strattera not working | ADHD Information

It actually takes 6 weeks AFTER reaching the target dose to see results. Target dose is 1.2-1.8 mgs per kilo(2.2 lbs) of body weight, So give it a few more weeks before you decide to stop. It hasn't had a chance to work yet. Your Son is at a dose(25 mgs.) for a roughly 48 lb child. Waht is his weight? A dose thast is too high or too low will NOT have good results.The six week trail samples of strattera is not working. We have one week left. Does anyone have any input as to what to try next?   For one day I thought I saw a change.  He was really pleasent.  I'm going to call next week for an appointment to try something else.  He is almost 6 and going to start school this year. I'm just so tired of yelling.  It seems nothing else works. What else has he tried?

I was exactly where you are. We tried Strattera with my son for some months. His doc didn't want to try stimulants on him because he had some tics. But definitely with Strattera I had a nightmare with him; I think his symptoms even worsened.  Anyway, remember that Strattera takes long to show an effect in the case it is the right med for your son, and it is also given according to body weight. The dose has to be too exact according to his weight.

My son was finally switched to Concerta and he has done pretty well since then. I suggest you to listen to your docs advice and decide if trying stimulants is a possibility for him.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Did you ramp up to the target dose and then stay at the target dose for 4 weeks? The target dose should be at least 1.2mgs for
every 2.2 lbs of body weight. If you aren't good with
formulas, you divide his weight by 2.2, then multiply
that # by 1.2. That will give you the mgs you need to
work up to. You are suppose to start low and then ramp up after 7-10 days.Strattera is the only thing we have tried so far.  He did round up from 18 to 25.  He is on his last week of 25.  This will make six weeks and I have not seen any difference.  The things I have heard about concerta and adderall(sp?) are not good.  I'm afraid to try them.  He has combination ADHD.  Anywhere we go or sports we try everyone I'm sure thinks he is a bad kid.  His is not bad or mean, his just doesn't listen well do to his hyperness and his lack of attention.  I had to pull him out of preschool last year and this year pulled him from a sitter.  Niether are a fault.  He can't help how he acts and the sitters don't know how to handle it.  I even gave handouts to the last sitter in hopes to give her some insight on ways to help him.  HA!!!! That was a joke.  I could go on and on but I'm sure most everyone has been through this.  Thanks for all your input.  Any and all will help.

Just like mine. My son's impulsiveness and distractibility makes it difficult for him to have good peer interaction. I was also trying therapy; have you ever thought about that?? My ds used to attend social skills therapies with a psychologist; it was a very slow process but I was starting to see some good results: I had to stop them because of my new job and the psychologist couldn't place my son at a different hour; but I am planning that he attends those again for the next school year. He does go to pedagogical therapies that help in concentration and academic matters.

After Strattera my son has done well on Concerta, there is some improvement in concentration and mainly in his  mood, he seems happier; however, there are always evident adhd traits that still make it difficult for him to manage himself in many aspects. The doc always tells me that medication is just an aid, but not a miracle pill; adhd treatment works better when it is combined with therapies to improve  behavior (this is what my doc, a neuroped, has always told me); we as parents also need training some times; it is a difficult job; well, you know that . I am happy with results anyway and I respect any parent's decision about medicating. This is why I am wondering if you have considered therapies.

My son wieghs about 55 pounds. The doc said he was in between doses. He wieghs about 55 pounds.  We do give it to him at dinner time.  I did my calculations and it seems to me he should be at 30mgs.  I need to ask the doc next week what he thinks.  He may keep him at this 25 a little longer, although I really haven't seen any improvement.  I would think I should see something by now.  Even the psychologist said therapy wouldn't help much.Don't be afraid to try other meds. If you give this the effort it needs and it is not the right choice, there are so many options. All medication has the potential for side effects. Even cold medicine. The nice part with stimulant meds (like Adderall and Concerta) are that you can stop them right away. If there are unpleasaant side effects, you stop. This whole journey is about finding a balance, meds that help relieve symptoms with little/no side effects. Every medication, every dose, every delivery method is different and every child is different so what works or doesnt work for one child could be a miracle for another. I'm surprised the psyhcologist says therapy wont help. Therapy can be beneficial if  it's the right thing. They can help kids with social cues, like making eye contact, waiting their turn to talk, body language.

When my neuroped prescribed treatment to my son he drew a triangle on a piece of paper. He told me that the top corner belongs to what the family does in other to help the child at home; he insisted that this requires training for the family members who frequent the child at home. At the left corner he wrote the therapies part that would be beneficial to improve behavior the best possible; my son has been doing social skills (that will resume eventually), and pedagogical which actually have been crucial for him in all that has to do with school matters. The right corner was the medication part. He explained that medication was just an aid to help make the other corners or parts of the treatment (triangle) easier. He would benefit more from any therapy or work strategy  if he is on a med that helps him focus better. He told us that going without medication was another option, but obviously we wouldn't be achieving optimum results.

I used to be under terrible stress with my son's issues. I happen to be a teacher, so, I was maybe looking at my son with different eyes. I was usually desperate at my son's docs appointments; I even looked for different opinions. Finally, after so much going here and there and confusing my mind so much, I understood that adhd can be treated, that treatment is not a complete solution for all symptoms. I understand that symptoms can be helped with a proper treatment, but they will always be there to some degree. Every little thing that you can do for your son, will have its benefit sooner or later. Therapies are slow to show benefits, but they work. ADHD treatment is a long process, but when it is done correctly, the benefits are worth it. I don't really understand why would a psychologist say that therapies are not useful.

At 55 lbs his dose would be between 30 and 45 mgs, so until he reaches the tagrte dose you will not see results. Straterra takes 4-6 weeks AFTER reaching the target dose to see results. It's gonna take a while longer.

We added strattera to my son's meds so that there was a med in his system at all times. My son is adhhhhhhd. From what I have been told by our doctor, straterra is best for those with the inattentive type, not the hyperactive and impulsive type-like my son.

Alone it may not work as well as a stimulant. I would check back in with your prescribing doctor.

I also want to mention that the reason we stopped was due to the depression it brought on. My son wanted to kill himself at the age of 8. We stopped the meds immediately and he has NEVER mentioned that again. I don't think he even remembers feeling that way. Depression is one of the side effects of straterra.

Just our experience!

Beth

The Straterra didn't appear to work for my son either, so his doctor prescribed concerta in the morning and he takes the Straterra at night.   I didn't take him off the Straterra because it seemed to help with his anxiety.  He is doing great now.

 

Were there any issues with his not eating? That's what scared me and I took him off.  Of course I think that was a mistake.  Will be back at the doctor this friday. I'll see if he has any other ideas, otherwise I guess I'll try the Strattera again.  It really did help, but the not eating was bothering me.Well it did work but we had such a weight loss issue I stopped it.  Now I wish I didn't.  He is back to where he was before.  After looking around, it seems like Strattera is the best option for us. Now we have to go back to the roundup.  But I'm hoping to stop at 20mg.  We go back to the Doctor on friday.  Until then we are yelling and pulling our hair out again.  His father and grandfather are both bipolar so I really have to watch for mixed signals.  ADHD does copy bipolar.  At this young age it's hard to tell.

Oh I know, well I hope it works out for you this time.