I’m going to try Strattera | ADHD Information
I have tried so many things over the past two years. My son has done well with alternatives and assistance at school. His behavior is OK at home and in public. Even homework is OK, and he is at grade level. He has come a long way in two years. But I have not been able to penetrate the illusive focus symptom. For all other symptoms, I have found an alternative treatment that works. After seeing the curriculum this year, I do not think he will be able to keep his head above water without some serious agony. So I'm going to have to try Strattera. I've been researching it for a couple of months now. Stims are not a very good choice due to health issues. I hope it works. NoTellin39349.9103240741Good luck. I really hope this works for your son. Keep us posted.Strattera appears to be working.
What I'm thinking about most is how much harder some parents have to work at child-rearing than others. Some parents really have a cake-walk and don't even know it.
My son has been VERY easy to deal with recently. Sheesh, it this what it's like for many parents??
I'm so happy to hear it is working! YAY
Yes it is easier for some...............but even harder for others, enjoy it while it lasts 
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Currently my son is on Strattera at 50mg per day. He is 13 and doing great. We haven't needed to increase him in almost 2 years. He has been on this medication for about 4 1/2 years. I do have a question that someone may be able to help with. In addition to my son being ADHD he also has a motor tic disorder. This tic disorder prevents him from having anything that effects the nervouse system, including Benedryl, cold medications, and to my knowledge all other ADHD meds that I am aware of. Are there any other meds like Strattera that do not effect the central nervous system? I'm just curious as with anything else, you never know how long something is going to work and I like being as informed as possible. The only other med I know of is Clonodine (which is actually a B/P med does have a calming effect of ADHD kids) whici he was on but maxed out the dosage very quickly as since it is used for B/P and his is normally low he could not tolerate it any longer.
Any suggestions would be great. I don't want to ask the Dr. since Strattera is working and have him think a change is needed.
My son is on strattera also.Funny thing about Strattera is that so many Dr's are so uninformed!! My friend gave her son strattera and said it did nothing for him. She tried it for 3 days... When I told her it took 6 weeks to see the full benefit she was really surprised! Another friend said her son was a real Jerk on Strattera. I asked her how long she tried it and she gave it a week!!! Probably full dose too... she did not remember ramping at all!!!
I am so grateful for this line especially Ebson. Imagine not using this valuable tool because of bad advice from a Dr.
I am pretty sure there is another non stimulant med. Is it the Patch?
We used Desipramine. My daughter also was suffering from tics. It worked well, but wasnt enough for focusing once school started. I liked her on it. We got 24 hour coverage, she was very "even". No tics, less anxiety, less fidgeting, less impulsivness, and enough for focus to complete tasks, for us, just wasnt cutting it for school. She actually took Mortryptiline also for a while, same situation, but very sedating. Norpramin is the saem family. They are tricyclic antidepressants. She had no bad side effects from the Desipramine. Now she is using Daytrana, so far ok, no tics and GREAT for ADHD symptoms.
For colds we use Claritin.
My only problem with this med is my son has less appetite. Some kids gain on Strattera. My guess it is the ones who don't need to gain. It is different than stims though. Just sort of like nothing sounds good to him. He does eat more regularly. On stims it was morning and evening. Now he eats all day just not enough.The past couple days he seems to eat more so maybe he is adjusting.
Yes Daytrana. Is that the same type of med as Strattera?
My son lost about 8lbs but within 3 months he leveled out and starting gaining lik normal. He's a really skinny kid too. What I did during that time was give him ensure and make him high calorie shakes with carnation instant breakfast with ice cream in it. That way if his appetite was of I knew he would drink a shake. The Dr. said it was a good idea since normally the weight loss evens out.
[QUOTE=BL Moretti]My only problem with this med is my son has less appetite. Some kids gain on Strattera. My guess it is the ones who don't need to gain. It is different than stims though. Just sort of like nothing sounds good to him. He does eat more regularly. On stims it was morning and evening. Now he eats all day just not enough.
The past couple days he seems to eat more so maybe he is adjusting.
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I was on strat for a while. I was underweight when I started. For the first couple of weeks I had to force down one small meal a day. Once I was adjusted and ramped up I CRAVED fruit. I put back on 10lbs in two weeks.
How long has your son been on it?
