Help with Daytrana | ADHD Information

My 8 yr old son has been on Daytrana for almost a year . In many many ways it has been a miracle ...a godsend ! But in some ways , esp lately ,he is worse He was doing pretty well on 15 mg , but then he started acting up in school so we upped it to 20 mg a couple of weeks ago . He immediately settled down and is an angel at school ....great behavior and grades ...... but a total nightmare in the evenings . He screams at us and gets so agitated . I also noticed that during the day he is paranoid since starting the 20 mg . He is afraid of wasps and bees and he will constantly look and look around at every bug flying like they are going to get him. It breaks my heart. I also noticed that he started picking his fingers which I think just started since the 20 mg increase . Last night he was up almost the whole night very wound up . In the mornings before it kicks in and in the evenings is the worse . He is worse at those times than before even starting meds ! How can that be ? why are they worse when the patch or med is not in their system ??

I dont want to take him off of daytrana because its the only thing thats worked for him during school .He cant take oral stimulants as he gets very emotional and agitated with any of the oral stuff ( we have tried ritalin and adderall ) and on Daytrana he had been much more "even". Although not perfect .......I wish sooooooooooooooooooo bad that he could not be on ANY medication !! It has been the best for him so far until recently . I just feel like he is getting worse behavior wise esp in the evenings . It has been CRAZY !!!

Should we go back down to 15 mg ??

Should I ask the Dr for Clonidine to help with his sleep ?

Is there something we can do to help with the evenings ????

HELP !!

I would speak to the Psych and go back down to the 15mg. But it may be time for a med change altogether. Dont compare the Concerta to Ritalin or Adderall. Just try to start fresh, keep a log and see how he does. I'm glad you changed meds, sounds like the right thing to do.

Dr called back and would like to try him on Concerta . Does anyone have a child on concerta ? what are your experiences with it ? He is starting him on 18 mg . I am worried that he will still have agitation and emotional upset bc when he took adderall and regular ritalin he was an emotional basketcase . I realize all meds and each child is different .

I am just so upset over all of this . I want to see my child happy and be "himself" again. I feel that he definitely NEEDS meds to control his ADHD however everything we have tried turns him into a different child in the am and pm :(

I would talk to the doc and see what the doc suggests. They generally have a usual course for how they handle things based on the experiences thier patients have had. Adding either clonidine or guanfacine may help with the evening issues and slow the anxiety during the day. You might also start working with your son on swallowing pills so that there will be more available options.Thanks. I do have a call in to the doctor to see what he thinks but will suggest we back down to 15 mg and add clonidine . I think this may work ??

Well...... I am throwing the bottle of Concerta down the toilet ! OMG Yesterday was HORRIBLE !!!

I am putting him back on the patch and will have to try something for the evening crabbiness . My Ped wont write for Clonidine so I may have to see a Psych for that . He suggested that I leave the patch on a little longer in the evenings and then try benadryl to help him sleep . If that doesnt work I want to try the clonidine . doesnt that help with side effects as well ??

Clonidine, in my opinion, keeps my son more on an even keel than his
stimulant. My pediatrician also does not want TL on it, but the psychiatrists
is the one prescribing and he insists on Clonidine. We give it AM and
BEDTIME and give a 1/2 pill at 4 p.m. WE could not get through an evening
without it.

I also gave my son Concerta ONE day. It was awful. My friend's son takes it
and it is the best medicine they have had him on. They LOVE it. Very
individual, isn't it?!

Keep us posted about the Daytrana. I was extremely interested in asking the
dr. to prescribe for my son until I read your post!!!!! Now I'm not so
sure........I would stick with the patch, or the Concerta for a bit longer. It would take a week or so to even out and for the body to get used to it. ( Concerta and Daytrana are the same med, one in a patch and one in a pill)So if Concerta caused problems with my son,,, tic and severe anxiety on day
one... would I want to refrain from trying the Daytrana patch??Roxanne-HI, this is my first experience with this website. I started my daughter this week on Daytrana and I was researching and found your response. Like you the 15mg is not working. She was on ritalin LA 30mg BID and she was SO moody so we are trying the patch. She has been on clonidine for about one year now and it works GREAT- it evens her out better then before and she seems under tighter control. She goes to sleep in about 1/2hr after taking it so it is perfect for bedtime dosing. I am sorry to hear your MD doesn't recommend it. She has also tried adderall-Bad for her-and many other medications. It is VERY frustrating trying to find the right combo. My son is on concerta 54mg daily with focalin 10mg in the am for an extra kick, he cannot sleep so the psychiatrist gave my 25mg of seroquel. This seems to help but not as good as the clonidine for sleep. Like you we all wish our kids did not have to be medicated. But like my pediatrician stated "if they had diabetes, you would give them insulin wouldn't you?" My response is of course, this is how I deal with it.

jeanijo absolutely does NOT mean you shouldnt try Daytrana. It is amazing the difference a change in delivery method can be.

I also knew DAY 1 also Concerta was not good for my daughter. We did stick it out for a bit, but ended up going off it, she was terrible on Concerta.

I agree .... you should try Daytrana ! Its actually been a miracle for us .....until recently :( I am getting ready to go back to the 15 mg patch . He was doing better on that and didnt have AS MANY of the severe mood swings and behavior issues we are having now , although he did still have some .

He is on 20 mg now ........and some days are really good .............some days are really bad . This morning I just KNEW it was going to be bad . He woke up " in a mood " ........... very hyper, defiant ect ......... well I just got a call from the school and he was walking around with a chair in the classroom and hit a few kids with it ........UGGGHH

Mornings and Evenings are Bad right now on the 20 mg . I think Clonidine may help from what I am reading . He just seems out of control on his behavior in the am and pm ............... I am so tempted to take him off of everything , but I know he needs it . Frustrated .