying the patch?  

Our 9-year-old son just started on Daytrana and my wife and I have had to throw away three or four patches...we can't get 'em apart, the sticky stuff with the medicine in it sticks to the throwaway backing

Thanks,

Tazio

Anyone else have trouble applying the patch?  

Our 9-year-old son just started on Daytrana and my wife and I have had to throw away three or four patches...we can't get 'em apart, the sticky stuff with the medicine in it sticks to the throwaway backing

Thanks,

Tazio

[/QUOTE]

I have had this problem many many times. Lately however I have been getting good packs where it comes right off with no hesitation. I used to get so upset when the medication would stick and end up ruining the patch. I think Daytrana has been working on fixing the problem. May be why I havent had any problems lately..but almost time for a new pack..never know what each packs brings. Its not good because those patches cost money and are being wasted. What I can tell you is what I have done when I had the "bad" packs. I would hold each end of the patch and kinda roll it like if you had a slinky in your hand and went back and forth..lol Best way I can describe it. I would do it a little forecefully for a while till I saw it start to peel off by itself. It didnt always work and took some time and patience, but eventually I got it off some of the time. Wish I had more advice, but I have gone through it myself.

My son is 11 and took Methylin from kindergarten through fifth grade. We switched to Daytrana this summer, in anticipation of moving to middle school (less disruption to his day, better delivery of meds). I waited a year before I made the switch, thinking the kinks would get worked out.

The drug is not on my insurance company's formulary list, so I have to pay quite a bit more for it.

We started with 10MG patches (he had been taking 20MG ER in the morning and 10MG at noon). The patches were terrible; the backing would not come off. Because of those issues, the patches wouldn't stay on. I finally discovered that BandAid Water Block Plus bandaids would keep the patches on.

However, we discovered that 10 MG wasn't enough medication. I experimented with two 10MG patches, and that seemed to work. We've switched to 20MG patches, and those work beautifully. Backing comes right off. They stay on, unless he is swimming for hours and hours.

Shire understands this is an issue, and will give you the standard line of they are working on it. It's my understanding that if you contact them, there is some kind of a debit card they will send you that you can use to pay for the patches for the first month or so.

I found this link helpful when I was researching ways to make the patch stick. The thread got so large that you will have to click on the link at the bottom to follow the conversation forward.

http://counsellingresource.com/features/2007/03/22/adhd-patc h-problems/

Just FYI ... got our second box of 20 MG patches from a different pharmacy. I didn't save the first box to compare lot numbers, but I suspect they are a different lot. These aren't staying on like the first lot. We're back to putting BandAid Water Block Plus band aids over the top to keep them on. I'm going to call the second pharmacy to see if they can get a different lot.

I have recently started my 7 year old AHDH son on a 15 mg patch.   Our previous experience was with Ritalin 10 mg tablet in the a.m. which stopped working about lunch time. We would eat lunch and then follow with 10 mg RitalinLA in the afternoon.  I split the meds because we were homeschooling and he could eat lunch. The good thing about the Ritalin is that it works within about 15 minutes.  The part that I didn't like was the crash when it wore off long acting or not. We did not have any problems with sleeping. 

I saw our peditrician and asked about the patch.  We decided to give it a try so that he could avoid going to the school nurse when he entered 2nd grade in the public school system.   We started with a 3 day trial and a follow up with the doctor.  The first thing I noticed was that it took at least 2-3 hours for the patch to become effective.  That would not work with school.  Together, the physician and I decided that we would add a 5 or 10 mg tablet and patch at the same time.

What is working for us is right before breakfast taking a 5 mg crushed tablet (I put it in soda) and putting on the patch.  If we eat breakfast right away, the medication has not yet worked.  The 5 mg kicks in and gets him started in class.  The patch kicks in and takes him through the rest of the day. There is not the big crash at the end of the evening.  He is wearing the patch for about 11 hours.  Sleep is not a problem for us.

Things that I have noticed about the patch...  It falls off in the pool.  We've tried waterproof bandages and they have been at least keeping it on though the edges may be loose.  He is developing a bit of a rash, perhaps because the patch is on for 11 hours.  I believe that the suggested time is 9 hours.  I'm trying some aloe to the irritated area to see if that helps.  I may have to move the patch to other areas rather than only the hips to see if that will alleviate the rash. It is expensive for us as insurance does not cover this at all. A one month supply runs about $135. Other than this, he is happy with the patch and so am I.

Zin

For those using Melotonin.  I read the following side affects.  Has anyone checked into this with their doctors?  I'm not so sure it is safe especially with the other drugs our kids are taking like Daytrana.

SIDE EFFECTS: Headache or altered sleep pattern may occur. If either of these effects persists or worsens, contact your doctor promptly. Unlikely but report promptly: mental or mood changes, itching, fast heartbeat, sensation of heaviness in the head. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

PRECAUTIONS: If you have any of the following health problems, consult your doctor before using melatonin: disorders of immune system, liver or kidney disease, stroke, depression, epilepsy, diabetes. Limit alcohol intake, as it may aggravate certain side effects of this product. Caution is advised when performing tasks requiring alertness (e.g., driving). Liquid preparations of this product may contain sugar and/or alcohol. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, alcohol dependence or liver disease. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the safe use of this product. Melatonin is not recommended for use in children (under 20 years old). Do not use this product if you plan to become pregnant. It may have a contraceptive (birth control) effect. Melatonin is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Consult your doctor before using this product. It is not known if this product is excreted into breast milk. Because of the potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this product is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

My son's doctor also prescribed the Meletonin after she spoke with 3 specialists about what would be best for him to help with sleep. I'm sure there can be complications with anything we put into our bodies, but I am trusting that these 4 doctors know what they are doing.

My DS has been taking Meletonin for 12 years and he has never had any problems with it. Personally, I would be more concerned with taking some stimulants than Meletonin.

This is for everyone with the red, itchy and burning spots with Daytrana.  My doctor prescribed nasonex to spray on the skin before applying the patch and it works great.  You spray the area well and let it dry COMPLETELY (I use a hair dryer on low setting) the apply the patch over it.  I have not had any problems with the patch coming off and it GREATLY reduces the reactions to the patch.  There are other allergy nasal sprays that work well also.  I find the nasonex works best for us.  

hope this helps

Hello All:

Long time between posts for me….  Anyway, for all of you needing help with the skin issues with the patch, please see my post on 8-25-07.  We have returned to the patch and DS has been on it for a month now.  Yes, he did have that severe itchiness (poor little guy), but we gave him a reward for keeping his patch on each day as the rubbing and scratching caused the patch to fold up or come off all the way.  The itchiness did go away and he is no longer feeling he needs to rub or scratch at his patch areas.

