Change from Ritalin to Strattera | ADHD Information

bumping up

Great job!  Glad to hear things are going well.

i used to take strattera for like 2 months but it made my adhd stand out so much more and a ate alot less now i am back on 54mg of conserta

Thought I'd offer a bit of news up date. We are now on week 4 of Strattera and no other meds. It is working!! It is amazing the effects are consistent throughout the day. Even mornings are no longer a nightmare as he is able to concentrate as soon as he gets up - no more waiting up to an hour for the concerta to kick in. I really think we are on to something.

I also like the fact that he seems more natural - a more consistent energy and fizz level but with more long term focus. It is as if he is himself - although that does mean more sassy comments, but I can live with that, 5 minutes in his room normally gives him a cooler head.

Another success was I weighted him - first time for 5 months and he has gained 11lbs. He has moved up from 10% percentile for his age and height to 20% percentile - only another 15lb to go to be average.

Oh, and another thing - for once we are not max-ed out on our dosage levels, in fact he is only on 60mg, his weight would suggest he should be on 64-75mg.

We are almost finished with the ritalin LA now and he will be just on Strttera. I am a little concerned because it doesn't seem like he is on anything. We go back to the Doc in 1 week and he said we might have to up it more. It has been a long prosess of getting him off his Ritalin to be just on Strattera. He is at 25mg and we might have to go to 40mg. I'm still hopeing this will be the med that works!

Luckily in the UK meds are free to under 19's and then only £6.50 a month regardless of type.

As for the amount the literature says it should be based on weight. So for a kid 1.2mg/kg/day - 1.4mg/kg/day up to a maximum of 100mg per day. For an adult 1.4mg/day up to a maximum of 100mg.

From my experience it was week 3-4 before I could tell the tablets were working. Up 'til them it was like he was on nothing. I guess it is more noticeable if they have been on meds before as we know how good it can be.

Last night I asked how school was going and if he felt OK. He felt he would like to increase the dosage 10mg (still under the maximum) to see if he could focus more.

We see the Dr next week.

My doc started me out on 40mg. then 60mg, then when I noticed the ADD symptoms returning he doubled the 60mg. 

I noticed almost, within a day or two, immediate improvement with the STrattera.  It was like someone got hold of the volume knob on my head and turned the volume down.  I can so notice the diff when I accidently forget my meds.  I'm scattered, I'm ravenous, and I hear every single sound.  It's horrible.  I forgot them yesterday and I had a horrible time going to sleep due to my thoughts bouncing around in my head.  You better believe I took those babies this morning. 

The worst thing about Strattera is the $$.  I'd be somewhat interested in trying the Concerta maybe. 

 

Our son is in the prosess of swithing from Ritalin LA and ritalin fast acting. I was really worried about him taking all of this but he is being slowly weened off the ritalin and gradualy being uped on the Strattera. This prosess is being done over 5 weeks. I am really hoping this will be the right med for him. It's been a long haul, everything we try only seems to work for a week then life gets very hard for him and our family again.

Hi - I need some advice. My son (16) has started strattera this week for the first time, was on concerta and ritalin up until now. My Dr is new to strattera can couldn't offer much advice. He told son to stop taking his old drugs and start on 25mg strattera this week and 60mg next. But drugs say will take 4 weeks to work. I didn't like just stopping one thing with the other not kicking in for weeks so decided to cutback on old drugs each week (80 then 60, 40 finally 20mg ritalin). Do you think this is the right thing to do?

 

 

do not mix these drug!

that would be dangerous for you son.

srtattera is a strong med.

you cant mix these kind of drugs together. do what your doctor said and stop one and start the other.

do it over the holidays so it wont affect school as much.

Actually, you CAN mix these drugs.  I would, however, follow your doctors orders.  The doses have to be adjusted lower when the drugs are taken together.  My doctor prefers not to RX both strattera and ritalin at the same time and only does so as a last resort when no other drugs or doses work.  She would not let me take both together untill I went of Strattera and tried Ritalin LA.  Lucky for me Ritalin LA is the right drug so I don't need to mix.  I would follow docs orders. 

Thanks,

Phoned dr because concerned that son only had 2 weeks school break (and exams either side) so what could we do. Dr ok with son talking ritalin at start of trial and cutting back. Only on day 6 and cut back to half normal meds and will stop all ritalin next week. Fingers crossed Xmas will not be too stressfull for us all!

Have been reading on other sites that stimulents and Strattera often combined - was so hoping we had found a complete alternative to stimulents.

Hope it works.  Let us know...

 

     My 10yr old daugther takes Straterra and Adderall XR and has for over a year now with great success and no adverse side affects.  The Strattera helps her calm and just needs a bit of Adderall for focus. Good luck.

My son's doc mentioned that some people use Strattera routinely and then add Ritalin as needed for focusing.

combining the two IS very common.  The Stratterra has the annoying side effect for many of making one feel slow and sluggish.  Many times it will also cause hyperfocus where one cannot seem to break away from a task or even just staring at a wall.  I tried it for a week - couldn't stand the way it made me feel so slow and tired.  Adding a stimulant would help.