Daytrana Safety: 12 Month Data Is In
Daytrana, the skin patch for ADD/ADHD now has research demonstrating that it is safe over a 12 month period. The research was reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, in Boston in October 2007.
This is important research, to help to establish the safe longer term use of this medicine.
Daytrana is the first skin patch of the medicine methylphenidate. Methylphenidate is the same active ingredient as Ritalin, Concerta,
Metadate CD, Methylin and Biphentin. It can play a role in the treatment of ADHD, especially in children who have trouble swallowing tablets or pills.
Daytrana is one option used in the medication treatment of ADD/ADHD. Research has proven that the best treatment for ADD/ADHD is a comprehensive, multimodal approach.
To get free information about the medication treatment of ADHD, please visit: ADHD Medication Mastery to download a free report that I’ve written for you.
Dr. Kenny
Technorati Tags: ADD, ADHD, Daytrana, Medication, Ritalin
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Written by Dr. Kenny Handelman - The ADHD Doctor
To find get a FREE special report on ADD/ADHD Medication, visit: Medication Mastery
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February 21st, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I have a 10 year old son who I was told has ADHD, that was about 4 years ago. The school would not help unless we got him evaluated. We have recently moved and the new school says he shows more signs of autism. I was told 4 years ago that ADHD, ADD, autism they all fall into the same circle and the doctors just put it all into one lump and call it ADHD. I am lost with him because I don’t have the finances to find out exactly what is going on with him and am concerned about his education, he is in 4th grade but is basically on a 2nd-3rd grade level. I don’t want to keep using him as a guinea pig with all the medications that are coming out and am not sure how much if any my insurance carrier will pay for. He is going through a bunch of childhood changes that I have already been through with my oldest son but his seem to be more drastic, no violence just more dificult. I have read up on everything from ADHD to autism and I am lost with him. It seems like the most difficult thing in our lives right now dealing with him. Is there any way of dealing with these issues without having a nervous breakdown? We are at our wits ends with him and are lost now. We need help without medicating him.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Hi Donna,
I am not Dr. Kenny, I will try to partly answer on your questions. I am a father of 11 y.o. child with ADHD and PDD (it is from autism spectrum). You asked about ways without medication (and without costly evaluation?)… Actually, we paid for such evaluation for our son when he was 7. We were told about ADHD and communication disorder (without specifically tag it as PDD).
I am now use some less known no-drug treatment method for ADHD - crawling exercises. Visit my blog, watch videos:
CrawlingClub.org
The question: did your son crawled for full 6 months when he was an infant? If less than full 6 months (or improper crawling, like crawling while sitting), then he can benefit from these exercises. Our son shows improvement. We are in the middle of the course.
These exercises address ADHD, not autism etc. Our son studies in a special “Communication Class”, especially for PDD, part hours in this class and part hours in usual class. The therapists teach him when to talk, when to keep silent, how to politely ask permission to talk, wait for attention from another person, and only then to talk. He knows all the theory, but it doesn’t seem to work. So his PDD remains as is, despite on all these teachings. He talks too much and when he wants to talk, immediately. He learned one thing - the other person has to look at him, while he talks.
Our crawling exercises greatly improved his handwriting and drawing, and attention but no help with PDD and not intended to help with PDD.
I hope this helps.
Arieh
P.S. Dr Kenny, I am actually entered this article to ask you a question about Ritalin SR stomach pains, we don’t like to give meds to our son, but we did it in some periods some time ago and terminated, because of these pains. Our doctor (professor) told us that Concerta is the same chemical, and will lead to the same pains. We remained without any medication. I am happy, but teachers prefer some medications, so my son can study in more intensive usual class.
Is this patch maybe our solution, because it sits on a skin, correct? Another issue - it can take long years until it will be approved in Israel. We will complete our crawling course and will be no need for this.
Arieh
CrawlingClub.org
February 26th, 2008 at 2:19 am
Arieh,
Thanks for contributing to the blog.
For your question re: Ritalin SR vs. concerta vs. daytrana - although the methylphenidate is the same in all of these preparations - the rate of absorption could have a difference in the side effects - i.e. concerta may yield different side effects than ritalin SR (of course they could be better, or they could be worse!).
It may be worth trying a different class of medicine - i.e. dexedrine/adderall or strattera.
To learn more about medicines, you can download my free report on medication here: http://www.medicationmastery.com. After you get the report, you will learn about a course that I have on this topic.
All the best,
Dr. Kenny
February 26th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Dr. Kenny
When do you think Daytrana will come to Canada?? I sure could use it for our son,,can not get him to a pill, liquid meds just do not last long enough,,its awful.
Michelle
February 26th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Hi,
Daytrana will come to Canada, yes.
However, it will likely be at least 2009. There is no way to know for sure when it will get here (it depends on too many factors).
You can be sure that if you sign up for updates from this blog, or my newsletter - that I will let you know!
Dr. Kenny
March 4th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Dear Michelle,
We have the same problem with our 9 year old daughter. We have being trying for over one year, we tried every type of pill for ADD. She refuses to swallow her pill, however the few time it went down by accident, she did great. She still raves about her concentration on those few days at school. Yet she act’s up, cries, screams, spits it out, whenever it’s time to take the medication. Your right it’s AWFUL! We have tried everything, we are even thinking of going to the U.S. TO Daytrana. I’m not convinced that will work anyway. Any advice, tips or experiences we could share would greatly appreciated.
John
March 24th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Dr. Kenny~
In 2005 I was diagnosed with Adult ADD after taking the online tests at Dr. Amen’s website. I started out taking Adderall. Then in 2006 I had roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery. As a result of the surgery, I had to investigate new options for taking my ADD meds. I found that taking the pills weren’t working because they weren’t absorbed properly in the intestinal system. So, I took my script to a compounding pharmacy where they crushed them and put them in a syrup so that my body was able to absorb the medication. IT TASTED TERRIBLE and I didn’t want to take it. So I started investigating other options. I learned that there was a patch for birth control that had just come out on the market and it struck me… if they can do that, why can’t they do ADD meds the same way? After searching on Google, I found Daytrana. On my next visit to my psychiatric nurse practitioner, I took all the information I could find to her to see if it was a viable option for my types (5 of the 6 different types) of ADD. Luckily it was. So, since mid-2006, I have been wearing the Daytrana patch. I have to say that I am very pleased. It works better for me than the Adderall ever did. I hope that others have had the same luck. It is a very viable option for adults and for kids who may have a hard time remember to take their meds… and it will cut down on the time and stigma of having to visit the nurses’ office during school hours.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Hello,
Being re DX with ADHD again later in life as an adult, I find myself trying to remember to take my pill every 4 hours. I tried the Concerta, but my GI tract moves so fast I feel like Im getting half the doze, for only a few hours, so they switched me back to the individual pill. Im wondering if the patch would do the same thing that the individual pill does, with out having to worry about taking the pill. Does it have the same dosage? How does it know how much your body needs? I do have spine damage and chronic pain from a radical thoracotomy, and have a hard time with skin irritations, so I have concerns in regards to those as well.
If anyone has any info on the relation to the patch, skin irritation, and my other questions, please le me know.
Thank you,
David
Portland, ME