We have also tried 3 new things..... (1) He gets at least a 10 minute bath every night  (2) We purchased a new product called BOUDREAUX'S BABY BUTT.  We bought the soap and the Ointment.  He uses the soap at his nightly bath, then after towel drying, he gets a spay or two of Nasonex on each hip, and then after the Nasonex is dry, we rub in the ointment on each hip.  There is no greasy residue o the morning either, Yeah!.  Again, I hope this helps.  Oh, we purchased the soap and ointment at Meijer's.

BTW, 7 year old DS moved from a Parochial school to public school this year.  He is in Second grade.  He was just elected to represent his class in student council.  SO, the patch is definitely a God send to him and us!

 I called Shire about the box of bad patches I have. Mine are part of the recall. They were very helpfull. They are sending me an over night pouch to return 4 or 5 strips in with a trial card to take to the pharmacy with a new Rx. The weird thing is, they told me to have my Dr write an Rx for 10 strips then another for 30. I take the first & have it filled then take the 2nd along with the same card, both of which will be at no cherge obviously. The thing I don't get & looking back I should have asked, is the reason for the 2 Rx. I did ask if either had to be filled first & the guy said doesn't matter. They were helpfull but I called on a friday meaning I can't get the whole deal taken care of until next week. This means I have to attempt to use the ones I have until then.

I also talked to the pharmacy I use about the recall. They didn't have anything about it because it wasn't a manditory recall. Funny thing is my sister was put on the same med 4 days after me & she uses the same pharmacy. I told her I would print out the recall sheet to take with her to get it filled.

I think anyone who gets this Rx should make sure BEFORE you pick up the Rx that they are NOT the ones effected. The effected ones to not expire untill 2009 & with it not being manditory, I bet some have no clue about the whole thing. Makes me really wonder how many other things have a "voluntary" recall that get overlooked because they are not required to make the extra effort to let people know.

[/QUOTE]

The reason is because the card is good for 40 patches.

 I called Shire about the box of bad patches I have. Mine are part of the recall. They were very helpfull. They are sending me an over night pouch to return 4 or 5 strips in with a trial card to take to the pharmacy with a new Rx. The weird thing is, they told me to have my Dr write an Rx for 10 strips then another for 30. I take the first & have it filled then take the 2nd along with the same card, both of which will be at no cherge obviously. The thing I don't get & looking back I should have asked, is the reason for the 2 Rx. I did ask if either had to be filled first & the guy said doesn't matter. They were helpfull but I called on a friday meaning I can't get the whole deal taken care of until next week. This means I have to attempt to use the ones I have until then.

I also talked to the pharmacy I use about the recall. They didn't have anything about it because it wasn't a manditory recall. Funny thing is my sister was put on the same med 4 days after me & she uses the same pharmacy. I told her I would print out the recall sheet to take with her to get it filled.

I think anyone who gets this Rx should make sure BEFORE you pick up the Rx that they are NOT the ones effected. The effected ones to not expire untill 2009 & with it not being manditory, I bet some have no clue about the whole thing. Makes me really wonder how many other things have a "voluntary" recall that get overlooked because they are not required to make the extra effort to let people know.

The 5 mg didn't kick in fast enough to help my son before he got to school.  When we were finally on our way to school he appologized to me for his behavior so I guess by then it was kicking in.  I hate doing two forms of the meds because he really has no appetite all day but I really need that for him in the morning  Unfortunately it usually doesn't start working until we are on our way to school or till after we get there.  But the patch was taking 3 hours before we saw any affect.  Another thing that bothers me is that one the meds he has no interest now in sports.  He used to do every kind of sports.  Today I took him to the soccer try outs and he was just standing there.  Usually he's in the thick of the game getting the ball and he's just such a great player.  Today he was just stading tthere watching and afterwards he said he dididn't enjoy it and he doesn't want to join the team.  I'm thinking of not giving him meds before the game but then he will probalby be all oppositional and not want to go. 

I'm sick of all this bad patch stuff even the box we have not is difficult.  I've returned one is the past to the pharmacy and phoned Shire and got the card one time too.  By the time you get it all sorted out your kid has been without their meds for days so annoying.

Unfortunately the patch as been our only hope until recently because he has never been able to or willing to swallow pills.   The 5 mg ritalin in the morning is very small and we started with half and I gave him an m&m for a reward and then the other half and another m&m.  After a few days he stopped asking for the m&M's and just swallowed the pill.  Ths has been a major breakthrough for him.  My doctor is trying to work his way up to a bigger pill after we have done this for a while, hopefully within the next 30 days.  The patch has been O.K. except the delayed release and the problems with some bad boxes.  But since we have had no other choice as I told the doctor some help is better than none.  The patch also seems to keep him pretty balanced all day once it kicks in and until we take it off.  Today since it was the weekend I tried only putting the patch on him and skpped the morning ritalin and he had a better appetite today pretty good actually.  I may just go back to getting up at 6:00 a.m. and putting the patch on.  We've made a deal that tomorrow he will get up on time and behave or no t.v. again so we will see if he keeps his end of the agreement.  If he does he gets t.v. and a slurpy after school.

Unfortunately the patch as been our only hope until recently because he has never been able to or willing to swallow pills.   The 5 mg ritalin in the morning is very small and we started with half and I gave him an m&m for a reward and then the other half and another m&m. 

[/QUOTE]

My son started with the pill only program. He is not a pill taker either.  With the tablets, we crush them (there are pill crushers near the pharmacy or you can use two spoons) and then put the pulverized powder in a small cup and have him drink it with soda using a straw.  You could add it to applesauce or pudding.  If you are working with the capsules then the medicine cannot be crush, but the capsules can be opened and sprinkled. 

[QUOTE=Joejoesmom]Thank you to Timzmom for posting the article with the date of the patches.  Unfortunately the bad ones I have are out of the box and in a zip bag in my freezer so I think the expiration date is on the box but I'll check.  [/QUOTE]

Even if you don't have the original box, I would call Shire anyway and tell them. You can always tell them that you will return the unused patches for a refund and then they can actually see for themselves that they are no good. They shouldn't give you any hassle then. Good Luck.

