my daughter has successfully taken Strattera. It's a decent med, gets a bad rap, but undeservingly I think. Lots of people do very well on it. All meds are good for some and not so good for others, as you saw with the Concerta. Others LOVE Concerta. My daughter couldn't tolerate it either, every child (or adult for that matter) is different.
Anyway, just throwing our experience with Strattera out there. She has now been on it for a year and is doing ok. We did add a small stimulant dose after a few months to help even more with focus and it has worked great. She doesn't tolerate stim meds well, but the Strattera allows us to keep her dose low.
Yes Ritilan is on the market. The regular release comes in a generic methylphedinate. My daughter takes a generic long acting called Methylin ER. Methylphedinate comes in many different formulas now. Just becasue her reacted this way to Concerta does NOT mean it will happen with all methylphedinate type meds. The release really impacts reaction, or it did for us.
I am new here, this being my first post. I will try to be brief with my situation.
I am a 41 year old woman who was on Ritalin as a child. I always feared that the "gene" would be passed on to one or both of my children. My daughter who is almost 6 has not showed any signs of adhd or add. My 7 year old son however has been showing signs since he started pre-school. After struggling through first grade with "behavioral" problems, I decided to have him tested. All along knowing what the results would be but not wanting to hear that I indeed passed on this horrible gene to my beautifuly perfect son.
After convincing my husband that medicine had to be an option, after all, I turned out ok with no long term effects from my years on medication, we both agreed we would try 18 mg's of Concerta (what the doc recommended). As per the docs recommendation we gave my son his first dose this past saturday - better to see how he reacts when he is not in school - the day went fine, just the lack of appetite which I expected. Then at bedtime he became very nervous and fearful and at one point told me that a black bug was crawling on his head. I assumed it was just him adjusting to the meds. and him finding yet another way to get my attention. Sunday morn. his second dose - the day went well as it did on saturday and bedtime wasn't as bad. No bugs - a sigh of relief - then around 1 am he wakes up screaming that someone touched him and describes a woman in his room. I bring him in my bed and the rest of the night is fine. Assuming he just had a bad nightmare. Monday morning I give him his third dose and send him off to school, hoping he will have a GREAT day in school - they had a field trip planned, so it should be good. When I pick him up from school he tells me how he doesn't want to take the meds anymore because he doesn't like the "visions", they scare him. Of course at this point I am fighting back tears of guilt - what the h... am I giving my son that is causing him to hallucinate. So I call the doc and tell him that I refuse to give him another dose and what should I do now? He recommends strattera. After reading up on it - I don't want to give him that either!! I am absolutely depressed and confused as to what is best for my child. I do not know what to do besides cry myself to sleep.
Has anyone had any luck with alternative medicines? Is there ANYTHING out there that will help him without turning my baby into a zombie?? ANY advise would help - I am totally open to try anything - even a different medicine that doesn't have so many side effects. Is Ritalin even on the market anymore??
I have no one to talk to about this as I don't want my friends and family to attach a label to my son - even my son does not know about his adhd - I told him the pills were a vitamin to help him do better in school.
Thank you in advance!!!!!
What kind of doctor are u using?Jessica,
He is seeing a child psych. who only deals with ADD/ADHD children.
Diane,
Thank you!! I went today to pick up a three week sample supply of the Strattera. I have been told by several people that it will be a trial and error until we get the right dosage and right meds for him. I guess all that is left to do is pray and rely on my judgement. I just keep telling myself that if he had cancer, I would not deny him chemo - even though the side effects are horrible!!
Again, thank you for the advise!!
hang in there. Strattera is subtle and takes patience and is STILL not always the right choice. Remember your child is very young, and you're doing your best to find all the tools to help the process of growing up. You have LOTS of time..........don't tolerate horrible side effects, but give each med the right chance so when you do give up, you know you're making the right decision. No need to create more doubt.