Started Straterra and still hyper | ADHD Information
My 9 year old son just started Straterra early this morning. He started on 25 MG. It hasn't done anything what-so-ever so far. It has been 12 hours since he took it last. He has been VERY hyper again today, running around the house, jumping on the furniture, fighting his baby brother, yelling out disrespectful things to me, etc. He's just been his normal hyper snarky little self. Is this normal? Should it have gace him some help on day one?
He has only taken 1 other medication for adhd and that was Adderal XR 15 MG. With that medication he has a great concentration, was very calm, perfect!!! Except he took very bad emotional outbursts and cried and cried for no reason through out the day and acted like a zombie that just sat and looked at the wall. These bad effects happened about 4 1/2 -6 hours after taking the adderall xr.
But I did see changes, much change (bad and good) with Adderall, I have yet to see anything at all differant with this Straterra. Should I continue and hope that it will finally start working?
Also does Straterra help with outbursts in class. Like talking out loud in class without raising his hand, making noises and saying sparty things to the teacher? Like when she says go sit down and reads he goes to the back of the room and does something else. That is what we are having the most trouble with now.
Thank you for your replys!
Well, since Strat takes 6-8 weeks to work, of course he is Hyper! Of course he is having irritability he was started TOO HIGH! Did the Psych not tell you this when he prescribed it?
WHY was he started at 25 mgs? What is his target dose? What is his weight? Is he seeing a Psychiatrist or a Pediatrician? If it is a ped you NEED a Psych. Starting this particular med at 25mgs is dangerous!!!
I am honestly shocked that he is not having Mood swings, stomach pains etc being started that high. Strattera HAS to be started at 10 mgs, and ramped SLOWLY to the target dose.
Strat does help with outbursts, hyperactivity and alot of other things, WHEN IT IS DOSED PROPERLY, which your son's has NOT BEEN!
I just wish, Dr's would READ the dosing info for Strat, before they prescribe it.
edbson39403.6899305556Strattera works very differently than stimulants. Stimulants are in and out of your system in a matter of hours. this is why they are the first choice for meds. Strattera has to build up in the system. It generally takes at least 2 weeks to see any effect and as edbson says 4-6 for optimum effect.
How did the doctor prescribe to you? A certain dose then increase it up? You dont just start at the dose you will need for effect liek with stimualtns, you must start lower an increase up so the body can get used to it, so the naswer to your question is no you wont see any symptom relief the first day.
Diane V39403.6908912037Hi Peacefulpisces,I have read many of your posts. I know that you live out in the middle of nowhere, but if it were my kid, I would take him out of school for a day and drive to the nearest big city to see a decent psychiatrist. In fact, I think it is necessary for the well-being of your son to find a really good psychiatrist. Kentucky isn't that big -- you must have something within a three hour drive. You wouldn't have to go there very often -- they can send you prescriptions and talk to you on the phone once you have met them. Try to find someone associated with or employed by a BIG hospital or university hospital. You will be treated better and they will probably not be handing you random medications to try. You are dealing with clowns and they are using your son as a guinea pig.
My son was started on too high of a dose of Strattera (18 mg) and my sweet little guy, who had always done well on Ritalin, became a monster. Luckily he always tells me what he is thinking, and what he thought during those 4 days was scary and violent. His personality changed completely. I let the kid watch TV for 2 days straight until he was back to normal. That was the point that we switched doctors as well, because I felt that the other psych was just "trying stuff out."
I still wonder, why didn't they start your son with the most common, most researched medication -- Ritalin? Why did they start with a high dose of Adderall and then a high dose of Strattera, which takes forever to ramp up? That doctor is just throwing darts in the dark and hoping that he hits the target.
Take the bull by the horns and get thee to Louisville, Lexington, Nashville or Cincinnati. The only way to deal with healthcare is to be active, active, active.
Thank you all so much for your replys. I called the psych today and told him how I read that the straterra should be started at the lowest dose and ramped up, I told him I was concerned it was too high. He told me that the 10 MG would be too low to have to start off on since my son is 80 and half pounds. He said he could put him on the 18 MG but since my son has taken the 25 MG for 3 days with no side effects he wants him to continue the 25 MG. He tells me he will up the dose if needed on the 27th (Nov) when he see's us again.
