About to give up on Strattera :( | ADHD Information

We had decided to try Strattera because the Concerta was not working as affectively and we didn't want to increase again (DS also has sleep issues to we figured with would be a good fit) and he had started wetting his pants for the first time since being potty trained 2 years ago and thought it was a side affect.  So this is the 3rd week, went from 10mg to 18mg and are decreasing the Concerta so we are now at 18mg looking to eliminate it totally.  Well, I don't think the wet accidents were a side effect of the Concerta at all.  It dawned on me that what pushed him into successful potty training was when we first put him on a stim and he said he could finally "feel" when he had to pee.  I think that b/c the Concerta probably needed to be increased he lost that feeling.  Yesterday he had the OTHER kind of accident for the first time ever.  He had been doing BMs in the toilet for 2 years before he got the peeing thing down so he hasn't had this kind of accident for 4 years!  i just can't set him up to me the kid that poops his pants at school.  (thankfully this is vacation week).  He's having social problems already, and kids are cruel.  I've seen this kind of thing follow kids all through elementary school.   I really thought we were onto something here....I'm so sad/frustrated.  I just want to help him and I feel like everything I do is wrong!

WEll, I certainly know the feeling, although it's not really positive to feel that way. You are not making wrong choices, just choices and adjusting accordingly.

 What's his target Strattera dose? 3 weeks isnt long enough, you realize that right?

 I have found with my daughter, when syptoms increase the same thing, she regresses on certain things and we have to start over, almost "relearning", but ti doesnt take as long. For us it's things like washing her hair. At 13 it needs to be done daily and done right, but whenever we get into "that place" she just doesnt do it right. I am again washing ehr hair with her  while we "do it again". You may have to add back some of your potty training techniques back inot your routine while he is adjusting to your new med regimen.

 I wouldn't give up quite yet.

I know he's not done the full three weeks, and a big part of me wants to see this through.  Part of the problem is that we're doing this with a regular Pediatrician b/c our mental health insurance SUCKS! I've tried to get him to see specialists more times than I can count but none will tak our insurance.  I was bringing him to one of the best Psychologists in our area, and b/c DS was doing so well it was mutually agree that he no longer needed to go.  In our last session he told me that he would never accept a patient with our insurance again (2nd time I've been told this) but to call if something comes up.  Well, I did call him and never got a reply.  ANYWAY the pediatrican says that it doesn't seem to be working but its my choice to change meds/take him off.  AARRGGh this is all so frustrating.

OOps...I meant to say I know we haven't done the full "6" weeks....but this is the 3rd week.  He's 42lbs, and according to some info on the Strattera site that means he should be at about 22-25mg.....**i dunno**

 

Someone had told that psychopharmologists don't go through any kind of formal process to have that title.  That makes me a bit nervous.  Anyone know more about that?  I think at the time I did look into it a bit, and I found that to be true.  That being said it was a while ago so I don't know if that is still true.

why not look for a psychpharmologist. We pay out of pocket for ours. It's prices, but it's only every three months so it's worth every penny.What is his weight? STrat takes 4-6 weeks to see results, so yeah, 3 weeks is not long enough? His target is 20-35 mgs, so he could go higher. Psychopharms do not go through any special schooling , in most cases they are only a licensed Pharmacist who has done some research on meds, SOME are also Psychiatrists, but not all.

We use a psychopharm. he is a psychiatrist and a doctor who is licensed to write presciptions, which is not all that they do.

I would google it or look up the word. Someone is misleading you.

I also want to mention that we use tenex with our concerta, it really helps.

Stratterra made our son depressed. IT did NOT help by taking it along with his concerta, we did that as well.

He has been on concerta and tenex just the two for over 3 years and successful.

would you consider adding tenex? Do you think the concerta needs an increase?

We had sleep and eating issues as well for the first year or so, then it all went away. He sleeps great and starts eating after 7pm, some time even comes out of school wanting something like a hotdog. It take a while for the bodies to adjust, but they do!

 

BETHANN39499.4816666667

well, I hvaen't stopped yet, and thankfully he had no accidents of any kind yesterday.  I'm sure you all know what its like: You've finally accepted that your kid needs to be on some pharmaceutical concoction to allow them to function, and with everyone you try you think "this is it".  I am going to keep at it, but if there's no disearnable difference by 6 weeks, that's it for the Concerta.  I did place several calls yesterday to psychopharmogolist's offices but got lots of voicemail/or long waiting periods. 

We'll see what happens from there.  I'll keep you all posted, and thanks for listening. 

our psychopharm is a psychiatrist and we LOVE him.

I'd give the Strattera the full trial before you quit. His dose is too low and it hasnt been long enough. Don't you want to be sure before you quit, you've already devoted several weeks to this.