Tracy

[QUOTE=Joejoesmom]Thank you to Timzmom for posting the article with the date of the patches.  Unfortunately the bad ones I have are out of the box and in a zip bag in my freezer so I think the expiration date is on the box but I'll check.  [/QUOTE]

You can also get the date and lot number on each individual wrapper. It is located at the bottom. Hard to see but its there. Hope that helps.

I thought it would be of help to share this information for those who have opted to receive replies for this thread and may not know yet about Shire's voluntary recall on the Daytrana patches due to the adhesive backing problems it has had. HTH

Tracy

Dear Daytrana(TM) Patients and Caregivers:

Shire wants to advise you of the company’s decision to implement
a voluntary market withdrawal of limited portions of the
Daytrana(TM) patches. Shire is taking this proactive step not due
to safety and efficacy issues, but due to feedback from patients
and caregivers who have experienced difficulty removing the
release liner from some Daytrana(TM) patches.

Shire expects the remaining supply of Daytrana(TM) will offer
patients and caregivers improved ease of use when peeling the
release liner off the patch.  All Daytrana(TM) patches, including
those that are part of the voluntary market withdrawal, can
continue to be used unless the release liner cannot be removed or
the patches are damaged while being opened.  The current supply
levels of Daytrana(TM) are sufficient, ensuring that those
patients who currently use Daytrana(TM) and those patients
looking for an alternative ADHD treatment option will be able
to have their prescriptions filled with Daytrana(TM) patches
with an improved ease of use. 

Here is important information you should know about this
voluntary market withdrawal:

--Are the affected lots safe and effective?

Shire is taking this proactive step not due to safety and
efficacy issues, but due to feedback from patients and caregivers
who have experienced difficulty removing the release liner from
some Daytrana(TM) patches.   All Daytrana(TM) patches, including
those affected by the voluntary market withdrawal, can be used
unless the release liner cannot be removed or the patches
are damaged. 

--How do I know if my current supply of Daytrana(TM) is affected
  by this voluntary market withdrawal?

Only those Daytrana(TM) packages that have an expiration date of
March 31, 2009 or earlier or lots 2563511, 2563611, or 2570411
are impacted by this voluntary market withdrawal. 
All Daytrana(TM) patches including those affected by the
voluntary market withdrawal can continue to be used unless the
patches are damaged when opening or the release liner
cannot be removed. 

--What should parents and caregivers of patients prescribed
  Daytrana(TM) do with their packages of Daytrana(TM) if they
  meet the criteria for the voluntary market withdrawal?

They have two options:

a. If the release liners can be easily removed and the patches
   are not damaged, use the patches as directed.

b. Or, if the patches cannot be used, call the
   Shire Customer Service/DaytranaCare line at
   1-800-828-2088, option 1. 

Please see Important Safety Information below
and accompanying Full Prescribing Information.

--Please describe what you mean by “damaged.”

If it appears to you that anything about a patch looks unusual,
please do not use.  Damaged patches should be discarded according
to the directions in the Daytrana(TM) package insert.

--What changes have been made to Daytrana(TM)?  

We have increased the release coating on the release liner.
No changes to the medication, itself, have been made.    

At Shire our patients always come first and Shire is dedicated to
providing you with the information you need to make informed
decisions related to your child’s care.  If you have further
questions after reviewing this information, please call us at
1-800-828-2088, option 1. 


Sincerely,

Joel Cohen, MD
Medical Director, Global Medical Affairs
Shire Pharmaceuticals

Hopefully this problem wasn't already addressed but I could't find a solution. I'm 31 year old female with ADHD. I have used countless combinations of meds that either last way to long causeing sleep issues or not lasting long enough & causing aggression when coming off the med. I started the patch yesturday which at first I was VERY excited. Problem is I had a HELL of a time getting it appart! When I did manage to get the tab pealed back half the med & sticky stuff staid on the removal tab.

Problem #1 not getting all the med from the patch onto my skin, #2 the dang thing doesn't stick to my skin like it should. I had to use a bandage to hold the thing down on one side. Not a nice "feature" for a medication tab.

I went over the seemingly simple instructions 3 times, thinking I'm a moron but still can't seem to make it work. I tried putting it in the frig for 10 minutes but no help. I waisted 2 patches in the past 2 days. I am on the 30 mg & I saw someone had a little trouble with the 15. Has anyone found a trick to this?  I don't want to waist another patch if I can get the thing to work, I'm sure everyone knows what 1 day without meds can be like.

PLEASE anyone have a solution???

FourPaula,

You should scroll up from this page and read the thread that I had posted on the voluntary recall that Shire has started due to the exact same problem that you are describing. Call the number provided and they will help you get the patches replaced with better ones for free.

Good luck

Tracy

[QUOTE]

Does anyone else take Clonidine along with Daytrana?

[QUOTE]

Jeaniejo,

Yes, I give my DS Clonidine with the Daytrana. He is on the .2mg Catepres Clonidine patch which we remove and replace only once a week. He also can take an extra .1mg tab of Clonidine for evenings for sleep or for bouts of severe agitation. However, that hasn't been needed as of late.

Tracy

I'm wondering what is conodine for in addition to daytrana?  Is it just a sleep aide?  Is Vayvanese a patch also?  I have never heard of that.  I have gone back to just trying the patch in the morning and not using the ritalin pill for my son.  It seems that if I give him a dollar towards his savings for a GI Joe doll he will get out of bed.  LOL  I know bribing may not work long term but for now it seems to be some incentive.  I wonder what will happen when he finally gets his GI Joe doll.  Last night though he set the table and did most of the clean up to get another 2 dollars.  Sometimes I think my husband and I are just lousy at knowing how to handle him. 

[QUOTE=Enbmom]HAs anyone used the patch for longer than 9 hours?  My son's school day with travel is over 9 hours.  How long does the medicine keep dispensing? He is on 10mg. patch. Why do they limit it to 9 hours?  Thanks. [/QUOTE]

 I place the patch on my son at 5:30 am (he gets on the bus at 6:30) and it stays on all day when he returns home at 5pm. He has even forgotten to take it off and I have had to remove it the next morning.

So therefor, the patch can stay on longer as long as it does not effect sleep to bad. If it does, Meletonin, Clonidine or Benadryl can be given to help with sleep. I prefer using the Meletonin simply because it is a natural and safer over-the-counter alternative and it's cheap.

