Started Strattera--Advice Wanted | ADHD Information
no seriously that does make sense, my son once there is any kind of noise in the house, being from music to the sound of say a dish washer, washing machine or running water, for some reason it just hypes him up and nothing can calm him down, its like his that little energizer battery bunny from the commercials ( don't know if u seen it, but its the only thing i could compare him to that i could think of, off the top of my head .... he just keeps going and going and going, like a battery that will never go flat).
I didn't get moodiness or rage at all--thank the stars.
my son is constantly moody and has very... different mood swings.... i don't really know how to explain it apart from his happy one minute then his going complety of his chopper then next and then he does into a very low sad, depressive stage....
OMG have you noticed that u have been grinding your teeth uncontrolably?? its probably simular to the leg thing how u do it till it hurts...... i slept in the same bed as my son one night becasue he was sick and just wanted him mum, and all night he grinded his teeth it almost was like he ground them down that much there was nothing left mind u sleepin in his bed was a bad mistake...no sleep all night and a massive migraine in the morning.... anyway i looked in his mouth and was amazed to discover that his teeth were all still intaked ( kinda bizarre, i was looking for bits missing and cracks/holes) anyway now i am babbling again getting to my point again.... i took him to the doc and they said that he was having a sight effect from it and they took him straight off it.... little did i realise he was also developing ticks in both eyes ( i didnt know what i tik was i thought it was a bug) (ticks are when u can't stop blinking and you don't realise you are doing it all the time) i would always ask him why he was blinking.... " whats wrong mate", "Are your eyes hurting"... he would always say i don't know what your talking about mum...... i felt kinda dumb so i started studing into all these things a bit more... still don't know everything yet otherwise i wouldn't keep coming back here...
How long have you been on the doses for and what are they, it may not have reached its full potential yet..
hang in there, as i will also
it will get better.....one day.. hopefully soon (we havent reached the end of the road yet.. thats my moral, i ahve to beileve it)
[QUOTE=eliza21]no seriously that does make sense, my son once there is any kind of noise in the house, being from music to the sound of say a dish washer, washing machine or running water, for some reason it just hypes him up and nothing can calm him down, its like his that little energizer battery bunny from the commercials ( don't know if u seen it, but its the only thing i could compare him to that i could think of, off the top of my head .... he just keeps going and going and going, like a battery that will never go flat).
I "get" that. As someone once said about Jerry Reed "He could thread a running sewing machine!"
I didn't get moodiness or rage at all--thank the stars.
my son is constantly moody and has very... different mood swings.... i don't really know how to explain it apart from his happy one minute then his going complety of his chopper then next and then he does into a very low sad, depressive stage....
I've had times in my life like that especially when I was younger.
OMG have you noticed that u have been grinding your teeth uncontrolably?? its probably simular to the leg thing how u do it till it hurts...... i slept in the same bed as my son one night becasue he was sick and just wanted him mum, and all night he grinded his teeth it almost was like he ground them down that much there was nothing left mind u sleepin in his bed was a bad mistake...no sleep all night and a massive migraine in the morning.... anyway i looked in his mouth and was amazed to discover that his teeth were all still intaked ( kinda bizarre, i was looking for bits missing and cracks/holes)
When I was unmedicated I did this when I was stressed. Mouth used to hurt in the morning and cracked a few fillings,
anyway now i am babbling again getting to my point again.... i took him to the doc and they said that he was having a sight effect from it and they took him straight off it.... little did i realise he was also developing ticks in both eyes ( i didnt know what i tik was i thought it was a bug) (ticks are when u can't stop blinking and you don't realise you are doing it all the time) i would always ask him why he was blinking.... " whats wrong mate", "Are your eyes hurting"... he would always say i don't know what your talking about mum......
i felt kinda dumb so i started studing into all these things a bit more... still don't know everything yet otherwise i wouldn't keep coming back here...
Sounds like your son's body is a bit "fussy" about meds. I have that too--rarely do regular drugs work the same way on me as everyone else. Sedatives for example, make me hyper.
How long have you been on the doses for and what are they, it may not have reached its full potential yet..
hang in there, as i will also
it will get better.....one day.. hopefully soon (we havent reached the end of the road yet.. thats my moral, i ahve to beileve it)
It CAN be better. Hang on Sloopy, Hang on!
Am on Day IV of strattera.
Good news--no depressio [alleviated the morning blues, in fact] , no mood swings, no weird urinary or sexual stuff. Other than dry mouth, the chills etc are going DOWN. And I'm getting to sleep on it now. I take it in the morning so far.
However, the ADHD stuff is still here--in spades, fidgeting, lack of focus, hyper.
Now I read all the stuff but nobody seems to write much on how to ramp up an adult.
