Who's tried it, heard of it, knows anybody on it? My psych wants me to start on Monday and there is absolutely no experience with it on this forum.. help...

Please let us know how it goes! It sounds very interesting! Sorry I can't help you more.

I'm sorry I can't help you, but please do tell us how it goes, i'm very interested to know as well!

Ive never heard of a ritalin patch but ive just looked it up on the internet.
I hope you find this site of some use...

http://specialchildren.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.nbcsandiego.com/health/3871542/detail.html

It sounds like its just ritalin but with fewer side affects but I also just read that the most common side affects are trouble sleeping and headache.

My 9 yo boy has just started this last month.
was on strattera, had to corner him to get him to take it.
he is thrilled he doesn't have to take a pill now, but i am less enchanted.

background info : inattentive type add kiddo, not a huge history of meds since Dad was concerned about possible growth impact. ( funny, ritalin treated Dad is the tallest in his admittedly _ average family- guess he doesn't want the little guy to lose any advantages).

issues :
-patch is difficult to manipulate. drug matrix sticks to the backing and we sometimes end up with a less than complete dose due to incomplete application.
-Plus bad paper cut from holding backing in one hand while maintaining pressure on the patch for 30 seconds after application.
-must do 30 second thing, or patch will not sufficiently adhere.
-patch should only be worn for 9 hours, so son must remove by himself at afterschool program if i can't get there in time to supervise.
-two hour "ramp up" time, so we must make sure to get up early enough to get dose on board for school day start.
-scary red mark on skin for hours after patch removal.

bonuses:
- Greatly improved compliance rate for son, will happily bring me patch to place on him.
- we have made patch application into nice am "cuddle time", which is a great start for the day.
- no severe side effects to date. Some appetite suppression but less than the strattera was doing.
- classroom behavior and grades improvement.

Just our experiences, but i thought i would share since there isn't much on the boards yet about this.

Newbie, hope i am not boring y'all...
balancing act

thanks alot for you imput. I ended up on adderral because my pharmacy didn't have it in stock. Now I'm wanting to try the patch since adderal makes me so moody and emotional. I'm wanting the change.

How much do the patches cost? Are they mostly for children or have they also been tried on adults?