Strattera | ADHD Information

[QUOTE=codj]

Hi. I just came across the site and seen the posts on Strattera. I am a nurse and by no means an advocate for any particular drug however I am an advocate for my children. I have done a ton of research as well as talked to multiple doctors, pharmacists etc concerning ADHD medications. I too went through the whole Ritalin/Adderall phase. At first I didnt want to medicate for fear that I was doing long term damage then the school made me put him on something because he was disruptive(he talked too much). The difference between ritalin & Adderall and Strattera is that R & A are stimulants.The work by speeding the body up so much it makes them tired...in affect calming them down. Strattera is not a stimulant, it works like most anti depressants work. It does not need to weaned off of. It does have a chance of liver damage...2 in 2 million people got it, now look up the long term effects of R & A. As children get into their teens, the R&A is much like any narcotic. They will suffer from severe withdrawal.Strattera in my opinion is just a safer drug, period. I do not like giving a child a stimulant. It causes headaches, heart palpatations, rapid breathing,extreme weight loss,decreased urine output.(Its like an adult on cocaine)

Everyone is different, every child has different needs and their ADHD is at different levels. What works for one, does not always woprk for another. I NEVER mix medications. I will not put my child on 10 mg of this, 5 mg of that. I try very hard to use behavior modification and watch the foods he eats. When we were growing up these meds did not exist and we made it, however the schools are harder now so ADHD children do need some help but not to be over medicated. And believe me I see it often.

Read the side effects for all the meds, then throw them away. Have you ever seen the side effects of the vaccines we use on our kids? Its really scarey. But its also the lesser of the two evils. Try the med on your child, and then leave it alone for ATLEAST 6 weeks. DO NOT keep changing meds, changing doctors. YOU WILL hurt your child. These meds do not cure, they curb behavior. It still takes an active part from the parent, teacher etc.

These are just my opinions, please dont write and tell me off or get offended by what I have said, I believe most parents have their childs best interest at heart but there are the few that are looking for a babysitter in the form of a pill.

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You are a brave woman. I find it funny that you post some thing this "opinionated" and then ask us to "please not write and tell you off." I find you very arrogant and offensive. I also can tell, you don't know much about what a stimulant does for a person with adhd. lmao just when i think i have seen it all on a message board for support, some one like you posts a thread claiming to know it all and fails catastrophically. When you realize and learn exactly what a stim does, come back and we will talk about it. But it's hard to have a conversation with some one that doesn't know the facts. I call it like I see it. You are bold, and that is a good thing, just make sure the next time, you should really do your home work.

And one more thing, there is not a single parent on this board that knows it all. that is why we are here. I would suggest you start reading what we post, you might learn some thing.

Imac, thankyou. Big diff between calm and tired. I work with nurses and some are great, and some not so great. Like anything.Looks like I'm not the only one who doesn't appreciate your advice! Codj you must be oldtimer incognito!

My son's pediatrician said that the foods he eats do not affect the way he acts and he has been a peditrician for 15 plus years!Then my son's Psychiatrist was wrong and you are right. He told me it calms kids with ADHD--has sort of the oppostie effect as it does on kids without ADHD. But that isn't even relevant. Many kids with ADHD do excellent on meds, and I think a doctor has more creendials than a nurse. JMHO. Sorry, one last post, wanted to be a K-I-A 1 last time...Effexor is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor while Strattera is a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor not the same thing.....

I didn't say that stims didn't tire kids out. I did say that I haven't come across the parent who wants a med babysitter here on this board. Schools can suspend students for behavior problems but they can't demand you give your child any drug. I also never said that foods don't affect behavior or anything about Strattera and weaning. Don't lump the parents you have seen into this group of parents who post to this board. Yes, if find you patronizing and lording your experience at a pharmaceutical company over us. Putting your kids on meds is a very serious decision, no matter what the meds. All these parents know this. I was wrong about you being a K-I-A. You're a P-I-A! [QUOTE=codj]stimulant DO tire children out to make them not hyper, check with your doctor,[/QUOTE]
Hon, I don't need to check with my doctor. Within half an hour of taking my first pill of Ritalin, I felt calm, not tired. Calm as in that relaxed feeling I get after swimming laps in a pool or a cardio workout.

tire1

( P ) Pronunciation Key (t

r)
v. tired, tir·ing, tires
v. intr. To grow weary. To grow bored or impatient.
v. tr. To diminish the strength or energy of; fatigue. To exhaust the interest or patience of; bore.calm

( P ) Pronunciation Key (käm)
adj. calm·er, calm·est Nearly or completely motionless; undisturbed: the calm surface of the lake. Not excited or agitated; composed: The President was calm throughout the global crisis.
n. An absence or cessation of motion; stillness. Serenity; tranquillity; peace. A condition of no wind or a wind with a speed of less than 1 mile (2 kilometers) per hour, according to the Beaufort scale.
tr. & intr.v. calmed, calm·ing, calms To make or become calm or quiet: A warm bath will calm you. After the storm, the air calmedwhatever!