I only have 40mg capsules [my doc was kind enuff to beg them from Eli Lilly] so do I need to split the capsules after 7 days to ramp up? Or just try ramping up to 80mg 2x per day?
Or do I wait and see if 40 mg will do it? I weigh 132 lbs and am 5'10.
Any ideas out there?
It will take time for it to work correctly.. and ramp up to the proper dose. Strattera never helped with the fidgeting at all.. made it worse for me.
Everything you've written is very common. I wasn't able to focus on anything important.. work related was the worst. The only thing I could do was housework or anything that didn't require thinking too much. The last part did get better.. but I was still non-productive as far as work went.
Metis-
I was on Strattera for only a month and probably never reached my theraputic dose, but during that time I slept less, focused less, and figeted more. Those were red flags for my doc and he put me back on stims.
I just started strattera 3 days ago. And yes I have a lot of the unpleasant side effects
nauseadry mouth [werhter's butterscotch and I are on intimate terms here]
chillssleep disruption [which is calming down]apetite suppression [i am already underweight]
I figured on those [I was expecting mood swings but haven't had them so far, thank the stars].
The good part has been that since the first dose I stopped having morning depression!
What I want to know about strat users is this:
Has anyone, when they started had MORE de-focussing [zoning out while listening to someone talk] and MORE fidgeting than usual? And I still can't function and get things done.
Does this mean I just have to wait until the dose goes up?
Does anyone know what that means?
MetisRebel39237.2754282407
hey sorry for the late reply i haven't been on here for a while, i think that you should persist with the current medication dose you are on... my son is adhd and at moment he is uncontrolable and has been for a couple of weeks...i am starting to think there maybe something further wrong with him but have to wait to see his specialist again about it..... he was originally on the same dosage he is on now but they said they were going to change his medication and put him on another one.... he said that he'd only be off his meds for about a week or two for them to wear off so that the new med would take full effect (when he started it) but then got a call about a month later ( after waiting for the prescription to arrive) and then they were saying that he was to young to trial this medication and i had to put him back on his normal meds.... anyway getting to the point rather than me babbling on... my point is that it takes a while for the meds to build up in your system to take full effect, since him being back on them i was begining to think that they don't work at all but i need to keep reminding myself that he was off them for a while... so they need to build up again......... i don't know i am not a doctor... but just persit if u get any really bad side effects like ticks then i would stop them ( or anything else)
anyway good luck with it.....
i am waiting for him to try the new med still i have 2 weeks to go and i am gradually holding in there....
good luck buddy
[QUOTE=NoTellin]Have you read this thread? http://millermom.proboards107.com/index.cgi?board=general&am p;am p;action=display&thread=1067310659
From what I have read, you get side-effects and no benefits for 4 weeks. Are you taking it at night time while you are ramping up? Supposedly this decreases the side-effects that you have to deal with. There is a target dose range that you have to reach. This thread tells you how to calculate your target dose range and then within that range you have to figure out the exact amount that works best for you. Apparently if you gain or lose weight you may have to adjust your dosage.
Perhaps your focus has decreased because you are sleep deprived and generally don't feel good? I don't have ADHD, but my focus goes out the window if I am tired.
[/QUOTE]I am taking it in the morning right now because the side effects are 24/7 and when I take it in the morning i can pass out at midnight [unheard of! i am a nighthawk].
When I go to ramp up I was considering taking the second one at night so the half life works better?
[QUOTE=eliza21]
hey sorry for the late reply i haven't been on here for a while, i think that you should persist with the current medication dose you are on... my son is adhd and at moment he is uncontrolable and has been for a couple of weeks...i am starting to think there maybe something further wrong with him but have to wait to see his specialist again about it..... he was originally on the same dosage he is on now but they said they were going to change his medication and put him on another one.... he said that he'd only be off his meds for about a week or two for them to wear off so that the new med would take full effect (when he started it) but then got a call about a month later ( after waiting for the prescription to arrive) and then they were saying that he was to young to trial this medication and i had to put him back on his normal meds.... anyway getting to the point rather than me babbling on... my point is that it takes a while for the meds to build up in your system to take full effect, since him being back on them i was begining to think that they don't work at all but i need to keep reminding myself that he was off them for a while... so they need to build up again......... i don't know i am not a doctor... but just persit if u get any really bad side effects like ticks then i would stop them ( or anything else)
anyway good luck with it.....
i am waiting for him to try the new med still i have 2 weeks to go and i am gradually holding in there....
good luck buddy
Keep on trying. This med seems to make me a bit more 'contented' even so far and has killed the morning blahs. Those alone might be worth the price of admission
I didn't get moodiness or rage at all--thank the stars.
It just isn't working yet on the ADHD part and I am fidgeting with my legs, CONSTANTLY [to the point they hurt].
I am really hoping, given the pluses that it WILL work at higher doses for the hyperactivity and focus!
