Daytrana: The ADHD Medication Patch - written by Dr Kenny Handelman

This particular medication, Daytrana is the only medication authorized to be applied as "patch" for ADD/ADHD treatment. Its chemical name is methylphenidate transdermal system, and it stimulates the central nervous system. It is often called the 'Daytrana patch', the 'ADHD patch', and it's even called the 'Ritalin patch'.

If you have been using the oral form of methylphenidate prior to this and are changing to the skin patch, your doctor may advice you to start out with a low-dose of the patch. Your schedule then may call for a stronger patch with each succeeding prescription. Of course, it goes without saying (or should) that you shouldn't change the dosage of your Daytrana with the express consent of your doctor.

The dosage most recommended fro children with ADD/ADHD is 20 mg applied once daily in the morning. More than likely your physician will start with this, and increase the dosage in weekly sessions if warranted.

To use the patch effectively, you'll start by opening the sealed pouch. Then you'll remove the protective liner. Press the patch onto the skin (most physicians recommend to do this in the hip area) and hold it down with your hand for about 30 seconds to help ensure its adherence.

Make sure that the patch is particularly well sealed around its edges. If you've applied this patch properly, you should have no concerns about using it either when bathing or swimming.

Within two hours of applying this medication, it should begin working for you. Daytrana is manufactured to last approximately nine hours -- and after this time you should remove it. You should not take this medication for more than nine hours daily by the way, even if you had to replace a partially used one because it fell off.

The effects of this medication can be felt throughout your system for another three hours, after your remove it.

This particular medication actually comes with a chart to help you track when you've applied them and removed them.

The 10 mg patch releases about 1.1 mg of the medication per hour. This means that entire patch contains approximately 27.5 mg. Additionally, there's a 15 mg patch, a 20 mg version as well as a 30 mg patch. Some people discover that they have problems sleeping at night or even notice a loss of appetite while using this form of ADD/ADHD medication. One method to remedy this is to put it on earlier in the day, or alternatively take it off earlier at the end of the day.

Daytrana Side Effects:

Some people report that they experience impaired vision while on Daytrana; others say that the drug makes them drowsy. One of the side effects of this patch is variation in sleeping patterns. Some people, for example, complain of insomnia while on it.

Other side effects of Daytrana may include milk skin redness where the patch has been placed. This includes the presence of bumps or itching. Some individuals report nausea or vomiting while on this drug; others report weight loss and a loss of appetite. Still others complain of a stuffy nose and sore throat. Talk to your doctor about any side effects or concerns with this medicine.