Strat actually takes 4-6 weeks to see a difference, and that is AFTER the ramp period, so 6-8 weeks in actuality. SOme do see a difference before then however.
Although we have never used a stim and Start together, I know some who have, and it is common. Just make sure it is ramped proper;ly and dosed accoring to his weight.
i am curious why they are not tweaking the adderall first, usually that helps alot.
About 2 months ago we went to 15mg and it was too much for his system to take. The teacher called me and said it wa the worst day she ever had with thim. Totally out of control. My son weighs 50lbs and he is going to start on 18mg for 7 days and then it will go to 25mg. After reading all the posts regarding all the medications I think I am just going to try the strattera alone and see how it works. Thank you for you help. HE should be started at 10 mgs, and ramped slowly, 10, 18, 20, 25 etc, to his target dose. How long has your daughter been on the strattera.? How old is she? Did her appetite decrease. I am happy to hear that you had such positive results. Is Daytrana the same as Adderall. Did your physciatrist prescibe this for you or your general practittioner. I am sorry for all the questions. Daytrana is the same med as Ritalin, and Concerta, not Adderall. It is a skin patch, that works for 12 hours, but is worn for 9. my daughter is taking Strattera and has had ZERO side effects. We did start at 18 also and she did fine. I even asked about starting at 10 as I had read here that was best, but our doctor felt she would be ok so we tried it and she did do fine. I am sure if you asked him to start you at 10 he would though. Our "plan" was to ramp the Strattera then add Daytrana back to her. I have been so pleased with the Strattera alone though we never did add back a stimulant.no problem with the questions!
It is a psychiatrist. She was on the Daytrana for a couple of months after several months off stimulants. It was not lasting long enough and taking too long to "kick in" in the mornings. She has never done very well on stimulants. So I asked about giving Strattera a try, I was willing to give it the time it takes. This was knowing we could add the Daytrana back if necessary. This was mid November. They say 4-6 weeks, but we saw some results within the first week and every time we ramped we saw quick results, then it would settle, then we'd ramp and the same thing. Anyway, she was doing so well on her target dose of 54 mg I decided not to add the stimulant back. She has NO appetite suppresion on this med. She had lost 6 pounds on 2 months on the Daytrana and loses on all stims. She is small anyway, very thin, 5'2" and 82 pounds. Daytrana and Adderall are different meds and different classes of meds, but both are stimulants.
She doesnt have a huge appetite normally and I feel with the Strattera she is just her regular personality. She's still got ADHD and needs direction and all the "stuff" that comes along with it, but it makes her able to control herself, it doesnt control her (if that makes sense). It just works for us. Others dont have as much success, but we are right at about our 6 weeks at target dose now and she is doing well.
I am new to this site but am feeling very confused. My son was diagnosed with adhd last summer. He is 7 years old. He is on adderal xr 10 mg and it does not seem to be doing the job. He has troube with his behavior in school and at home. He just started seeing a physchologist and we just met with a neurologist who wants to change his medication to Strattera. My pediatrician thinks he should take both until the strattera starts to works. I guess it can take 2 to 6 weeks foryou to see a difference. I am so confused. Has anyone ever used both and at the same time. Please advise.My daughter started this same treatment this week. She is on 20mg adderall xr and just started strattera (18mg I think). She is supposed to take the adderall for 2 weeks and then it will be decreased to 10mg, eventually taking just the strattera. Once she is at the target dose, we will determine how effective it is. We may need to add a stimulant as well. The stims caused tics in my daughter as well as weight issues, irritability and moodiness. If the Strattera works it will be wonderful because it shouldn't cause these side effects. I'm a little leary of it working well because my daughter is extreme ADHD. The doctor said it is more apt to be effective in kids with mild/moderate ADHD (hadn't heard that one before). He is a psychopharmacologist (dr who specializes in medications). Her neurologist usually prescribes her meds but we're at a roadblock right now because since she's gone off her focalin, we haven't been able to find a med that works without causing tics. I thought seeing the specialist might help. We'll see....I'm trying to think positively!!
good luck. Tics were our main reason to try to get by without stims too! We also had some luck with the tricyclic antidepressants, Nortryptiline and Desipramine (better with Desipramine). No tics and VERY even keeled mood on those. Her attention is better on the Strattera though, and so far we've not had to think about adding back stimulant. We're at least getting a break.Thanks Diane, that's encouraging! I am hoping that the next 6 weeks go by quickly so we'll have our answer.