I still feel wired for sound, though. But contendedly wired for sound--if that makes any sense...
I had the side effects you mentioned plus violent dreams and dizziness. The loss of appetite went away as well as the sleep disruption. After about a month, the dry mouth and dizziness didn't go away for me. Then I started having chest pain. My doc took me off right then and there. I did feel calmer for some reason when I was on Strattera. But now that I am using Cognitive Therapy, I am equally as calm without the side effects. I just felt sick when I was on Strattera and hated the feeling.
As far as your question regarding zoning out and figeting - I think I was zoning out because I was tired on Strattera. So I can't really recall exactly. I think I was let figety. I was calmer.
So that's my story.
Have you read this thread? http://millermom.proboards107.com/index.cgi?board=general&am p;action=display&thread=1067310659
From what I have read, you get side-effects and no benefits for 4 weeks. Are you taking it at night time while you are ramping up? Supposedly this decreases the side-effects that you have to deal with. There is a target dose range that you have to reach. This thread tells you how to calculate your target dose range and then within that range you have to figure out the exact amount that works best for you. Apparently if you gain or lose weight you may have to adjust your dosage.
Perhaps your focus has decreased because you are sleep deprived and generally don't feel good? I don't have ADHD, but my focus goes out the window if I am tired.
I personally think that ANY med that plays with your brain chemistry has the potential to make things worse before they get better. When I started Wellbutrin, I went through a period of time where I seemed worse (more spacey & unmotivated). I still get the chills in the morning when I take it. I know that isn't Strattera, but you get the point.
My husband DOES take Strattera though and he seemed to have a little bit of trouble (more spacey etc) with that too. He got the chills and mild nausea. Also would feel like he was hyped up on caffeine. However, he only had any side effects for the first two days of each dose increase. It has made him much calmer and only now at 80mg is he starting to feel the mind barriers go down so he can focus better.
You may not see a real benefit until you get to 60mg or more. Hopefully your side effects will minimize so you will be able to get up that high. Since most of us are naturally impatient and want instant results it is easy to get discouraged. I know that "they" say Strattera will work right away within the first week, but I personally think it will take a month at a maintainance dose before full benefit can be seen. Brain chemicals don't like to change.
I wouldn't give up yet. Good luck!
[QUOTE=Sleepdog]I had the side effects you mentioned plus violent dreams and dizziness. The loss of appetite went away as well as the sleep disruption. After about a month, the dry mouth and dizziness didn't go away for me. Then I started having chest pain. My doc took me off right then and there. I did feel calmer for some reason when I was on Strattera. But now that I am using Cognitive Therapy, I am equally as calm without the side effects. I just felt sick when I was on Strattera and hated the feeling.
As far as your question regarding zoning out and figeting - I think I was zoning out because I was tired on Strattera. So I can't really recall exactly. I think I was let figety. I was calmer.
So that's my story.
Well I woke up ever hour the first night with wildly colourful dreams and having to piddle. Last night I only piddled once but woke up 4x. So perhaps tonight I will sleep almost normally?
It seems the S/E are slowly diminishing. But the fidgeting is getting worse. Today when I go out I'll see if I'm still "zoning out" in conversation.
I still have the attention span of a gnat *sigh*
I personally think that ANY med that plays with your brain chemistry has the potential to make things worse before they get better. When I started Wellbutrin, I went through a period of time where I seemed worse (more spacey & unmotivated). I still get the chills in the morning when I take it. I know that isn't Strattera, but you get the point.
My husband DOES take Strattera though and he seemed to have a little bit of trouble (more spacey etc) with that too. He got the chills and mild nausea. Also would feel like he was hyped up on caffeine. However, he only had any side effects for the first two days of each dose increase. It has made him much calmer and only now at 80mg is he starting to feel the mind barriers go down so he can focus better.
You may not see a real benefit until you get to 60mg or more. Hopefully your side effects will minimize so you will be able to get up that high. Since most of us are naturally impatient and want instant results it is easy to get discouraged. I know that "they" say Strattera will work right away within the first week, but I personally think it will take a month at a maintainance dose before full benefit can be seen. Brain chemicals don't like to change.
I wouldn't give up yet. Good luck!
All that I read said that strat was very weird for the first while so I am trying to be patient! The weirdest side effect was losing my morning blues. I like that a lot! I don't want to give up yet because if it can do that--it might be the right drug for me if I get it ramped up.
Wish me luck!
[/QUOTE]
These quotes are from the link that I provided on the previous page:
"Dosing of children and adolescents over 150 pounds body
weight and adults - STRATTERA should be initiated at a
total daily dose of 25mgs, and increased after a
minimum of 3 days to a target total daily dose of 40
mg to 80 mgs depending on thier weight. After 2 to 4
additional weeks, the dose may be increased to a
maximum of 100 mg in patients who have not achieved an
optimal response. There are no data that support
increased effectiveness at higher doses regardless of
weight(see CLINICAL STUDIES)."
