Adverse reaction to stimulants, anyone? | ADHD Information
I'm a new parent to ADHDNews and have had so much comfort reading post of parents going through very similar situations. Here's one I need help with.
8 year old diagnosed with ADHD @ 6 yo. We first tried diet and behavior modification, some help still do it. Tried an assortment of stimulants that contrieved aggressive, irritable and obsessive behavior. Naturally stopped stimulants. Tried Straterra, she lost her mind- literally - there was some talk during this time of a possible mood disorder but no other signs in the past year have pointed to that, ped and psyc ruled medication reaction. Off Straterra and on Tenex. Better control over hyperactivity, with no side affects other than a little tired in the afternoons occasionally, no help with attention deficit. Psyc wants to add Wellbutrin to see if it helps with the attention aspect. Most things I read about Wellbutrin are contradictory. This site good, that site bad sort of thing. And after the whole Straterra thing I am so scared of another medicine. Has anyone tried this combo? Does anyone have a child who cant take stimulants or Straterra and found something that works?
My daughter has come so far and works so hard, when she's on target and paying attention it's wonderful for her, she feels great about herself. Unfortunately those time are few and far between. She can see the difference and tries so hard to control it. She is getting to the age that it's becoming social aware to her and others that she has a problem. That causes much anxiety. My husband and I are exhausted, worried and just want her to be happy - not a genious, not the top student, just a happy productive kid. Any suggestions?
sjwomble39421.0363425926You mean the combo wellbutrin and tenex?
My son is on concerta and guanfacine(tenex) and has been doing great since we started 3 1/2 years ago. Tenex really finished the "job" off right!
My son was depressed with strattera, wanted to kill himself he told us at the age of 8! We stopped the med immediately. That was our experience, i know that others are very happy with it.
You just have to keep trying till you find the right one, every one is different and effected differently by the meds.
I think adding a stim to the tenex is a great idea. You will never know until you try!
Oh, the fact that somebody has had a similar experience is so comforting. That is the scariest feeling when your child is truely out of control! Yes the combo to strattera and Wellbutrin. We'll see. Glad to see your success!
Thanks for the support!!
You are welcome
Tried Straterra, she lost her mind- literally - there was some talk during this time of a possible mood disorder but no other signs in the past year have pointed to that, ped and psyc ruled medication reaction.
[/QUOTE]If it helps you feel better, my son was CRAZY with Strattera, and I know that he doesn't have a mood disorder. The psych told us that a lot of kids react badly to Strattera, and just yesterday the school social worker told me that they have had a lot of negative experiences with kids on Strattera.
I don't want to scare anyone off, because a lot of people on this forum do great with Strattera, but just rest assured, you aren't the only one.
Sorry, can't help with your medication choices, though.
Again, thanks to all of you who shared your info. It has made this decision so much easier, and made our entire family more at peace with what may come in the future. Joy2 it's good to know about your experiences. I love my daughter's school and teacher, but I'm coming to realize how uneducated, yet very willing to learn, they are about ADHD and medicine tribulations.
How was I not aware of such a great website. More troubling, I live within a 50 mile radius of two major, nationally known, medical centers with some of the best doctors in the country, yet none of them can agree on a single thing.
If it helps any, my doc told me that Wellbutrin has a fairly low rate of side effects overall. I've taken it for over a year, but it helps with a lot of things, but since I went back to school (I have a DH, 2 kids- 1 w/ADHD- and I run a homedaycare as well) I've found I've needed to add a stimulant (Adderall) on days I have to study.My daughter has been taking Wellbutrin along with Adderall XR for 2 years, now. It helps some with her ability to focus, and she has tolerated this medication well. She cannot tolerate either zoloft or prozac, and had what I would consider manic reactions to both.
Thanks Ya'll. It is so comforting to know that others have ridden the same medication rollercoaster as us. I wish I had of found this website a year ago!
I seem to be reading alot about Adderall, not something that has been offered to us. I was under the impression that was consider a stimulant medication. I'll check out some threads on it.
Thanks again
Adderall IS a stimulant medication. .
my daughter took Wellbutrin succesfully, well fairly successfuly. Meaning no side effects. She has side effects from all stimulants. It didnt really help her inattention enough though. She is exremely inattentive. She also had some decent seuccess with tricyclic antidepressants Nortryptline and Desipramine. The Nortyptiline made her tired which is why we neded up stopping it.
Currently she is taking Strattera very successfully. It is our best med choice so far and we've been doing meds for 5 years.