Hmmm... We started about 2 weeks before school started so that would be mid August. He had gained 7 lbs this summer on tenex alone and now he has lost 4 of those!!! It is only slightly over two months so I will watch and see. I do think his appetite has picked up the last couple days. Daytrana is a stimulant. Methyphedinate. However, for us, the change in delivery method, being absorbed through the skin is very different than any other stim we've tried, and we tried almost al of them. It took a couple of weeks for the side effects to subside, but they have and so far anyway, NO TICS. YEA! That's awesome.
[QUOTE=BL Moretti]My son is on strattera also.
Funny thing about Strattera is that so many Dr's are so uninformed!! My friend gave her son strattera and said it did nothing for him. She tried it for 3 days... When I told her it took 6 weeks to see the full benefit she was really surprised! Another friend said her son was a real Jerk on Strattera. I asked her how long she tried it and she gave it a week!!! Probably full dose too... she did not remember ramping at all!!!
I am so grateful for this line especially Ebson. Imagine not using this valuable tool because of bad advice from a Dr.
I am pretty sure there is another non stimulant med. Is it the Patch?
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I agree with Dr's being misinformed, and the sad thing is, all of the info I have is readily available on the Strattera website! I think that Alot of Dr's think because it is an ADHD med it should be used just like a stimulant would......not a good idea.
No Tellin I know what a hard choice this is for you. Hopefully this will be life changing for your son. We will never stop looking for a better alternative and I know you will be right there with us when we find it!Thanks BLMoretti. It's been an awfully long road. I hope this is the last piece to the puzzle.
The positive results have begun to diminish. He now has increased focus issues and distractibility. Homework has become more difficult and academic performance has decreased.Oh no! Could it just be the time of year? The holidays do a number on kids?The positive results seem to be completely gone now. It's like he's unmedicated and he's at the max dose -- 50 mg. I think he may actually be worse because he has becomes extremely hyperactive. The doc is tapering down, and then off.
Boy, that was short-lived. What a tease.
No tellin I know you are dissapointed... My son... the one the Dr told me to medicate more has just come off strattera as well. We added concerta to the strattera and than seemed like double dipping or something so I weaned him off and upped concerta. He is now on 36 mg and doing amazingly well.That said I am still working on amino therapy and expect test results any day. My other son on aminos is coming along and I will have him off meds and only sups over Christmas break. Then we re-test and tweak. He is off meds on the weekends and they are livable.
He's been at the target dose for two or three weeks now. The difference is amazing. He is acting like a typical kid now. I don't even have to deal with homework. He does it at daycare. He finishes all of this classwork. He's totally getting into writing -- writes little stories all of the time. That sounds like good news to me! Hope things go rollin along the path this smoothly for a while. Good Luck!WOW No Tellin, this is great news!
. I'm happy for you both..................It has nothing to do with the release, the meds in Strat can cause SEVERE lung problems if inhaled. DO NOT OPEN IT!
I am hoping this dr also started him at 10 mgs?
I just want to say "Amen" to the comment about Dr.'s being misinformed! My DH took DS back to the Ped. today and was given Strattera and told for us to open capsule and sprinkle on applesauce until DS can learn to swallow pills. That's NOT what the pamphlet said that came with it!! Nor, what the Strattera website that is listed in the pamphlet says. It definitely said NOT to open and sprinkle on food - must be taken whole!! Well, common sense, (I think?) should tell us that if the med works for 24hrs that dumping the whole open contents into your body at one time would result in the entire dose being released at once and not over a 24hr period. Can you tell I'm upset? Sorry for venting!! If I'm wrong, someone please say so!!
Well I saw a neuro psychologist today and they tested my youngest son 6, for hours. They said they did not see the retardation of FAS and his intelligence tested normal. He felt he would test higher if he could focus...
He did say he felt I have left no stone unturned in my quest for my son. He does not believe nutrition has anything to do with ADHD symptoms. (we differ there)
His only suggestion is more or different meds. Currently he is taking Strattera and 18 mg concerta on school days. His belief is his problems will go away with different or better meds.
BL, good luck with whatever you decide. I know your preference is no stimulants if possible. It is amazing the difference in the different meds though, especially for focus and attention. I know this choice is such a tough one to make.
My daughters IQ is GREATLY impacted by her attentional issues also...........not good.