Daytrana: Cutting Patch in Half

[squirrelgirl]

Hi,

Just checking to see if anyone has experience with cutting the Daytrana patch in half.

The pediatrician has suggested cutting the current dosage of 10mg (smallest dose available) into two. She thinks a half dose will help ds on weekends/holidays/summer when we are trying to keep up his appetite but also maintain some managability of his hyperactivity.

I've researched the internet and there's opposing opinions/reasoning, both ok with it and against it. I understand that the manufacturer hasn't approved cutting the patch. Anyway, I'm going to go ahead and follow doctor's orders.

I'm sure I won't have any trouble getting the backing off the first half, but after cutting it, I hope I'm able to get the backing off when I'm left with the remaining half.

Thanks for any thoughts you might have!

Squirrel

[bugsmom]

Squirrelgirl...This is the one treatment I personally haven't dealt with, but one of my bestfriends son is on this med. She has cut her son's patch in half and has not had any problems doing so. They have been doing this for awhile.

I would just go ahead and try it. As long as your doctor has given the go ahead, it can't hurt. I've heard about that darn backing. I hope it dosen't give you too much of a problem.

Let us know how he does...and good luck with the appetite!

[squirrelgirl]

Thanks so much, Bugsmom. I'll give it a whirl this weekend and report back to you.

[bugsmom]

Just wondering how it went with cutting the patch...hope all is well!

[squirrelgirl]

Hi Bugsmom!

I placed the first half on ds on Easter day, which did not give any indication regarding control of his hyperactivity. All the Kit-Kats, M&Ms, and chocolate eggs outweighed the medication!

When I cut the patch in half, I left a little edge of the medication portion out so I had something to grab onto when I would go to undo the remaining half (hard to explain in words!).

Today I put the second half on and did struggle a smidge getting the backing off, but having that little piece sticking out was of big help.

I noted some quieting of the hyperactivity, which was beneficial, but unfortunately even such a small dose messed with his appetite.

I'm going to continue this dosage for the rest of the week (Spring break) and will report back.

Thanks for checking on us!

Squirrel

[squirrelgirl]

Spring Break has come to a close and I can't say one way or another as to how the half patch (5 mg) worked out. A few of the days the appetite was zilch. Other days he was still a cart-wheeling banshee with a motor mouth. I'll keep plugging along with half patches on the weekends and see what we get.

[bugsmom]

Hi Squirrelgirl!

Thanks for the update...I was wondering how your week was going. Sorry to hear that your son's appetite didn't improve. I know that's a hard thing to deal with. Will he eat after the patch is removed? I know when my son took Concerta, as soon as it was out of his system he ate like he'd been starving for weeks. I swear he would eat from 6 to 9:00pm and I just let him! Maybe if you can take the patch off a little earlier it may help with his appetite.

Thanks again for the update. Keeping my fingers crossed for your!

[squirrelgirl]

Yes! He eats like a wild animal when the med wears off. Our kitchen stays open as long as needed. I like the idea of removing the patch earlier. Thanks, Bugsmom!