Remember though, that the Daytrana may last either longer or shorter for each person. Although my son keeps the patch on for more than 12 hours, it's effectiveness only lasts for about 9 hours. HTH

Tracy

[QUOTE=Enbmom]HAs anyone used the patch for longer than 9 hours?  My son's school day with travel is over 9 hours.  How long does the medicine keep dispensing? He is on 10mg. patch. Why do they limit it to 9 hours?  Thanks. [/QUOTE]

It still works for 3 hours after removal, it is a 12 hour med( for some). We have used it for the entire 12 hours, and it does stop working after a while.

[QUOTE=Jeaniejo]
 Has anyone developed an allergy to the
stimulants?[/QUOTE]

I have never heard of it happening to anyone. Stimulants are stimulants, regardless of how they are administered, so I don't see how one can suddenly become allergic to them after they have been on them for months or years.

I personally think your doctor is being unreasonable not wanting to try the Daytrana. If it works well for your child, it can be a Godsend! For us, it has been the best stimulant that we have used so far. It helped us decrease the amount of stimulants that he was on. (He was taking over 120mg of Ritalin a day! And it still wasn't effective enough) This required him to take the meds 4 times a day, which is a real hassle in or out of school. Many times it was forgotten to be given or a double dose was given because the last time it was administered couldn't be remembered.

The best advantage to Daytrana is that it works all day without the ups and downs between doses like the Ritalin. This meant no waiting for meds to kick in and having to wait for the next dose to take effect and that awful 'down' time in between. Much more consistent!

If your child has this problem as well, I would find another doctor. But that is only my personal feelings on this. Good luck!

Tracy

[QUOTE=Enbmom]Thank you for your responses concerning the 9 hours.  Other than sleep interruption (which is not a problem since we put it on him around 7:00 am) are there any dangers to wearing the patch longer than 9 hours?   [/QUOTE]

Like I had said previously, my son wears his patch everyday (in a different place) for over 12 hours and sometimes even overnight.He has been using Daytrana for about 6 months now. We have never experienced any problems or dangers of doing this except for irritation on the site area. But Benadryl works well for this. Some kids do have more serious issues with irritations, so you won't really know until you try it on your own child. HTH

Tracy

We have never experienced any problems or dangers of doing this except for irritation on the site area. But Benadryl works well for this. Some kids do have more serious issues with irritations, so you won't really know until you try it on your own child. [/QUOTE]

A little help here folks...I love the patch and how it is working for us as a family  (5 mg tablet crushed in a drink in the morning plus the 15 mg patch) and getting my son through the school day.  We have been using just tablets on the weekends so that his hips can take a break from all the irritation.  We've been trying everything to heal the site areas but nothing seems to work overnight.  We switch from side to side.  We have tried Neosporin and baby rash ointments. Are there any other suggestions? I would hate to have to take him off of this method as he likes it and he is not required to go to the nurse while at school to get meds. 

From what I understand is that any swelling, bumps or blisters would be an allergic reaction and that is when the Daytrana should be stopped immediately.

But for those who are just seeing a little redness or itchiness, it can still be used.

I would suppose if you noticed your child getting a bad irritation to it, to stop using it right away and maybe that would prevent it from being a permanent problem with future stims?

[QUOTE=Joy2]LOL -- we are posting over each other.

My son's skin gets VERY red from the patch and it used to itch like crazy.  He doesn't complain about it any more.  Redness is definitely normal.

Like I said, though, if you are one of the unlucky ones who reacts to it, there goes your methylphenidate for life.
[/QUOTE]

That's a scary thought when deciding to use the patch. If we personally had not already  been through the entire gamut of stims and I had this information, I would probably opt to try something else instead.

Although it's rare, I would hate to be the child or the parent who would have this happen to them!

Ok, me again! LOL

I just went back and read some more research and if one DOES develop an allergy to the Daytrana, they may never be able to use methylphenidate again, HOWEVER, this DOSE NOT rule out the use of OTHER stims. Other stims should still work. I thought I would clear this up or someone please correct me if I am wrong?

You all must be sick of me by now! LOL

Sorry! But I just came across an interesting tidbit for those of you wanting to know more about how long to leave the Daytrana patches on. Here is some interesting info that I found:

For anyone who is using the patch or thinking of using the patch, this is excellent information to refer to. I just printed it out for myself for future reference. Please read it thoroughly. I  just learned alot of positive things about the patch that I did not know.

PART TWO( from my last post):

DOSING

The patch is 10, 15, 20, & 30mg in strength. This refers to the amount of medication released during a 9 hour wearing time. If left on longer than 9 hours additional medication is released.  After 4-5 weeks of regular wear, absorption improves and up to twice as much medication is released.

This may result in better efficacy or may cause side-effects. In the event of side-effects the dose just needs to be reduced. Total dose should not exceed the maximum published dosing limits of 2mg per kg of body weight.

This translates to:

100kg = 220 pounds

50kg = 110 pounds

1 kg = 2.2 pounds

The medication is equally distributed throughout the patch. Although it's not part of the formal FDA approval some patients report that cutting the patch in half and wearing on separate days works well.

Patients may wear 2 patches at one time when requiring a higher dose. It is recommended they both be put on the same side. The patch should be alternated between the left side and the right side. If any redness remains don’t put the patch on the red area but move it down or further back on the hip.

Each patch has 2 ¾ the total medication on the label.  This means that:

10mg has 27.5mg

15mg has 41.3mg

20mg has 55mg

30mg has 82.5mg

A unique feature of Daytrana is that after 4-5 weeks of regular use the absorption of medication improves and close to twice as much medication is released into the system.

If switching from Concerta 36mg, Daytrana 30mg was found to be equivalent.  After 4-5 weeks the dose of Daytrana may need to be reduced. 72mg of Concerta (2 x 36mg) may require 2 patches of 20-30mg initially but after 4-5 weeks one patch will be sufficient.

The patch sizes are:

1 ½ x 3 ½ inches(30mg)

1 ½ x 2 ½ inches(20mg)

1 3/8 x 1 7/8 inches(15mg)

1 3/8 x 1 3/8 inches(10mg)

SIDE-EFFECTS

Side-effects are the same as for all methylphenidate products except for possible skin irritation. In a large clinical trial only 7% discontinued due to side-effects and about ½ of those were due to skin irritation.

Other side-effects include:

• Decreased appetite
• Sleeplessness
• Sadness/crying
• Muscle twitches
• Weight loss
• Nausea

Most of the significant side-effects like muscle twitches, insomnia, irritability, and possibly even decreased appetite and stomach ache can be improved by reducing the dose. But if side-effects persist at the effective dose then Tenex (Guanfacine) ½ to 2mg once or twice daily can be very effective plus it also improves distractibility.

