Daytrana™ Patient Stories

*A model has been used to protect the child’s identity.

Brian's Story

"When my son Brian was in second grade, I began noticing that he was increasingly disorganized. It was nearly impossible for him to complete his homework at night, and he was antagonistic to his older brothers and to his father and to me. Being somewhat familiar with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), I approached Brian’s teacher to ask her whether or not Brian was having similar problems in her class.

As it turns out, Brian couldn’t concentrate or focus in class either, especially when he had to complete multi-step projects. He wasn’t able to follow his teacher’s instructions, and his constant fidgeting distracted his classmates from completing their work.

Working together with Brian’s teacher and school counselor, we filled out the parent/teacher assessment for ADHD. Armed with my version of the test, I made an appointment with Brian’s physician.

Brian’s doctor spent a lot of time with Brian, and at the end of our appointment, he prescribed a pill to treat his ADHD symptoms. For a year, Brian tried to take the medication, but it was a challenge every single day because of his aversion to swallowing pills. We hid the pills in everything from yogurt to applesauce, but it was rare that Brian could get the medication into his system. Even on the days that Brian actually swallowed the pill, he sometimes threw it up once he got to school.

In sixth grade, Brian’s physician told us about a clinical trial in which methylphenidate, the same medication he was prescribed in a pill, would be delivered to him transdermally, in a once-daily skin patch. We immediately signed Brian up to participate in the study and were thrilled with the results. Once Brian got used to the patch, he didn’t mind wearing it at all. We take the patch off after school each day, which is at about 4:30 pm, but earlier when there is a short day or if he comes home earlier. This makes it easier for him to help avoid potential late-day side effects, like difficulty sleeping or loss of appetite. While on the patch, homework was no longer a three-hour nightly commitment, Brian’s self-esteem improved dramatically, and he got back into athletics and music — activities Brian loves to do, but just couldn’t manage before his ADHD was under control. His grades also improved. As a mother, the changes made my heart sing.

The patch, called Daytrana (methylphenidate transdermal system), is approved by the FDA and is available for physicians to prescribe to patients like Brian (children aged 6 to 12). Brian is now a happy seventh grader who makes better grades, is a drummer in the school band, and skateboards. With Daytrana, Brian’s routine became easier and our time at home with the family became more enjoyable, fuller, and richer."

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Luke's Story

"When Luke was 6, the teachers at Luke's school were the first to realize that he may have ADHD. They said that during school Luke would get up and walk around and then sit down in his seat without even realizing it. Even at home we noticed that when Luke was learning to read, he could not sit still for more than a minute to concentrate.

When it became apparent that his inability to maintain focus was interfering with school, my wife and I decided to take Luke to see a doctor. We did some initial research online to try to identify the cause of his symptoms. We wanted to understand what was causing Luke's inability to focus and sustain organized play, as well as his increasing disciplinary and anger problems. We were not too surprised when the doctor diagnosed Luke with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We were relieved, though, when Luke's doctor explained to us that ADHD was common—about 8 percent of all children are affected by this disorder.

Luke began taking oral medications to treat the symptoms of ADHD, but for him, the side effects were severe. Luke could not fall asleep at night, he grew increasingly frustrated, had behavioral blowups and eventually developed a tic. We had to try several types of medication to alleviate these undesired side effects. This cycle kept repeating for more than four years, until Luke's doctor approached us about having Luke participate in a clinical trial for an existing ADHD medication, methylphenidate, with a different delivery method in the form of a patch.

Within a few weeks of first using the patch, we noticed that Luke's ability to focus dramatically increased. Luke saw the difference too and he didn’t mind wearing the patch. On the weekends, when Luke slept in, we applied the patch later in the morning to control his ADHD symptoms and were able to remove the patch at the usual time. Soon Luke's teachers were telling us that Luke was more organized and paying attention in class. Because he was less reactionary, he also played better with his classmates.

With his symptoms maintained and the drug side effects well controlled, Luke began performing better on his hockey team. Before his ADHD symptoms were successfully treated, Luke's inability to concentrate got in the way of the game because the quick decision-making skills needed to play hockey were difficult for him to execute. But with medication that controlled his ADHD symptoms, Luke became a valued teammate.

Our entire family is happy that Luke is enjoying his time at school and at home. Daytrana (methylphenidate transdermal system), the patch used to treat the symptoms of ADHD, is approved by the FDA and is available for physicians to prescribe to patients like Luke (children aged 6 to 12). We hope our story helps other parents find a way to get their children diagnosed and treated for ADHD."

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Marki's Story

"When our daughter Marki was 3 years old, my husband and I realized that her attention span was considerably shorter than other children her age. While other kids could easily sit and watch their favorite cartoon on TV or while their parents read a book to them, Marki had difficulty staying seated during story time or any activity that required a certain amount of cooperative seating such as watching movies.

At the age of 5, Marki went to kindergarten and her inattention and distractibility became more pronounced. She couldn't sit in her seat and was unable to stay on task no matter what she initially chose to do. To make matters worse, while at the beginning of her kindergarten year Marki was in the top 96 percent of her class, by the end of the year, she had plummeted to the bottom five percent. Immediately after we got this news, we headed to our pediatrician for help.

After some tests, we found out that Marki had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Working closely with our doctor, we made the decision to place Marki on an oral ADHD medication to control her symptoms. The change was remarkable. The first day she started the medication, Marki picked up a pile of books and tore through them. She started first grade, and we were thrilled to hear from her teacher that Marki was able to stay seated, complete her assignments and even participate in class discussions and activities.

Like any parent, we were ecstatic to see Marki so attentive. However, she did experience side effects from the medication, and at night we could not get her to eat dinner or go to bed. Over the next few years we switched Marki to different medications in an attempt to mitigate these side effects.

One day, Marki's physician asked us whether Marki would like to participate in a clinical trial for a new ADHD medication that came in the form of a patch. While I was hesitant to change her medication yet again, Marki was insistent that we allow her the chance to use a medication that could lessen the side effects she was experiencing with her current medication. Marki was starting middle school soon and desperately wanted to be like her friends who ate dinner with their families and went to sleep at a normal time during slumber parties.

Marki's positive response to the ADHD patch was a relief. While on the patch, Marki's ADHD symptoms were controlled and side effects were avoided, giving back her natural confidence and grace. The patch lasted longer for her than her previous medications and Marki regained her appetite. Her attention span was completely different than anything we had seen before. She went from C's and D's, and a few F's, to all A's and B's in school! Marki also has hobbies now because she can concentrate long enough to know what she likes to do. She is a wonderful athlete and a star of her middle school basketball team.

Daytrana, the patch used to treat symptoms of ADHD, has been approved by the FDA and is available for physicians to prescribe to patients like Marki. With Daytrana, Marki's ADHD symptoms are controlled and she has truly been able to embrace and enjoy family, school and her hobbies."

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