Daytrana with Ritalin | ADHD Information
My doc. just prescribed the quick acting ritalin along with the 10 mg patch that my son has been on. I'm just wondering I see these threads above were posted back in May. How did it work out for all of you? ThanksI don't find the morning ritalin helps with getting the homework done anyhow. I think it wears off by noon and then it's just the 10 mg patch that he's on. I take the patch off as soon as he gets home now and it is more difficult to get the homework done but we are getting by. Today I did not give him the pill and he ate a ton for dinner tonight. I'm starting to weigh him now to keep track of whether or not he's losing. He's turning 8 on Oct. 1 and he weighs 56 lbs. He's short for his age but does look thin now but I wouldn't say skinny yet. It just breaks my heart to hear him say his tummy hurts and we are all eating and he wants nothing at lunch on weekends.
I forgot to mention my son started a class tonight that was making model airplanes or cars and such out of wood pieces with glue guns. The teacher had no big rules they could make what they wanted however they could dream it up. In other words no pattern or instructions to follow. My son was thrilled and so focussed while he was in that class. The class was only 45 minutes but then the teacher said since the second class was very small the kids could remain for the second class if they wanted to. My son was the last one to leave and he helped the teacher pack up and was jus so thrilled. When we were driving home he told me it was his best day in ages and he loves the class. Just a thought but perhaps ADHD kids do well with this type of project. He loves to sit and do puzzles with me for hours too. Others might want to try this sort of thing for their kids if they have not yet.
Thanks Joejoesmom-
We had a big problem with his appetite last school year when he was on the
20 mg patch. We ended up cutting back to the 15 mg over the summer and
continued into this school year. So far so good, and the appetite is SO
MUCH better. But, I am still reluctant to add the 5 mg Ritalin. He is doing so
well in every other way that I don't want to upset the balance that he has had
for several months-even if homework is a bit more of a struggle. I'll keep
you posted and would love to hear the same from you. Thanks for your
insight. I really find the ritalin does help to take over until the patch kicks in. But the big problem that we are having now with it is that my son has an even worse appetite the days I give him the ritalin tablet. I've been cutting it in half trying to see if that helps his tummy. This weekend he took the half both Sat. & Sun. because he was so wild we could not take it. Then he ended up only eating a granola bar for breakfast and refused all food and drink all day long. He ate no lunch and finally at dinner he ate a very small amount and then said his tummy hurt. Today I skipped it and the aide in his class who actually works with another boy did tell me that he ate becuase I asked her to do me a favor and watch him. Boy she really didn't want to help me out told me she only works for one other boy. After I said O.K. thanks I'll ask one of the cafeteria ladies to watch him she had a change of heart and told me she would watch. So I'm thinking it really does affect his appetite too much not sure I will continue with it. I find some mornings he's just so impossible to get ready for school that I end up giving it to him. I think though I should probably be consisitent because I think it makes a difference with him. We used to try to skip the Daytrana on weekends and he was just impossible my husband and I could not take it. His teacher did mention today that he was more difficult in the morning today and then he settled down after about 2 hours. I told her the problem with the pill and I said let me know if she can stand waiting until the patch kicks in because I'm getting very worried about him not eating. I think that can cause more problems to have no food in his system. I really am trying to push protein in the mornings too.Hi JoeJoesmom,
Because school let out for the summer, we did not follow through with
giving him the extra dose of 5 mg Ritalin. But, now that I have to get his
patch on ultra early-at 5am so it kicks in for school, we are considering
giving him a 5 mg Ritalin so we can apply the patch a bit later, or when he
comes home from school. What has your experience been in combining the
two meds? Thanks. I found this thread & it fit what we're dealing with, need some advice. Our son is on the 10mg patch and has horrible mornings, which has led us to try 5mg of Ritalin in the morning. Today was our fist morning & it says to take it 1/2 hour before meal. By the time I finally got him (he's 5) to take it, we only had time to wait about 15 min to eat breakfast. By the last bite, he spit it out saying he felt sick, never got sick & seemed fine after that, so we headed to school. He threw up as soon as we got to school, which was 1 hour after he ate. Could this be because we didn't wait the 1/2 hour to eat breakfast so the meds could absorb? Or is this possibly just a reaction to the med that he may get over? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!