Most patients do not have any skin reaction or have mild redness that goes away quickly once the patch is removed. A small percent of people will have more marked redness that may persist for a few hours and a very few may develop a more significant localized skin allergic rash.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Remember that after 5 weeks the amount of medication released is almost double the dose on the label if worn for 9 hours and even higher if worn longer.

Because the patch provides up to 15 hours of effective symptom control and can be flexibly dosed to wear off within 3 hours when removed, it should be considered the first line form of methylphenidate in clinical practice. No other stimulant on the market provides more than 12 hours with single dosing and in ADHD it is hard to remember to take second and third doses of medication.

Note: If there are concerns about the possibility of growth delay – especially in children in the bottom quartile, Tenex can be given at bedtime. Clonidine is even stronger but is frequently too sedating. Tenex is also effective for the occasional person that has increased blood pressure from stimulants.

A unique feature of Daytrana is that after 4-5 weeks of regular use the absorption of medication improves and close to twice as much medication is released into the system.

TimzMom.

Can you tell me where your source of information comes from.  I'd like to read more on this. We've just recently noticed that in the last two days my son has been much more quiet when we pick him up from school.  We are just hitting that 5 week time period and I'm wondering if we might need to reduce his patch mg quantity.  I was not aware that this is a factor, but it may be for my son.  I may cut the patch in half this weekend and see how he does.

Thanks.

Zin.

A unique feature of Daytrana is that after 4-5 weeks of regular use the absorption of medication improves and close to twice as much medication is released into the system.

Can you tell me where your source of information comes from. 

[/QUOTE]

I got the information from this website:

http://www.askdrjones.com/2006/11/06/how-to-use-the-daytrana -patch/

Wow - I had never heard about the effective dose becoming stronger!  Do you need to use the patch every day for that to happen? I wonder if taking off on the weekends slows down this process or stops it from happening.  We are only 1 week in (with today off because I destroyed three patches trying to open them when I was half awake myself).

I keep reading about kids  taking tenex with stimulants.  Does it help with appetite?  My son is pretty tiny. He grew some on his summer off of stims. but is still way smaller than his brother.  His psychiatrist has never mentioned it as a possibility.  He does take zoloft which I've never been crazy about. Is this something to ask about instead?

Wow - I had never heard about the effective dose becoming stronger!  Do you need to use the patch every day for that to happen? I wonder if taking off on the weekends slows down this process or stops it from happening.  We are only 1 week in (with today off because I destroyed three patches trying to open them when I was half awake myself).

I keep reading about kids  taking tenex with stimulants.  Does it help with appetite?  My son is pretty tiny. He grew some on his summer off of stims. but is still way smaller than his brother.  His psychiatrist has never mentioned it as a possibility.  He does take zoloft which I've never been crazy about. Is this something to ask about instead?

[/QUOTE]

I think it needs to be given everyday. But i am just guessing. Tenex is supposed to help some with appetite. Is your son being given Zoloft for that or for mood? I'd rather have my son on either Clonidine or Tenex before I would even consider Zoloft!

We started with the zoloft because of OCD type behaviors (that started after the ritalin).  I want to take him off but I also know that the zoloft is supposed to help other meds work better and we've been messing around with the ritalin and straterra and seem to finally be at an ok place with the 2.  Straterra seems to have no side effects other than tiredness in the morning.  Too bad it doesn't work well enough to get through school.   Does tenex also help with the afternoon crabbies? 

We started with the zoloft because of OCD type behaviors (that started after the ritalin).  I want to take him off but I also know that the zoloft is supposed to help other meds work better and we've been messing around with the ritalin and straterra and seem to finally be at an ok place with the 2.  Straterra seems to have no side effects other than tiredness in the morning.  Too bad it doesn't work well enough to get through school.   Does tenex also help with the afternoon crabbies? 

[/QUOTE]

Yes, Tenex is given specifically for the afternoon crabbies..lol

But if he has OCD and the Zoloft is working for him, leave it alone. Ever hear the old adage, "don't fix what isn't broken"?

The tenex could be given along with it for afternoon or evenings.

Jeaniejo,

My son's redness is mild to moderate, but you must remember that even though each side is alternated, those areas are going to be still healing when you apply a patch there. Even if you don't see any sign of irratation, it still may be more prone to getting red and staying red longer. This doesn't mean however that the patch is going to cause worsening problems and should be stopped.

To avoid this, I try to apply the patch as far away from the first area of redness and give it at least 4 days to heal before using that area again. Since I have been doing this, the redness only seems to last overnight and by morning, sometimes it is only slighly pink.

He became obsessed with all things blue. He still has a color preference (now it's red) but he HAD to have the blue one always and threw fits if he didn't.  He also started walking one way to the kitchen and one way out.   It's been so long that I don't remember the other behaviors, but they were there. I think he has tendencies in that direction anyway, but the ritalin definitely exacerbated them.  I suppose I should have tried taking him off the zoloft this summer when he was also off the ritalin but things were going well and I didn't want to jinx anything. 

I can't imagine adding the tenex just because he would be on 4 meds (on school days at least)!  On another posting I got the advice to look into reducing or dropping the zoloft because of the effect that the straterra has on it.  He takes 25 mg. every other day.  

I like the psychiatrist that we see but I wonder why he's never mentioned tenex when I've been complaining about the eating thing (it was really bad when he took 30mg. of ritalin before we started straterra) and the afternoon rebound for years.  On the other hand, we went to a different psychiatrist for a (short) while and he was so medication and diagnoses happy that he freaked me out!  I've been trying to find a good psyhiatric nurse who specializes in ADHD meds but so far no luck. 

Tenex is not going to help with his OCD tendancies, I wouldnt think. Zoloft seems the right choice. I also would not mess with that if it's working. Zoloft will increase the blood levels of the methyphedinate, so if the dose is becoming stronger, maybe you can drop the Zoloft a bit and hope no anxiety increase. We used to cut the Zoloft in half and gave 12.5.

Or like you suggested maybe a lower dose of Daytrana (which IMO is the way to go).

[QUOTE=Joy2]A person can develop a very serious skin reaction to Daytrana that precludes him/her from ever taking a stimulant again.  From what I've heard, it's rare, but it can happen and some doctors are reluctant to prescribe it for that reason. 

There are a number of websites that state this, although I could not find one that describes it in detail. 

Joy2
[/QUOTE]

Ok, I was quickly able to google some information on this subject, and you are right. I have copied the information that I found below:

Skin reactions including skin irritation and allergic skin rash can happen with Daytrana. Skin redness or itching at the application site is common.