I am still somewhat worried about it being too high. My son isn't having many side effects. I find that he has been more tired and sleepy that usual though. He has been a little more angry. But nothing servere so far.
Will you please tell me if Straterra makes children lose alot of weight and makes them eat less? My son was sooooo tiny from about 2 years old until 7 yrs. old. He FINALLY has put on some weight and I would hate so bad to see him lose it! He seems to be eating good now. Could that change the longer he takes it? I also would like to know what can you do for the angry episodes.. My son has always bothered his baby brother (age 4) and they fight, But my oldest son has never actually really "faught" with him to hurt him because he knows he is bigger then him. But I noticed yesterday that he pushed him down and this time actually pushed him hard!! (Not hard ebough to hurt him but I don't want it to happen again!) What should I do for that? I mean should I stop the medicine? Is there anything to help that kind of behavior.
Thank you all so much for any replys.
Thank you for your replys. After I filled the medicine I came here lurking around the straterra posts and had seen where MANY, many people were told the same thing "Start on the lowest dose and slowly work your way up!" Thats why I didn't even want to give it to him. I live in a small hick town in Kentucky and his psychitrist must have didn't know any better,. This comes from a man who has to hire someone to sit beside of him and write out his prescriptions for him because his hand-writting is so bad. He also sits back and plays with childrens toys while talking to you. The man needs help. But he is the ONLY pyschitrist within a good 60 mile zone. And he works in the same building and with the same organization that my son's therapist works. (No doubt, she is a quack too)
I called the pharmacy and he told me that doctors usually start on the lowest dose and work their way up to the target dose. I asked him if 25 MG would be OK, He said he may be more irritated and have more side effects but it wouldn't be harmful. He said they usually start kids on 10-18 or 25 depending on their age and weight.
My son is 9 years and 3 months old. He weighs 80 and a half pounds. Not sure how tall he is, but I think he is 4 foot 10.
Should I continue this medication or not give it to him anymore and call his doc. monday and tell him he made a mistake (I am sure this will make him upset, he is a grouchy old foggy too) But upset or not I will do what is best for my child.
Any replys will be great!
my daughter started Strattera today too. She is 13, but also 80 pounds. I searched the Strattera website and all over and couldnt find anywhere but here that you HAD to start at 10. Our p-doc said she would be fine starting at 18 and that is where we started 18. He wants our target dose to be about 40. That is a tad low for her weight, but we know this and will still plan to shoot for 2 18mg capsules a day. I am fine with this. If I were you, since it's only been one day, maybe skip tomorrow, call him Monday and tell him that everything you've read says to start low and you'd be more comofrtable starting him at 10 or 18 mg/s then go from there. Why have side effects if you dont need to. According to this from the Strattera site on dosing the starting dose should be 18mg.
This is from a different thread
http://www.strattera.com/hcp/strattera_dosing.jsp
Diane V39403.7202083333Strattera does not help hyperactivity.
Joy2 is right. I know that you are on the waiting list for an advocate, but this is not enough. Definately get in your car and drive to a children's hospital for a decent eval. The advocate is going to tell you to do this anyway, so start now. Maybe the advocacy place will at least tell you where to go for an evaluation. The medical facility that you are dealing with really is a joke. Medical management appointments are usually every four to eight weeks apart. The high dose Adderall and then Strattera given your particular situation really is idiotic. Heck,someone on this board could probably do a better job. I'd laugh, but I'm serious.
Hi There,
Does anyone know how long you should wait after weening completely off meds to start a natural supplement? My son (11yrs) was on 50mg strattera and 40mg of Zoloft. I started weening him and he is now down to 35 strattera and 40 of zoloft. i really want to try something natural. I honestly think all these meds are stuntong his growth and he doesn't eat or sleep properly. so how long should i wait after his last dose, before starting an alternative therapy?
Does anyone know how long i should wait after stopping a last dose of 35mg strattera and 40mg of zoloft. My son is ll and i want to try somwething natural, but want to make sure the meds are completely out of his system.I am sure it depends on what you are starting. Your pharmacist can be a great source for drug interaction information. Make sure you let your childs p-doc know what you are giving him.Thanks for that. I am intending on starting Nue-be-calm. Do you know much about it?