ADHD Patch Daytrana

[CorsoMom]

has anyone tried using the Daytrana patch? My son who has ADHD and is 10 yo, hates taking any type of meds so was thinking of using this. I let him start school without his meds but typically the teachers will call me to say he’s not focusing or catching on. I am pretty sure he will need to start again.

[LisethHIS]

Hi CorsoMom,

Thank you for contacting CHADD National Recourse Center on ADHD. If your child doesn't like to take medication Daytrana is an option, you have. We would recommend contacting your medical provider to see if that an option. There is a chewable medication as well called Quillichew. Here are some links to medication list and also articles on medication for children that could be helpful. chadd.org/adhd-news/adhd-ne... chadd.org/for-parents/manag... chadd.org/for-parents/medic...

If you have further questions, please let us know. We are here to help!

Liseth

Health Information Specialist

CHADD’s National Resource Center on ADHD chadd.org

[Aloysia]

Yes, my daughter started on the Daytrana patch when she turned 11. After many failed attempts at learning to swallow pills (and lots of attempts at opening capsules into various foods). It was such a relief! At 12 1/2, she has finally learned to swallow pills, but it is still a chore for her.

My 13 yr old son recently started on the Daytrana patch because we were having so many problems getting his pills due to the medication shortages. What he quickly discovered is that this delivery method works significantly better for him. The medication lasts longer in his system with the patch. With the pills, his body metabolized them too fast and it would wear off before school was over.

[Aloysia in reply to Aloysia]

I want to add that a potential downside to having a kid use a patch is that they can just take it off when they get to school. So if his problem is with using medication at all then you still might have a problem. If so, you can insist on seeing the patch when he gets home, but that is still not foolproof.

[Nammies5YrOld]

Good Morning; we've been using the daytrana patch for about 2 years now.. its been a complete GAME CHANGER.. my little can't/ won't take any pill; and or liquids due to taste..were a challenge.. Good Luck !!

[winde16]

I agree with the others here, it was a game changer for us too. Mornings used to be a battle trying to get my daughter to take her meds. She happily puts the patch on with no fuss. She was on Vyvanse before and now that she's on Daytrana a lot of the anger she was displaying before is gone, outside of taking the pill, so I'm thinking the switch in medication is doing well by her, not just the delivery method. The only downside has been insurance was quite difficult for Daytrana. We had to prove failure at a number of meds before they would approve it, and even when they approved the starting dose, they rejected the next higher dose when it became clear the dose was too low. Eventually they approved it but it took an extra month of the doctor wrangling with them. Worth it though!

[Cyclone10 in reply to winde16]

This is good to know! Do you notice much difference in the usual side effects like loss of appetite or sleep compared to the pills?

[winde16 in reply to Cyclone10]

It took her a couple of days to get used to it, in those days she was tired and complained of an upset stomach but not since then. I'd say she does still have some impact on her appetite, but it's a little better than with Vyvanse. She has been eating lunch at school, just not as much as she would eat if not medded. With Vyvanse she rarely ate lunch at all. Her sleep hasn't seemed to be affected, but she didn't have too much of an effect with the Vyvanse either, as far as sleep.

[hygienehollie]

my son tried the 40 mg patch for three days. It would fall off on its own. Very expensive!

[STARTwHello]

We tried it but stimulants didn’t end up being the right for our son. Some say it really has worked well for them. Towards the end we did have issues with it staying on. If he does a lot of sports etc. and gets sweaty, something to consider. Another girl we knew wore it on her upper arm to help with that vs low back. We tried that but he was so little it didn’t stay there either well. The other piece is taking it off each day. Baby oil helps but you will most likely see red marks. I honestly think the reason we had problems with it staying on at the end was the ointment/lotion we were putting on the red marks. It’s hard though because it can get red/irritated.

Will he do liquid med with some juice of choice? I know it’s a trial and error game. The immediate release pills were too much for our son (caused huge anxiety) and the extended release pills were pretty big. We could break them open onto something but then it was a texture issue.

Hope the patch can help you if stimulants are the right fit!

[Aloysia in reply to STARTwHello]

I'm a bit confused by your post since Daytrana is not a Steroid... Maybe auto-correct was doing something weird?

[STARTwHello in reply to Aloysia]

Sorry!!! It was supposed to say stimulant! 🤪

[Aloysia in reply to STARTwHello]

😉

[Aloysia]

In terms of body placement, both my kids put it on their low abdomen, near the hip, just below the underwear waistband. It's never fallen off either of them and they do lots of sports. I have them alternate sides every day (R, L, R, etc) to avoid skin rashes. The area looks a little red when they take the patch off, but looks fine the next morning. They both use the 30mg patch.

[Jalapenochips]

My daughter used the Daytrana patch in 7th grade and it worked pretty well all around. She was able to focus and eat. Unfortunately, it caused a rash so we stopped using it. We still haven't found the right medication and she's 16 now : ( Hope you find what works for him 🙏

[Momto2adhders]

I know this post is old now but my daughter found Daytrana to be the very best thing. She is 24 now and has been using for years. For school and anything that requires alot of focus she also took a low dose ritalin "booster" with it becaue the patch took a couple of hours to kick in for her. But it was the one thing that really worked so she has continued. Now the struggle is paying for it since many insurances do not have on the covered formulary.