Strattera wasnt working, now on Concerta | ADHD Information
Hello to all I am new to the forum but not new to the ADHD scene. My son was diagnosed with ADHD in Jan 02. We started out on Adderall XR and was finally up to 40mg a day but it wasnt lasting as long as it was suppose to. By like 2-3 in the afternoon he would be back to his old self. So we got a new pedatrician and he didnt like the fact that we were on such a high dose, and that it wasnt lasting that long. So he put us on him on 30mg of adderall in the morning and then 10mg at lunch. Well all was fine until he started losing weight, hes already underweight to begin with so we moved to 18mg Strattera twice a day. We started in May on it and with the end of school couldnt tell if it was truely working. Summer was awesome!!! Gained 6 pounds, grew and inch!!! Doctor was ecstatic and so was I. School started again and teachers were saying that he doesnt have a attention span. He has the same special ed teacher that he had last year and she was very concerned. He was starting to fall behind. Saw doctor yesterday and he moved us to concerta 18mg a day. I really loved Strattera, I wished that it worked. But now I am seeing that people are adding a little bit of ritalin or other drugs so if this doesnt work I would really love to go back on Strattera. I am wondering if I should get another appointment and get back on Strattera and add some other med with it! I absolutly loved strattera, my son was taking naps on the weekends. Yes hes 9 years old and when he was tired on teh weekends he was taking a nap. This has never happened. Before you could tell that he was tired and just couldnt sleep. Any suggestions. I live in southern IL and I would love to get with a support group but havent been able to find one!
Thanks, Tree
What if you went back on Straterra & gave it to him at night?My son uses both Adderall XR 10mg and Strattera 40mg both given in the morning. This is after quite a bit of trial and error. The 10 mg of Adderall alone didn't do it. When he was on 15 mg of Adderall XR he couldn't sleep and lost 7 lbs. Adding the Strattera to the Adderall works for him at school and also has the added benefit of decreasing the rebound effect when the adderall where's off. I wish you the best in your continued search for the right med or combination of meds. -Gettingagrip-If the straterra is making him tired on weekends it was probably making him tired through school, therefore affecting his concentration even more so. Apart from giving you a rest on weekends what good did it do for your son?
You must always stop flogging a dead horse. If something does not work, try something else. Have you considered your son may have an intellectual disability of some kind. Has he been assessed properly.
He needs to see some success for himself. He needs to feel good at something - what are his talents, perhaps focussing on these whilst getting his meds right, might sustain his self esteem.
Rae70
I take offense to your reply. Yes Strattera made him tired but maybe (did you think) that finally his body was no longer being stimulated by the adderall and he was finally getting to rest. Oh but wait you will call my mothering into question again-why didnt I get him put on something to help him sleep then. Yes I loved my son sleeping on the weekends, he seemed more rested and felt better. Where did I say that it gave me a rest???? How dare you imply that.
Look if something doesnt work I will try something else, BUT you have to give it a try first. NO HE DOESNT HAVE A INTELLCTUAL DISABILITY, but maybe you do implying that I have not taken care of my son.
He does see success for himself. And I make sure that he does and that hes praised for his ability.
You are a pompus blankity blank.
To all that read this, I apologize for replying negativily, but I take offense to this man, implying that I am not a good mother to my son. I make mistakes, I am human. BUT I would never do anything to harm my son, or hinder his own ability. I am beginning to regret becoming a member of this forum. I came here for support and I get negativity and talked down to like I know nothing!
Hi Tree,
My 10 yr old was on Adderall XR 30 mg. and was recently switched to Concerta. So far so good for attention span and school work quality. I like it because it lasts through homework time; the Adderall did not. However, I just posted a new topic b/c my son is experienced severe heart burn with it.
We never tried Straterra so I can't comment on it. I will say that my son's neurologist and neuropsychologist said that sometimes the meds don't work like they used to after taking them for x number of months or even years. So trying something new is always a good option to try.
Keep in touch and let me know how the Concerta is working for your son. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you 