[QUOTE=epokey]I found this thread & it fit what we're dealing with, need some advice. Our son is on the 10mg patch and has horrible mornings, which has led us to try 5mg of Ritalin in the morning. Today was our fist morning & it says to take it 1/2 hour before meal. By the time I finally got him (he's 5) to take it, we only had time to wait about 15 min to eat breakfast. By the last bite, he spit it out saying he felt sick, never got sick & seemed fine after that, so we headed to school. He threw up as soon as we got to school, which was 1 hour after he ate. Could this be because we didn't wait the 1/2 hour to eat breakfast so the meds could absorb? Or is this possibly just a reaction to the med that he may get over? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks! [/QUOTE]
My son does the same combo, except 20 mg Ritalin + 15 mg. patch. He has done very well with this. Sometimes he does get sick to his stomach from the oral Ritalin. I think he does better when he takes it with food. I never realized that you're supposed to take it 1/2 hour before eating. That's probably to get it into the bloodstream quickly, but if he throws it up, you're better off trying it with food.
we've used Ritalin in the mornings several times in the past to get us until our longer acting med kicked in, I didnt realize to give it before food either, I dont think we did that, I think we just gave it to her whenever she came out of her room, even if it was with breakfast. I'd give it with breakfast too if it's causing nausea.It said on the bottle 1/2 hour before meal, I think I'll try it w/breakfast tomorrow and see if it makes a difference. I know that I can't take pills on an empty stomach. I felt so bad for the poor little guy, it was his Christmas party at school and thank goodness felt well enough within an hour to go!
I've been lurking for months, finally got signed on to post, so hi everybody!
My almost 5 year old daughter is on the 10mg patch, with a prescribed ritalin (generic) 10mg booster in the morning, and 5mg as needed in the afternoon. Lately, her impulse control has deteriorated to the point where I've been giving her the patch and 10mg ritalin in the am, another 10mg ritalin at 12:15 before she goes to preschool, and then 5mg late afternoon. It hasn't impacted her sleep, she hasn't acted over-medicated and her impulse control and frustration tolerance have improved. Without the ritalin and patch only, it's MISERABLE to be around her (very, very argumentative). Given that she's taking 3 doses of ritalin plus the patch, the doctor is mailing an rx to up her patch to 15mg and see if we still need the ritalin boosters.
Sharon
DD 3/10/03 FASD and ADHD
DD 4/04 FASD and ADHHHHD (not medicated)
Does anyone use the Ritalin in the afternoon AFTER the Daytrana patch
starts to wear off? I would love to discuss your experience? Hi-My son has done very well w Daytrana 20mg since October. Recently, he
started to get paranoid of bugs etc and looked really jumpy in the afternoon.
So-we stopped and tried Focalin which has had little effect. (By the way- he
does not have those symptoms when he is on the 15 mg patch which isn't
really as strong as it needs to be for the classroom work)
My dr is suggesting that we use the lower dose of Daytrana (15) and add a
short acting Ritalin to help in the mornings until the patch can really kick in.
I was wondering if anyone else had a similar experience - also has the
Daytrana/Ritalin combo successfull for anyone else?I have seen others use a short actin ritalin before the daytrana or other long acting med has started to work. It is also used to ease rebound or add to the effective time when a long acting med does not last quite long enough.We have used a short acting along with a long acting med. It did help with rebound. Not Daytrana, but an oral med. Just watch that some of this is not anxiety increasing. Some kids will get increased anxiety with stimulant use. Especially fi they have anxiety issues anyway.