You can keep using Daytrana if this happens. Stop using Daytrana and see your doctor right away if swelling, bumps, or blisters happen at or
around the application site. You may have a skin allergy to Daytrana.

People that have skin allergies with Daytrana may develop an allergy to all medicines that contain methylphenidate, even those taken by mouth.

We have never experienced any problems or dangers of doing this except for irritation on the site area. But Benadryl works well for this. Some kids do have more serious issues with irritations, so you won't really know until you try it on your own child. [/QUOTE]

A little help here folks...I love the patch and how it is working for us as a family  (5 mg tablet crushed in a drink in the morning plus the 15 mg patch) and getting my son through the school day.  We have been using just tablets on the weekends so that his hips can take a break from all the irritation.  We've been trying everything to heal the site areas but nothing seems to work overnight.  We switch from side to side.  We have tried Neosporin and baby rash ointments. Are there any other suggestions? I would hate to have to take him off of this method as he likes it and he is not required to go to the nurse while at school to get meds. 

[/QUOTE]

Benadryl Cream works well for my son. You might want to try that. Also Vaseline Intensive Care  Cream might work too. I always apply the patch higher or lower, forward or back more on the hip, to avoid an area that might still be irritated. You might want to try that to give it more time to heal before using the red area again.

Tracy

re: I may consider the melotonin someone suggested if I can get him to swallow it. 

Melatonin can be bought in chewable tablets. The ones that I have are tiny cherry flavored ones from GNC, but I'm sure other manufacturers have it as well.

We are considering trying the patch for my 11 yo ds with ADHD.  He currently does ok with 45 mg Concerta but he needs a booster for evening sports or other late activities.  He is going through the stage of not wanting to take a booster at all and he really benefits from it.  We are hearing and reading of other good effects from teh patch but we would mainly be changing to get longer coverage at school ( and home).  Our concern is that he may need 2 patches becasue he is already on such a high does of Concerta.  Has anyone gone to patches from 45 mg or higher of Concerta?  If so, what mg patch ended up working for your child?  I'm not sure we'd want to have to use two patches and I know the insurance doesn't cover the patch as well as pills.  Any thoughts?

[/QUOTE]

Daytrana and Concerta are completely two different medications. And because of this, you cannot determine the needed dosing of Daytrana to your current dose of Concerta.

Also the way the medication is distributed through the skin, the use of the Daytrana (Ritalin) patch results in a smaller needed dose for optimum results compared to the Ritalin oral pill form.

For many, an average of 15-30 mg of Daytrana is given per day. I am not aware of  anyone be given a dose of anything over 30 mg a day.

If you decide to switch to Daytrana, your doctor will most likely prescribe a 10 mg patch to start and then it would be titrated (gradually increased) to the dose to 15, 20 and 30 if or when needed.  HTH

Tracy

TimzMom,

Thanks for your reply.  Our doctor already wrote me a prescription for 30 mg Daytrana patches to START out with.  He told me to keep it , think on it and if I want to try it, fill it.  From what you say, the 30 may be way too high.  I know the doctor is trying not to disturb school too much by writing the script way too low to start with but, I don't want 30 zombie patches, either.  I really think his other patients that use it were new patients that had to be started low and worked up slowly.  I'm wondering if he has had anyone else switch from longtime stims to the patch.  Hmmm.  Not sure what to do.  I hate arguing with him when I know he's trying to help but maybe we should try something lower.

Anyone else have any thoughts to add?

One more question:  Is there a way to minimize the cost of Daytrana while titrating?  It looks like our insurance co-pay is the same whether we get 1 patch or 30 and we could conceivabley need all 4 strengths in  a months time.  Just wondering how others have worked it or if you just pay and hope.

[QUOTE=dcarsen]I am so sick of the fight in the morning to chew the pills....i started crushing them but he still fights with me to take it, i was lookign into the patch to see if that would be easier but he cant wait 2 hours for the meds to kick in....he is the worst in the morning at school. hmmm what to do[/QUOTE]

See if his doc would be willing to prescribe Focalin that comes in capsules for early morning until the patch kicks in. The capsule can be broken open and sprinkled in apple sauce, yogurt or whatever he likes to eat. This way, he'll be getting the meds without all the fuss.

[QUOTE=Diane V]can you put the patch on him while he is sleeping so it's already working or close to working when he wakes up? We may give Daytrana a try if our plan A and plan B dont work. This is my plan if that is the route I take. I LOVE having 24 hour coverage and can't imagine going back to unmedicated mornings.[/QUOTE]

Daytrana doesn't cover for 24 hours...only about 12 maximum

One more question:  Is there a way to minimize the cost of Daytrana while titrating?  It looks like our insurance co-pay is the same whether we get 1 patch or 30 and we could conceivabley need all 4 strengths in  a months time.  Just wondering how others have worked it or if you just pay and hope.

[/QUOTE]

You could try cutting the patch in half. This would give you 15mg. I know they say you shouldn't, but my doc gave me permission to do it and it works fine.

This would allow you to know if 15mg is enough and you won't have to buy a different dose of patches.

Cut the patch diagonally so that you have two pieces of backing to peel away. Do not cut along the separated line that is already there or it will be difficult to grab hold of to remove backing. Good luck!

Thanks, yes I knew this. What we are using currently is 24 hours, but it is not really effective for focus in school, so we're looking at other options. I will try Strattera first. Then if that fails too we will try Daytrana and pray it has less side effects. Our mornings before we used 24 hour meds were rough, so my plan is to go and put the patch on her while sleeping (5:00am), this way by the time school starts it's working and then we can take it off after school.

Diane V.

Yes you can place the patch on the child while he is sleeping. Many do that a couple hours before normal waking hours so that the patch is working by the time they wake for the day.

Tracy

thanks, that was my thought.

I used to actually wake her up give her a pill to swallow then she'd go back to sleep so I figured it would work. Of course you lose the end of the day, but.................

Thanks, yes I knew this. What we are using currently is 24 hours, but it is not really effective for focus in school, so we're looking at other options. I will try Strattera first. Then if that fails too we will try Daytrana and pray it has less side effects. Our mornings before we used 24 hour meds were rough, so my plan is to go and put the patch on her while sleeping (5:00am), this way by the time school starts it's working and then we can take it off after school.

[/QUOTE]

What are you using that lsat 24 hours? I have never heard of such a thing.

