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Original poster

Child has excessive Dribbling, Anyone tried Patches

14 replies

giddy1 · 06/03/2006 21:52

They are called Transdermal hyoscine patches and someone at DD's school told me about another child who is using them with fantastic results

ENT Nurse this week discussed surgery for my DD as her dribbling has become so bad they want to operate on her saliva glands.I am not really prepared for her to have that done especially as she has a blood clotting defficiency.

These patches dry up the secretions and are worn on the neck I think???

Anyone have any experience ?
I understand they are also used for patients with Parkinsons

OP posts:
buzylizy · 06/03/2006 22:10

funny I am seeing the ENT consultant next week. I think it is about this. I am very interested in the patches as don't want her taking medication or having things put in her mouth. I did wonder if they had to be used all the time or just when going through a dribbly time.

reiver · 07/03/2006 10:04

No experience of them but I'd be interested in finding out more.

DD just started dribbling a few weeks ago and it's driving me crazy. Suspect in her case it's to do with a second tooth coming through and I live in hope that it will stop as suddenly as it started but.......who knows?

chonky · 07/03/2006 10:06

Hi giddy - I know of a mum who's used them successfully with her ds. He finds it far easier to deal with eating as a result. I won't be seeing her for a while, but I'll aske her when I do.

buzylizy · 07/03/2006 10:43

if I find anything else out when I go to the ent next week I will let you know

Original poster
giddy1 · 07/03/2006 11:08

Thanks for your replies.
I will ask my G.P today and the ENT nurse next week.
Must be worth a try .
Will let you all know.

OP posts:
dizzy34 · 07/03/2006 15:33

My ds2 doesnt dribble much but on days when he is having lots of seizures it can be a problem. we tried the patch, but had a negative expereince. His saliva became so thick that he had difficulty coughing up mucus and nearly choked. But our ds2 has other problems which compunded this, he is quadriplegic and cant eat, drink or swallow at all. We only tried a quater of the patch and ds2 was 1year old

Original poster
giddy1 · 08/03/2006 09:14

Thanks for that info Dizzy.

The G.P has prescribed them and we will give them a go.
I will keep you up to date .

Happy days Wink
xxx

OP posts:
buzylizy · 08/03/2006 12:15

Do you know if it is a common reaction for it to go thick?

dizzy34 · 08/03/2006 17:45

The consultant we saw said that it is only a reaction he has seen in children as severley disabled as ds2. He doesnt have the ability to clear his airways, and he aspirates when he swallows so it goes into his lungs, not his tummy, and we end up in a vicous circle of chest infections. i would say its worth a try, as i have friends who use it, but just watch for persistant coughing.

peachygirl · 08/03/2006 18:07

This is a really interesting thread My brother has SLD and dribbles almost constantly, he is older than me (35 this year) (he has CP which affects his throat, amongst other things)
He has had the patches for quite a while now after my mum became concerned about his eating.
He has had two unnsuccessful operations on his saliva glands in the past and also had a machine that beeped to encourage him to swallow.
At the moment he wears them most of the time and although it hasn't stopped the dribbling it has made an enormous difference. I think Mum has to give him a day off every 36 hours, or something like that, which she tends to do at the weekend when he is at home.
I also work with SEN children and was under the impresssion that they would not be prescribed for very young children.The yongest I knew was 7.
The main side effect I know of is that they can make the skn quite sore where the patch is placed.
The juiciest bit of info I know about them is that they are VERY expensive - over £20 for EACH patch and that may be why GP/ consultants may be reluctant to prescribe them.
My mum in the end had letters from SALT and the epilepsy consultant (who was very good with adults with SEN)
I don't know if this is useful info but I felt I should share it with you all
Best wishes

Original poster
giddy1 · 08/03/2006 18:20

ahh.....very pricey!
Well DD is 16 and has dribbled all her life. It is very much more an issue amongst her peers and something which creates barriers to friendships and affection etc. It is increasingly difficult to mask the odour now she no longer a "little girl" too.
The G.P definately seemed happy to prescribe them, however the pharmacist from the surgery has phoned and told me they are having trouble sourcing them and she just gets a message saying "Manufacturers are not supplying" whatever that means????
She asked me if she will take tablets and I said "no".
I hope this is not an attempt to swap to a cheaper drug ...mmmm Shock
She did say she would see if she can get them so I will keep on at them.
Thanks for your support
xxx

OP posts:
buzylizy · 08/03/2006 18:53

giddy1 I did read on the scope forum something about them not being made. Might be worth checking there. Think it was on early years.

peachygirl · 08/03/2006 19:35

Very interesting, Mum has recently had real trouble getting them from the chemist I'm not sure she was given a reason for this but My brother was without them for quite a while.

kaseysmum · 09/03/2006 22:46

Hi dizzy, read your post about your ds2. my little one sounds the same. qudraplegic cp, epilepsy etc, etc. consultant says the dribbling is a side effect of his sedative, which he needs, patches would dry him up to much and as he can't take anything orally would only complicate things further. some days he's better than others though, hes 27months

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