Codj,

The problem that I see is that you very clearly address yourself as a nurse, and then you do admit that you are not an expert in adhd. However, by stating yourself as a nurse your certainly have more experience than many of us in dealing with medications and I think that people take your opinion differently. However, you are ABSOLUTELY INCORRECT in your "opinion" which you state very strongly that "stimulants DO tire the children". The exact science of adhd is unknown and all is in theory; but, the stimulants are thought to work with the neurotransmitters in the brain "specifically dopamine and norepinephrine. ADHD people are believed to have imbalances in these areas that affect attention, hyperactivity, impulsivity to name a few. It is by regulating these imbalances back to the level of a non adhd person that symptoms are helped. You are simply a victim to assuming that the only way a stimulant can help a child or adult that is already hyperactive is by adding to the overstimulation and tiring them out. That is the belief that many people have regarding adhd treatment, that is simply lack of knowledge and I am actually embarrassed that someone who clearly identifies herself as being in the medical profession so openly states her opinion that is most definately one seen with blinders. Stimulants have been used medically for almost 70 years and have a very public record of safety and testing, considering the billions of patients that have used them. Straterra has only been on the market for less than 10 years I believe, so many of the long term affects have not even been seen yet. It is a fact that Straterra has the potential to have a negative effect on the Liver and this is being found in less them 10 years of studies I believe?? I wonder what they will discover about the side effects of Straterra after another 10 years or use?? Maybe it will be safe - but we just dont know that yet! At least this is already known with stimulants. Straterra may work well on some but I would say in NO way can you call it the "safe" treatment for ADHD - that remains to be seen. Stimulants have had a life changing impact for many many people including myself and my family. And yes, I did try Straterra and had a terrible somnolence issue.

Sorry to get on my soapbox. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, when you claim that you are stating proven facts and you are incorrect it is another thing. Everything regarding adhd and treatment is only in theory, much like depression. It is not fair to the people that are reading these boards they may take these opinions into consideration when treating the most precious things in their lives- their children.. Hopefully the psychiatrist (not all pediatricians know as much as they should about ADHD) is the determing factor and If you have concerns about that opinion try another dr, that seems the logical thing to me.

Nope, not in our case. Metadage CD CALMS my grand-daughter down - does not make her "tired." Big difference.I've been posting here for almost a year and I have yet to come across anyone who was looking for a pharmaceutical babysitter. You say things that are at the least provocative and at most are offensive but you don't want anyone to get offended and tell you off. While others may not agree, I think you're coming across as a know-it-all. You obviously don't k-i-a if you think the school can MAKE you put your kids on meds. They are not doctors and are not allowed to prescribe. Ds's first grade teacher told me after the 4th day of school that he was ADHD and needed to be on Ritalin. The assistant principal, who was at the meeting too, concurred. That statement was enough for the central office to immediately approve taking ds out of that school and putting him in the one he attended before the district bounderies changed that year. A school can't make you put your son on meds and can't threaten to kick them out if they aren't.

In our case, after trying many different meds we finally found a combination that works. My ds takes 40mg of Ritalin LA and 60mg of Strattera a day. He's been doing this for 1 1/2 years and is fine and the combination helps him function better than one of these drugs by itself. This was prescribed by a dr who also has an ADHD kid and has done a lot of research into the drug interactions. My son has taken Concerta, Adderal and Ritalin in his life and has never had any of the problems you mention. You rattle off a list of side effects and then say that what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.

I'm going to read what people have to say here, consult w/my doctor and then do what I think is best for my son. The others who come here do the same thing. Please don't be so patronizing. We're moms who are trying as hard as we can.
Ok, first off, stimulants don't tire kids out to make them not hyper. In kids with ADHD they have a calming affect on the kids. So you're wrong, and no offense meant. Straterra is a lot like Effexor, and it DOES need weaning, like all antidepressants. Every single med on earth has a chance for side effects, and often this applies to herbs and remedies as well. Vaccines probably affect some kids, but there is no proof it causes a disorder nor is there proof that food causes anything, however good nutrition is always positive for the sake of your health. Sometimes a doctor just isn't that good, just like in all careers--some are duds--and you can't just stick with them because it's "not good to change." Often a change is what you need the most when a professional is not helping your child. JMHO :)stimulant DO tire children out to make them not hyper, check with your doctor, ive been a nurse a long time. many parents DO use meds as a baby sitter.seen it a million times. Schools CAN demand that your child be put on something or be removed from the school for disturbances. Check your school codes.Foods DO affect the way your children act, again check with your peditrician.Strattera does NOT need a weening time and it DOES work like EFFEXOR without the same side effects.Parents switch doctors and meds like changing diapers, that was why I said give the meds time to work. The POLIO vaccine alone has a possible side effect of getting polio,doesnt mean you will but its a possibility.Wasnt be patronizing...but why get so upset? I work in the healthcare field, Ive been an RN for 15 years,right now I work in research ...a PHARMACEUTICAL lab. I have seen what some parents do to their children.And for that matter what humans in general do to other humans. I DO NOT care what you thought of my advice, like anything else in life, use what is useful, if anything, and throw the rest away. Doesnt really matter to me. In my OPINION(you do know what that word means right????) R & A are dangerous,very dangerous medications.PERIOD. You do as you see fit. I will not not post here anymore, whoever said ignorance was bliss...was correct.What we care to see is what we believe is correct. codj38930.616712963

Good luck to all