Personally I think Strattera stinks and I have too many negative things I know about it and I don't recommend it, but good luck anyway. Maybe your child will have better results.

[QUOTE=edbson]It is not recommended to cut the patches, it affects the absorption of the meds. [/QUOTE]

Yeah, that is what they say, but I have done it and it doesn't seem to change anything at all. I even discussed this with my Doctor about the absorption thing and she said it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. Before I was able to get the 15 mg patches, I had to use one and half of the 10's and it worked the same as the 15's that I received later that month.

When one is trying to save money, sometimes you need to try any option available.

yes jeaniejo my daughter was picking. This is one of the reasons I stopped stimulants.  Our doctor is hoping if what we are trying does not work out, this wont happen with the Daytrana and the different method of absorption. She doesnt do nay of that on the TCA we are currently using. No tics, no picking, no excessive nervousness. The only reason we would think about switching is it's not perfect symtpom relief. I'm at a crossroads on balancing symtpoms and side effects (again).

Please keep me posted if you go this route.

My son has been on the patch for almost a month now, and we love it.  We have been alternating hips and he has had a little redness, but it is gone by morning.

My problem is on Thursday, he wanted me to look at his hip.  Where the patch is was very red (like almost a burn) but I just thought that maybe it was the way he was laying on it.  Later when we took the patch off, it was still that red.  Next morning we put it on the other hip, it did get red but nothing like the day before.  We took that patch off, and this morning the hip looks fine.  Today the patch was to go onto the red hip again ( there is still that red spot that looks like a burn, but it doesn't feel like its burned.), put it away from the red spots and a few hours later my son says his hip is stinging bad. (never has complained before)  When I looked at hip, where todays patch is, it looks burned again.  Took it off that hip and put a new one on the other hip.  Four hours later it is not red.

My question is why is the one hip all of sudden getting that burn look?  What do you guys think?

I found aloe vera works great on the areas that are red and burned.

At night when I take the patch off I wash the area gently and apply some aloe vera.

If you read threw some older posts people have great success with other medications to reduce the inflamation and burning.

DS 7, went off of Daytrana 15mg in June and began 27 mg Concerta...... 

Well, we just took him off the Concerta and returned to the Daytrana 15mg yesterday...we had taken him off due to the awful side effects with the skin and "prep" time.  However, DS has stated several times in the past 2 days that he is happier on the Daytrana as he can "get his thoughts through".  So, we will deal with the skin irritations.  I thought that I would share things I have learned with the patch:

1.)  No, it works best when adhered to the hip areas.  If placed on the "fatty" area, it does not absorb effectively and reduces the amount of drug absorption.    

2.)  We give him a 5 mg regular release Focalin when he wakes (6:30 to 6:45 am).  We then spray Nasonex onto the hip areas and let dry (we do both hips so that the day before patch area heals and so that it preps the other hip for the day's patch).  Our Pediatrician gives us some Nasonex samples as well to help as insurance will only cover one every 30 days and we use it in about 10 days to 2 weeks.

3.)  When we take the patch off, we use baby oil(gel type) and a disposable cotton make up remover.  We then wash with soap and water, and then spray on the Nasonex.  We had used Desonex (cream) before but we are trying a new lotion this time and not sure if it will help yet.  We left the Desonex on over night and put a very generous amount on.  We then wash his hips in the morning before he gets his patch on so that the area dries and is not greasy or have any lotion residue.

4.)  In the mornings, especially in the winter, we have him sit on our bed with a heating pad on low to medium and watch cartoons for about 10 minutes or so while his hip warms up.  We have found that the patch adheres much better and stays on better as well.

5.)  The patch falls off in water, not in the shower, but while swimming...I think that is because the water is colder and it affects the adhesive in some way.

6.)  The most important thing we have learned is to make sure to save the SILICA pack that comes in the tray with the patches.  We then store the patches with the silica packet in a FREEZER zip loc bag at room temperature.  This has GREATLY helped in getting the backing off of the patch.  I had noticed that each time we got a new tray, the backing was easier to remove.  I feel that it is because of the silica to absorb any moisture. 

I know that this was a long post but  I hope this will help.  DS is much happier on Daytrana and we hope that Shire will resolve these issues soon.  We want our boy to be as normal as possible and this med has helped us give him some help in his ADHD symptoms.  Good Luck everyone!

Hi everyone, I just want to say that this is one of the best forums I've read, so thanks for the info..

My 8 year old son is on (2) 20mg Ritalin LA   (1) 100mg Welbutrin SR  (1) Clonidine 0.1mg   (1) Trilpeptal 300mg in the am   ~and~

(2) 20 mg Ritalin LA (1) Trileptal 300mg, (1) short acting Methylphenidated 10mg at noon,  90mg total of Ritalin.   ~THEN~

another Clonidine at 3pm and at   6pm another Clinidine and Trileptal 300mg at 6      A LOT OF PILLS.   Oh, add a vitamin.

We are starting the 30mg patch tomorrow.  I am concerned that the 30mg will not be strong enough.   It will be replacing all the Ritalins.    Last year, he was taken 110mg of Ritalin total per day, so we have cut back some.      He takes 13 pills a day.  We are hoping to cut out 5 pill per day using the patch.  I will keep you posted on how he does.  

We are making these change during christmas break!  I really hope it works.

This is a lot of articles/information that says Daytrana is completely effective after about 2 weeks.

While we did see some immediate improvement ... you need to give the drug some time.  Also make sure you use the patch 7 days a week.

And yes it does take 2 hours to REALLY kick in.  This year we added some low dose focalin first thing in the morning until the patch was fully effective.

Lastly I suggest drinking a lot of water the first few days to avoid the headaches some folks experience.

For us Daytrana has been a miracle drug. 

We had similar problems with redness plus itching. I didn't find any information on why but  I looked at others' experiences to get some ideas on what to do. 

Our procedure is such that we alternate hips as well as areas on the hips.  Additionally, we grease up his hips at night after bathing with any kind of heavy diaper rash type lotion that does not contain alcohol (Aveno, Desitin, etc.).  We also grease up in the morning after applying the patch avoiding around the patch (so it does not slip off).  It took a few weeks before things cleared up, but they did.  We continue to use this method and he no longer complains of itching and the redness is less acute. It is usually gone in about a day.

An added note here...we apply the patch and we put a large waterproof bandaid over it to ensure that it does not come off.  Since it takes about 2-3 hours before the patch takes effect, we start the day off with 5 mg Ritalin, crushed and sprinkled in a capful of soda.  By about 5 p.m. the patch (15 mg) is begining to wear off.  If we go out for an event in the evening we supplement with 5 mg Ritalin.

