Special Needs Education

» gphinton - Is it worth the trouble?

In response to Is it worth the trouble? posted by klbird911:

We returned our first box of patches to the pharmacy and insisted they had gotten hot in shipment. It was a sticky mess and most of the medication remained on the backing. I think they have a problem with their patch. Our second batch was a little better but still very hard to remove the backing without damaging the patch.I have worn hormone patches and they were not like this.

-- posted by gphinton

» momof4boyz - redness from Daytrana patch?

I have a 9 year boy who switched to the patch about 6 weeks ago (at two 10mg. now) from Focalin. We like the patch-lasts longer in the afternoons without re-dosing, not as moody when the med wears off, and no swallowing which was a big issue for us. It does take longer to get into his system even though they said it wouldn't...started giving small dose of Focalin in a.m. and he also drinks an "Instant Breakfast" shake which he loves with the rest of his breakfast. However, we have 2 problems-patch sometimes falls off (maybe b/c some backing comes off when I try to apply it) and patch leaves a red square after removed and the heat from the shower makes it worse-it seems to be better about 24 hours later though. I am applying hydrocortizone cream to the area and that helps too. Anyone else having this problem?? It's just red and a little itchy but enough to bother him and it really seems to be exacerbated by the warm shower water. I called Shire too--no help--told me to take him to dr. and asked if I'd called FDA! Would love advice!

-- posted by momof4boyz

» heretostay - Is it worth the trouble?

In response to Is it worth the trouble? posted by klbird911:

We have found that the 15mg is very easy to remove, they is no sticky residue left on the backing at all. Unlike 10mg. I hope someone from the company is reading our concerns. Have anyone spoken to the company to address this problem?

-- posted by heretostay

» heretostay - Is it worth the trouble?

In response to Is it worth the trouble? posted by jad0327:

I read online, if you keep bending the patch along the sides of the broken crease, this will cause the film to loosen more. This works but only in the middle. Tomorrow I will try bending it longer to see if it breaks away completely.

-- posted by heretostay

» mmmom - redness from Daytrana patch?

In response to redness from Daytrana patch? posted by momof4boyz:
The red spot seems to be normal, was told it was ok, doesn't seem to bother him. we are adjusting better now, really liking the stability, definately need to use 10mg tab in morning to get started. I think I'll call shire and tell them about this site, but you know... it's just a business.

-- posted by mmmom

» ShansMom - Is it worth the trouble?

In response to Is it worth the trouble? posted by heretostay:

When I saw our doc several weeks ago he told me that he was meeting with a Shire Rep and wanted my feedback. I told him about this site and that many people were experiencing difficulty with the backing. I'm sure he passed the info on.
We are also experiencing the redness from the patch, but my daughter is not bothered by it and it is gone by morning.

-- posted by ShansMom

» Burb15 - Daytrana skin irritation and slow start

My ADHD 17 y/o daughter has a very difficult time waking in the mornings. No alarm clock works. I have been very successful with Focalin XR when giving it to her 30 minutes before she has to get up for school. The quick release coating wakes her up and we
have "normal" mornings getting ready for school. However, the Focalin wears off about 1:00 and she has no coverage for her last 2 senior classes after lunch.
We have been trying the Daytrana patch for a couple of weeks. We are happy with the 15 mg dosage-after about 3 hours, but it is horrible trying to get her up and off to school. So, she is taking a 5 mg Focalin at 5:45 am and sleeping 45 minutes before getting up. She is putting on her patch just before she leaves for school. This seems to be working.
She is very sensative to touch and complained so much about discomfort at the patch site that I thought we were going to have to discontinue. HOWEVER, she has found if she wears it on her arm it doesn't get red and no stinging. Her doctor is OK with her wearing it there if it seems to be working.
Hope this helps someone else! B

-- posted by Burb15

» momof4boyz - Daytrana skin irritation and slow start

In response to Daytrana skin irritation and slow start posted by Burb15:

Thanks for passing on the idea of the arm. I had just told my son today that maybe we would try it on his lower back tomorrow. He fidgets all the time and I think that having it on his hip just makes him scratch at it. Our first batch of patches were much better-but when they started making them with the diagonal line where you pull the backing off we started having the redness and they wouldn't stay on. Shire told me that nothing about the adhesive had changed. I hope they can make some improvements. My son and the rest of our family like the patch a lot better.

-- posted by momof4boyz

» jad0327 - Is it worth the trouble?

In response to Is it worth the trouble? posted by ShansMom:

We made it through our first batch of 10 patches with 50% usable rate. We did find that the medication was working, no rash, limited redness and the advantage of being able to remove the patch in time for the meds to be out before dinner & bed is fantastic. We're on our second trial of 10 patches and this time they came in a "kit" not a zip lock bag (we went to different pharmacy). So far no problems with the lining coming off the patches (I hope I didn't just jinx us)! At this point I'm thinking it IS worth the trouble and we'll continue with the patch. I may even switch my other son from his conertta to the patch. Being able to "stop" the meds for dinner and sleep is a great advantage!

-- posted by jad0327

» momof4boyz - where to apply patch

I gave up on applying the patch to the hip area b/c it kept falling off...I think he gets sweaty and then his underwear rubs them. We've tried the upper arms and now we are trying the mid/lower back area. That seems to work better and whoever said to massage the patch right after applying it and then add the pressure was right! Has anyone else tried other application areas with better success?

-- posted by momof4boyz