Questions about Strattera | ADHD Information

I agree with taking at night to help the sleepiness. That may pass after the first couple of weeks. Another option is once at target (unless 25 is your target) is to split your dose. My daughter takes half her dose in the morning and the other half after school. This evens out coverage and helps with that tiredness. If 25 is target, maybe you could do 10 and 10? I'ts hard to get the dose exact when trying to split it so you dont have to fill 2 precriptions ($$$$$). Our doc gave us some samples so we could play with the dose. We see NO moodiness, one of my favorite things about this med.

We were told to have our dd take the Strattera with dinner in the beginning and later, once adjusted, switch to the am.  Once at target and adjusted, we did switch to the am dosing but then had the fatigue in the afternoon.  At that point, we did some split-dosing to help with afternoon fatigue.  It didn't work, so I had to open the morning capsule and shave off a little on the medicine until dd adjusted for a couple weeks.  Then we could go to the full target dose.  We're back to split dosing again only because it isn't a 24 hour medication for dd so the split-dosing evens out the effectiveness.     

you really aren't supposed to open the capsules, it actually specifically says not to. If the dosing is not quite right, ask the docotr for some samples of a smaller dose to build. If ramped properly it really shouldnt be too much of an issue.

I think a LOT of people split the dose.

The doctor asked me to open the capsules.  Don't do this without the doctor's OK.

They really shouldn't be opened, and if you do you should wear a mask of some sort....like an allergy mask to protect yourself. Our 6 1/2 year old son has been on Strattera for about a week. Overall, it's making a difference. His pediatrician started him on one 18mg pill a day, then after 3 days, increased it to one 25mg pill a day. However, we've noticed a couple of things. He tends to be tired a couple of hours after taking the pill (falling asleep in school), particularly if he doesn't eat a great breakfast. When he comes down from it later in the day, he is alternately off the wall or extremely irritable & angry. Anyone who has some experiences to share, my wife & I would greatly appreciate it.

What is his weight? Do you know his target dose?

Try giving the Strat in the evenings, that usually solves the sleepiness problems, and helps them get to sleep better at night. Did the Psych say why he was started at 18 instead of 10 mgs?

Irritability and mood swings are common when the dose is either too low or too high for the weight. Strat is dosed strictly by weight, and not by symptoms like some other meds.