"Once you are up and running on target dose and
seeing good results, if it seems to be wearing off a
little, ask the doctor for two smaller sized doses
instead of the one big one"
These quotes are from the link that I provided on the previous page:
"Dosing of children and adolescents over 150 pounds body
weight and adults - STRATTERA should be initiated at a
total daily dose of 25mgs, and increased after a
minimum of 3 days to a target total daily dose of 40
mg to 80 mgs depending on thier weight. After 2 to 4
additional weeks, the dose may be increased to a
maximum of 100 mg in patients who have not achieved an
optimal response. There are no data that support
increased effectiveness at higher doses regardless of
weight(see CLINICAL STUDIES)."
"Once you are up and running on target dose and
seeing good results, if it seems to be wearing off a
little, ask the doctor for two smaller sized doses
instead of the one big one"
I started at 40mg because all I could get was doc samples.
THE GOOD NEWS IS:
I went to art group today and NO impulsive stuff AT ALL!!!! WHOO HOO. That and a quiet feeling of *contentment*--that alone would be worth the price of admission--I haven't felt that way in SO LONG!!!
Now, if it just starts working on the fidgeting and focus I will be ROCKIN'!
Yay! I am glad it is working. BTW, do NOT open the capsules. Apparently the powder is seriously abrasive and can cause respiratory misery if inhaled....
My hubby is getting pretty good results from 80mg. May try 100mg, but he wants to wait a month before deciding.
You can probably jump from 40 to 80mg, but your side effects may be icky....if you can get 60mg samples that would be better. You can give the 40mg a few days but I bet you will need a higher dose. Technically you should probably give it a couple of weeks, but my husband went from 25 for one week to 40 to 50 to 60mg (each for one week). Then waited two weeks before 80mg.
Good luck!!
[QUOTE=katastrophee]Yay! I am glad it is working. BTW, do NOT open the capsules. Apparently the powder is seriously abrasive and can cause respiratory misery if inhaled....
My hubby is getting pretty good results from 80mg. May try 100mg, but he wants to wait a month before deciding.
You can probably jump from 40 to 80mg, but your side effects may be icky....if you can get 60mg samples that would be better. You can give the 40mg a few days but I bet you will need a higher dose. Technically you should probably give it a couple of weeks, but my husband went from 25 for one week to 40 to 50 to 60mg (each for one week). Then waited two weeks before 80mg.
Good luck!!
[/QUOTE]I see my doc on thursday. I only have dry mouth and the odd chill left.
I'm just sooooo relieved that it seems to be starting to work on some things.
I jumped right in Saturday at 40mgs. the first day was awful but it's been getting better and better! All I need is the fidgeting to go and the focus to improve. The fidgeting went down a bit today [before I wear my legs down to nubs]
I will talk to doc on Thursday and show him my med diary. I'll see if he maybe has some 10-20mg capsules lying around
I am taking in the morning right now so perhaps I could take another 40mg at night to see?
MetisRebel39238.7631944444
Strattera comes in 18mg, 25mg, 40mg, 60mg, 80mg and 100mg.
You could certainly split the dose (40 in morning and 40 in evening) since a lot of people split their dose that way once they start taking a higher milligram strength. That way you can use your samples easily enough. He may not be able to get samples of 80mg....
See what he says about it.
[QUOTE=katastrophee]Strattera comes in 18mg, 25mg, 40mg, 60mg, 80mg and 100mg.
You could certainly split the dose (40 in morning and 40 in evening) since a lot of people split their dose that way once they start taking a higher milligram strength. That way you can use your samples easily enough. He may not be able to get samples of 80mg....
See what he says about it.
[/QUOTE]I think he's only got 40mg. size. That's what was in the boxes he gave me and he seemed to have a case they sent him. He's saving them for me
If I'm doing well tomorrow would it be too soon to ramp up to 80mg in 5 days or should we consider another week and see what happens?
Hmmm.....well, if it were ME, I would probably go seven days, and if my side effects were totally gone, go ahead and increase. If side effects still present, then wait another week. I would do that just to avoid misery if nothing else. What was your doc's original plan for you? Just try the 40mg until you came back for a visit?
Obviously, I can't just recommend you just increase your dose since I am no medical professional (at least not a human one!)....but hey, what do I know....
That sounds pretty sensible. Most meds give me dry mouth so I kinda don't count that one
40 mg to start and checking for the ramp up at this point--so if nothing fails then he might go for the ramp on thursday [after I've been on 5 days] or the week after that, i guess!
And hey, you've been very helpful and supportive so you know SOMETHING