Need help with Strattera please | ADHD Information

Thank you so much for your input. I just emailed my doctor to request that
blood work be done. What else besides the liver enzyme levels should I
have tested? Also, should I start to taper off his doses if it appears Strattera
is causing him to be sick. I don't think you can just stop cold turkey,
correct? Should I start by taking him off the afternoon dose and keeping the
morning dose? I'm afraid I won't be able to talk to my doctor until Monday
so I'd appreciate any insight you have now so I know how to proceed for the
weekend in reducing his doses.

Thanks.

Dear gardener,

No one here on the forum can suggest that you change the medication levels that the doctor suggested. Is there a way to contact your doctor in an emergency? Or can you take your son to or talk to an emergency room? That way they may be able to give you the professional care and professional suggestions. Your doctor will know what tests to perform.

Please keep us informed and tell us how your son is doing. How frightening for you and him!!

 

Has your son been seen by the doctor since this flu started?  My son recently had a flu with bad head aches.  There is some bad flu strains going around this year that don't match up well with the flu vaccine if you had it. In our area, alot of people have been down with the flu for a week.  I just find the fact that your son couldn't walk very scary.

My son has been on Strattera since the beginning of this school year.  He did have a lot of trouble at the beginning with a queasy stomach, but it finally subsided.  He does take it as a split dose- 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at dinner- and that does help alot with this.  I have noticed that when he gets sick, the Strattera seems to cause the queasy tummy to stick around a little longer.  He has always been a kid that tended to throw up when he gets sick.  For us, the benefits of this drug outweigh the hassles.  Good luck to you!   

Dear Gardener,

I agree with granny Fran. Have your son tested immediately for his liver enzyme levels (ALT, AST). There is a class action suit against the makers of Strattera for liver damage. I am not trying to scare you, however the stomach ache and vomiting may indicate this. My son's levels after strattera and then depakote were almost 200 and the levels should have been 0-50.

I have included the Strattera warnings:

Strattera side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking Strattera and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

chest pain, shortness of breath, fast or uneven heartbeats;

feeling light-headed or fainting;

unusual thoughts or behavior, aggression, hallucinations (seeing things that are not there);

increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure); or

urinating less than usual or not at all.

Less serious side effects may include:

feeling irritable;

feeling dizzy or drowsy;

nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, constipation;

cough, dry mouth;

skin rash or itching;

sleep problems (insomnia);

increased menstrual cramps; or

impotence, loss of interest in sex, or trouble having an orgasm.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

Please keep us updated on your son.

Randy

Hello,

I'd like to see if anyone has insight with Strattera to help me figure out
what is going on with my son. Here's an overview:

(1) My 6 yr old (46 lbs) has been taking Strattera for 10 weeks. He took
18 mg. up until 3 weeks ago. At that point, we added an extra 10 mg in
the afternoon for a total of 26 mg each day. He has been doing fairly well
on this, although there is some irritability. However, compared to the
stims it's much better and we're fairly pleased overall.
(2) One week ago last Friday, he got a very bad headache and fever. He
then started vomiting. He didn't vomit again until Sunday. But the whole
weekend he had a high fever, aches, etc. (very indicative of the flu)
(3) On Monday, the fever was gone, but he couldn't walk. He literally
could not put any weight on his legs. I had to carry him everywhere. This
lasted until Tuesday night when he could finally walk again. He seemed
to be much stronger so I sent him to school.
(4) Wed - he was fine, although seemed weak.
(5) Thursday - got a call from school that he vomited again in class.
(6) Friday - didn't vomit today, but felt nauseous and weak. Has a
headache.

I have been thinking that all of this is flu related, but the very sporadic
vomiting and overall feeling of sluggishness makes me feel like maybe
the Strattera is causing some of this. His fever has been gone for awhile
and I've still been giving him his same dosage of Strattera every day. He
sleeps every afternoon. I hate to think that the meds could be doing this
to him. My doctor doesn't think its the meds as he said he would
probably have been this sick before this flu while taking them.

Has anyone experienced this? Any thoughts on this? I'm so sad looking
at my boy who has no energy and just feels rotten.

Thanks so much!Has the doctor done any blood work ?  I would be very concerned if a child this young is complaining of headaches  ,has a high fever and cannot walk.  Red flags going up on the mommy radar.

I also agree that you shouldnt assume anything and need a doctors advice. If you cannot reach your prescribing doctor today and he's that ill to go to the emergency room. Or even call them.

It's so hard, anytime our kids have "problems" we also have to factor in "is it meds?" I wouldn't just assume it is the meds though.

I hope he's feeling better.

btw, my daughter also takes Strattera with no side effects.............but obviously everyone is different.