My 8 year old son is on (2) 20mg Ritalin LA   (1) 100mg Welbutrin SR  (1) Clonidine 0.1mg   (1) Trilpeptal 300mg in the am   ~and~

(2) 20 mg Ritalin LA (1) Trileptal 300mg, (1) short acting Methylphenidated 10mg at noon,  90mg total of Ritalin.   ~THEN~

another Clonidine at 3pm and at   6pm another Clinidine and Trileptal 300mg at 6      A LOT OF PILLS.   Oh, add a vitamin.

[/QUOTE]

Okay, day two.   Wow,  the Daytrana seems to be working.  My son is a little more hyper then when he was on the pills but there is a big difference in MG's. The good news is, we just remind him that he needs to slow down.  He seems to be able to control himself better and slow himself down.  Yesterday he sat in a restraurant and read to us from his kids play menu...  he has never done that before.  (maybe a few words at a time) this time he read the whole thing.  The afternoons are much better.  He really seems to be in control.  I can't wait to see how he is doing by the end of the month.  I read a few pages back that the patch works better over time.

After a month on the patch.  Our insurance still will not pay for the patch.  But we are still fighting that.  Anyhow his doctor told us we should try adderall, so we did.  It was not good.  It didn't  compare to the Ritalin at all.   So we stopped that after 3 days.  So he's back on the 30mg patch.  He is doing great.  He feels better then he ever has. He came home from school on day and said,  "Daddy, thank you so much for my new life."  He was talking about the patch. His therapist is going to try to help us get the in insurance to approve it. She wrote us a letter; I would like to share a part of it to you.

     "Jamie’s parents tried him on the patch by paying out of pocket for it.  The results have been astonishing.  On the patch, Jamie can be maintained on a lower dose of medication (30 mg) with better results.  He has begun to thrive at school.  He now finishes assignments, is finally learning to read well, has good control over his behavior, and can focus and complete homework.  He has told me in sessions that he feels happier and more in control of himself.  These gains are also reflected in his current school plan.  When I first met Jamie, he required a 1:1 at school and a self-contained classroom.  He has now begun to mainstream into regular classes. 

      It is clear to those of us who work closely with Jamie that the Daytrona patch has allowed Jamie to function his best at the lowest dose of medication. This is a young boy who has struggled greatly with his early history and associated problems.  It is wonderful to see him finally able to exert sufficient self-control to function well at home, in school and in social settings.  I thus urge you to approve the Daytrona patch for him so that he can continue to thrive. "

Hope this helps anyone considering using the patch.  It is a winner !

My son has been on the patch for almost a month now, and we love it.  We have been alternating hips and he has had a little redness, but it is gone by morning.

My problem is on Thursday, he wanted me to look at his hip.  Where the patch is was very red (like almost a burn) but I just thought that maybe it was the way he was laying on it.  Later when we took the patch off, it was still that red.  Next morning we put it on the other hip, it did get red but nothing like the day before.  We took that patch off, and this morning the hip looks fine.  Today the patch was to go onto the red hip again ( there is still that red spot that looks like a burn, but it doesn't feel like its burned.), put it away from the red spots and a few hours later my son says his hip is stinging bad. (never has complained before)  When I looked at hip, where todays patch is, it looks burned again.  Took it off that hip and put a new one on the other hip.  Four hours later it is not red.

My question is why is the one hip all of sudden getting that burn look?  What do you guys think?

embick wrote:

My son just started on the Daytrana patch.....can anyone offer up some advise to getting that backing off....I've already had to throw away three this morning....sigh.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated...

To respond;

My son was used the patch all last year in school. Loved it for many reasons; one patch per day so no nurse visit was the highlight.  The downside was getting it peeled and adhered, redness at site, slow reaction time, and cost.

To answer your query; we would put the patch in the freezer momentarily, just enough to cool it down. My hands are warm and I believe that that made it hard to peel.  Once it was cold, I would quickly fold it at the angular slice and then peel at the sharp angular corners or sometimes start at the center and work my way out along the split line. If I started and the peel was coming up with patch material then I would put it in the freezer again, cool off the patch, and then take another try. 

We found that there was redness at the site. We switched from side to side and each night after bathing we would put Vasiline on his hips. We tried several ointments and lotions but found that basic Vasiline worked the best. In the morning after the patch was attached on one side, we would put Vasiline on the non-patched hip. In addition to this we would cover the patch with a very large band-aid as sometimes the patch would fall off or peel off.  If we swam, the band-aid was a must.

FYI, we found that the patch took about 2-3 hours to work. We augmented with a Ritalin 5 or 10 mg tablet that takes maybe 15 minutes to work.  As the tablet stopped functioning, the patch took over.  I believe we used a 15 mg patch.

The patch was not covered by insurance so I found it to be expensive (but worth it).

We have since stopped using Ritalin and moved onto Adderall. My son was getting too introverted with Ritalin type medications and perserverating. We have yet to try Adderall in a classroom setting. 

Hope this information is helpful.

Regards.

Zin

[QUOTE=Joejoesmom]Now that you mention it there was one other problem for my son with the
patch. It made him way too quiet he was like a zombie. At first it was very
good though.[/QUOTE]

This is why we have moved to Adderall.  It wasn't just the patch. It was Ritalin and anything in that immediate family of medication. We started with Straterra, which was non-reactive and I didn't like the lack of hitory on the medication. Then we tried Ritalin and noticed and immediate difference. We seemed to have to make adjustments and he needed more and more and twice a day. The patch was an excellent choice for awhile - no need to medicate at school and we could lower the dosages. We did need a Ritalin tablet to start the day before the patch started working. However, I found that my son was getting more and more introverted. I wouldn't describe him as a zombie, he just became shy and didn't particpate in school activities.  He would instead hyperfocus or perseverate on shiney objects (we jokingly refer to it as "shiney-ology"). We tried reducing the medication and that was not the solution; he was pinging off the walls. So we tried Adderall. It appears to be working well, but it has to be administered twice daily. It is such a double edge sword; we want the kids to be successful; to control themselves and have a good time, learn the correct things, and to curb the impulsiveness.  On the other hand, we don't want them to lose their personality or spirit. It's hard to find a medication that continually meets these goals. It seems as though what works for one person is not necessarily the "cookie cutter" answer for another.  The patch worked well last academic year. Right now, for us, for him, it's Adderall.