Strattera -Metabolizes out of system | ADHD Information

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Strattera has been a miracle drug for our 7 year old dd but it works for a few weeks then it stops working and we have to increase her dose.  She had the same problem with Ritalin and Concerta.  Anyone have any advice on what to do?  I really don't want to go back to stimulant drugs.  She doesn't eat or sleep when on them.  We go a note home from her teachers this week that she having a really hard time in class.

Thanks, I would really appreciate some advice!

I called her pedi and had her dose changed to 36mg.  I was planning on starting her this weekend.  Today she gave me a reallly hard time in the morning and was in tears when I picked her up.  She said she had cried a couple of times during the day about minor things and cried all the way home because she had cried at school.  She said she couldn't understand why she cried.  I forgot her lunch today (I thought she had hot lunch) and she didn't like what they had at school so she didn't eat all day.  She wasn't really hungry when she got home but she did eat a snack, then refused diner.  It's after 8:00 and she still wont eat.  Any advice?  I was planning on keeping her home tommorow to give her the higher dose.  Should I give it?  She also said she got moved to the "quiet" table for a week because she wasn't able to focus ( and probably being disruptive).

I am very worried and don't feel like I am getting enough feedback from her pedi.

Thanks

Split the dose, am and pm.

You might also consider seeing a Psychiatrist for med management. .

edbson39373.7894560185What I would do is give her the higher dose but let the teacher know and ask
for feedback about the day. That way you are giving your daughter the
message that you are all working hard at making things better.

I know what you mean about the worrying. We are going through a dose
change for Zoloft and there is a risk of a manic episode. This business is all
so much trial and error. so hard to experiment on our kids- but there
doesn't really seem to be any other way to do it.

Best of luck. [QUOTE=hissmom]

Strattera has been a miracle drug for our 7 year old dd but it works for a few weeks then it stops working and we have to increase her dose.  She had the same problem with Ritalin and Concerta.  Anyone have any advice on what to do?  I really don't want to go back to stimulant drugs.  She doesn't eat or sleep when on them.  We go a note home from her teachers this week that she having a really hard time in class.

Thanks, I would really appreciate some advice!

[/QUOTE]

Meds aren't a miracle answer. An adhd child WILL sometimes struggle regardless.  What you need to look at is the course of action over a long period of time. Is there some particular reason dd might be struggling more than usual right now? [eg: death in the family, bullying, new routine etc]?

Or

has her weight changed? strat is weight dependent...
MetisRebel39369.3797800926

Straterra is extremely weight dependednt, and if it is not dosed properly it won't work the right way. How much does she weigh? What dose was she started on? How much is she taking now?

 

Too high of a dose will cause very undesirable side effetcs, and possible liver damage, too low causes mood swings.

She's seeing a pedi.  We tried the psych and he was of no help at all.  I am going to call and see if they can change her perscription to 35mg.  I had just assumed that 40mg was the next available dose.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Strattera comes in 10,18,25,40 and 60 and up (that's from memory but I'm pretty sure I'm right) but you can always mix it up to get the best dose.  The only frustrating thing about doing that is that you can end up paying for 2 prescriptions instead of one.  If you do 36mg, then the pharmacy should just give you a double dose of 18. If you do 35, then you pay for 25 and 10.  At least that's what happens to me.   Also, be aware that the more unusual dosages can take longer to fill because they never seem to have them in stock.  We tend to be a bit disorganized around my house and we'll realize that we're out and need pills for the next day and then we're running around town trying to get them filled. 

At 60 lbs her target dose is 30 -50 mgs. A jump from 25 to 40 is too fast, should have been raised 10 mgs at a time.

No wonder she was having problems, her dose was too low. Is she seeing a Ped or a Psych?

Thank you so much for your feedback.  She is definately having mood swings.  I feel a little better now that there is a second indication that her med dose is too low.  I really hate giving her anything so I want to keep her dose as low as possible.  She weighs about 60 lbs.  They just increased her dose from 25 to 40 mg.  Is that appropriate?  I think she started at 16mg?  I'll start with the new dose this weekend. 

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!