Would you wear a skin patch over taking pills?

[alivenwell]

Would you wear a patch on you skin if it continuously released anti-epileptic drugs?

[alivenwell]

I thought I'd pose this question because people with diabetes have this option to release insulin. People who are trying to quit smoking have this option to slowly release chemicals via a skin patch as well.

It would have to be something we would really have to be responsible with as well. We'd probably have to get blood tests until levels were ideal.

In the past, I've been more prone to seizures when I had a flu and I figured this would be another option to release anti-epileptic drugs. I know there is another drug that is taken externally.

[BuckeyeFan]

My wife used a patch for hormone therapy after a surgery. She liked it really well at first, but then started having some issues with it sticking.

I really like the idea for the steady release a patch can provide. Oral meds can be altered by so many factors.

[brain]

It would be interesting, but I do have some questions
about it such as:

• Will it be waterproof?
• Does it have to be in one specific location continually? (This might post a risk for prolonged period of time)
• Will you be able to move it around to various parts of your body? (Reducing your risk of single spot/location for the same reason as above question)
• Will the patch(es) be identified specifically?
• With this patch or patches - will they be 24 hour or 6 hour? 2-3 day? One week?
• Will they be safer and cheaper or costly?
• How much would go into the blood stream into the brain and not into the vital organs? (Medicine that goes to waste and not into the brain as the pills currently do at the present state)
• If they are more effective in reaching to the brain than into the body's organs, would this mean we would have lower titration (dosage) of anti-epileptic drug or anti-epileptic drugs than we are presently on?

I could go on and on with a lot of questions, but
there's a start to ponder about right there!

[Meetz1064]

Brain, ya beat me to the list of ???s I was gonna ask..........

But seriously, if I had those answers, my decision might be a whole lot easier to make......

[whwept]

I would....maybe. But I worry about how well the patch would stay on so I'm on the fence.

[Belinda5000]

I'd wear one if it was as effective as the pills.
It was covered by insurance and didn't come off when it was wet.

But than what would the side effects of it be?


Belinda

[hawke86]

I would never wear one. I think those patches don't work.

[darkmarkshark]

No because that seems like it would have all the health risks of the pills, PLUS make you more likely to develop skin cancer or some other skin problem

[dfwtexas]

In the past, I used the hornome patches...they did not stick well at all. They usually did not fare well after a shower.
During the surgeries on my arm, I had trouble keeping pain on an even level and they gave me fentynal patches. They lasted for 3 days and stayed on very well...in fact, they were a little hard to get off! It was the only time that my pain was constantly under control (instead of the very high when I took the pill and struggling for hours awaiting that next pill)
I also recently tried a prescription pain patch for my back...and it worked well. I think they have improved on the patches.
My insurance covered my patches just like regular prescription.

[Nancy]

I used the hormone replacement patches for years after hysterectomy with great success.
I also had fantastic success with the nicotine patches for quitting smoking.

I did have some itching and red skin after the HRT because I do have some skin sensitivity but it was nothing that wasn't "OK" because the patches were moved so frequently.

I'm a great fan of skin patches .... no fear of the the terrible,constant (blush~blush) diarrhea I have now because of taking these darn anti-epileptic drug pills. No fear of forgetting a pill. Lots of worries removed.
I really LIKE patches.

[Crazy Monkey]

I would love to get rid of the pills, a skin patch would be brilliant!!!!!!!!!!

[drarvindr]

If we must think alternative to pills , think BIG !!!! why a skin patch? i'd find it just as tiresome. i don't mind getting an implant in my arm or maybe something like a brain implant that stops seizures as soon as it detects abnormal activity. kind of like the artificial pancreas they're trying out in diabetics. it releases insulin based on your sugar levels.

[stilldancing_98]

I wouldn't . It would be like having those patches on after coming home from the hospital. And I would forget about it. Well...no.

[Dano]

I would have a patch (it would stop the wife nagging me about my tablets). Or if they did an implant even better.

[Kansas Educator]

I used a hormone patch years ago and had some trouble with it sticking too. But, it might be better in some ways if it was as effective. My Gynecologist explained to me at the time that she felt the patch was better because it didn't have to go through your liver to be metabolized like the oral medicine did. If that was the case with an anti-epileptic drug patch, it might be less harmful to our livers.

[Dano]

If the meds don't have to go through the liver if you wear a patch it would prob be even better for me as my specialist has told me that I have a very effective liver and that is why every med i've been on I have been on a very high dosage











But he also told me thats no reason for me to drink alot

[stilldancing_98]

I would probably put one on my son. But not me.No reason.

[alivenwell]

It would be interesting, but I do have some questions
about it such as:

• Will it be waterproof?
• Does it have to be in one specific location continually? (This might post a risk for prolonged period of time)
• Will you be able to move it around to various parts of your body? (Reducing your risk of single spot/location for the same reason as above question)
• Will the patch(es) be identified specifically?
• With this patch or patches - will they be 24 hour or 6 hour? 2-3 day? One week?
• Will they be safer and cheaper or costly?
• How much would go into the blood stream into the brain and not into the vital organs? (Medicine that goes to waste and not into the brain as the pills currently do at the present state)
• If they are more effective in reaching to the brain than into the body's organs, would this mean we would have lower titration (dosage) of anti-epileptic drug or anti-epileptic drugs than we are presently on?

I could go on and on with a lot of questions, but
there's a start to ponder about right there!

Wow! This was a great set of questions. The drug companies could use people like you for quality control!

[alivenwell]

If we must think alternative to pills , think BIG !!!! why a skin patch? i'd find it just as tiresome. i don't mind getting an implant in my arm or maybe something like a brain implant that stops seizures as soon as it detects abnormal activity. kind of like the artificial pancreas they're trying out in diabetics. it releases insulin based on your sugar levels.

Yeah, this was a great point. I'd get that implant if it worked! It'd be a great alternative to carrying pills all day.