Strattera--long time to work? | ADHD Information

You do not have to go back on the Focalin. there are other options. We are using Strattera mainly due to tics also.  Some stims are worse than others. This week we called the doctor too and he gave us 10 mg of Methylin ER to take WITH the Strattera. It was exactly what she needed. I'm thinking we hit the lottery, it's a generic so t's cheaper and it's only 10mg, so she is FINE. No appetite suppression or tics. It seems be just enough to complement to Strattera.  You've got options, dont give up. Get him ramped, if it's not good enough maybe you can do the same as us by adding a low dose of another stim. Focalin was one of the wrost for us for tics. Ritalin LA, Daytrana and now Methylin ER have been the best.Spoke to my sons teacher today and she said that he is having a rough time in school since stopping the Focalin. He is drawing attention to himself, he is the class clown, gets very distracted easily, the quality of work is not there....I could go on and on. We stopped the Focalin and switched to the Strattera because of the tics. But we might not have a choice as to putting him back on it. I am also enjoying the "happy child" that I have now becuase of not taking the focalin.

I am in tears because it is the hardest thing to hear that your kid is causing such problems in school.

He has done so well all year and now we switch meds and he is off the wall.Hi,

My son started on 18mg of Strattera on 4/4/08, went up to 25mg on 4/9 and then up to 40mg where he has been since the 14th. The teacher at school said that she does notice a slight improvement but he is "not to where he should be".

I have noticed he is a much happier child since being taken off of the Focalin XR. There are no ups & downs and angry fits. I like that! But it almost seems like he is back to the way he was before he started any meds.

He takes the 40mg in the evening. We have noticed that the mornings run a little smoother. But late morning it seems there is nothing. He is playing Little League baseball and during the games he is out in the outfield dancing around, taking off his glove throwing it in the air not paying attention at all.

Had a Dr appointment yesterday just to follow up on starting the Strattera and told the Doc my concerns. he said he would like to give the 40mg 3 more weeks before we up it to 50mg. My son is 8 and weighs 73.4 lbs and is 51.5" tall. Doc said 50 is as high as he would go.

Is it normal for the Strattera to take so long to start working??

Thanks
For his weight his target is somewhere between 40-60 mgs. It does take 4-6 weeks after reaching target dose to see results, so 6-8 week including the ramp period. At 40 mg he is just at target, so he could go a bit higher. Could you possibly switch him to taking it in the mornings? This may make a difference too. My daughter takes 60mg in the morning. While ramping we split her does, but now she takes it all in the a.m.Diane,

It seems to make him tired, that is why we have kept it at night. Maybe I will try the AM.

That usually passes, so he may be fine now that he's been on it. My daughter was that way at first, but not any more