The number one medication during the past 50 years for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders, ADHD has been oral medication containing Methylphenidate. Parents and schools have been administering pills to children in order to help with the symptoms of ADHD for years with many children finding great benefits. But, as is the case with many helpful medications pill taking often comes with negative side effects as well as social issues.
As a mother I have tried to avoid medicating my children any more than is absolutely necessary. I have a hard time giving my grade school child pills in the morning, after school and before bed, while at the same time teaching them to say, “No to Drugs.” There is also a huge risk for older children taking medications for ADHD as many teens are aware these medications are usually referred to as “speed.” It has happened many times that a teen being treated with ADHD medication is tempted to sell them to other students.
Well, now we have a way to Stick It to ADHD and medicate our children without pills or the risk that they will sell or trade these pills with anyone else. A new skin patch has been created for children over the age of 6 and shows promising results. Daytrana is a small patch parents apply to a child’s hip in the morning and remove later in the day. Once the patch is applied it cannot be re-applied which means children cannot trade or sell their medication to others. It also provides a constant release over the course of the day instead of larger doses throughout the day.
Daytrana has the same medical risks as the other ADHD Methylphenidate based medications, with the added risk of possible skin irritation. However, parents don’t need to convince a child to swallow the pills, or make arrangements with the school to administer the lunchtime dose. Parents simply Stick It on their child’s hip and can relax knowing only their child will receive the medication.
Daytrana is also offering some free introductory samples for parents interested in seeing if this is a better way to medicate our children. As soon as your child’s doctor prescribes Daytrana go to www.daytrana.com or call 1-800-950-6577.
At the Daytrana website parents will find:
- The latest information about how to get the most from the treatment with Daytrana. Information to help fit the patch into your child’s and family’s changing routines. Since we all know that Monday can be a very different day then Saturday.
- Strategies and Tools, including ideas about how to get other people in your child’s life involved to help with his or her overall success. Ideas for talking to family, teachers, doctors and other caregivers. And special offers and ideas for activities you can share with your child.
- Ways to Work Together with your child on his or her treatment. Develop communication and attention skills. Plus some simple ways to measure progress.
- And Best of all MOM’s Space, a special place to help mom’s with the everyday stress and difficult decisions that come along with parenting a child with ADHD.
Today, we will pick up our first box of Daytrana patches, for our 8 year old. Until now, I have been reluctant to add another medication to the pharmacy my child has been prescribed. I will keep you all posted of any positive or negative issues we face during the next 30 to 60 days we try Daytrana.
Related Blogs:
- ADHD: To Medicate or not to Medicate–That is the Question
- SYMPTOMS OF ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
- ADHD and the Maddening Missing Meds
Photo credit for this blog entry: Photo found on Daytrana Website.