Straterra, how long to work? | ADHD Information

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4-6 from target. You can just stop it, but really you shouldn't stop any med without consulting the physician first.

Couple questions about Straterra.  I'm not sure if I need to give the medication 4 to 6 weeks to work from the time he initially begins to take it, or 4 to 6 weeks from the time he reaches the target dose.  My son has been at the target dose for almost two weeks, and I don't really see any benefit.  Should I give it a couple more weeks, or no?

Also, if I decide to stop giving it to him, can you just stop, or do you need to ramp down?

Thanks.
180lb adult? 100mg. Some psychs will push it to 120 or more. [QUOTE=2Dazed&Confused]Thanks! I haven't seen many positive effects but just learned he's on 1/2 of lowest dose, 40 if I'm correct. He has appointment on 18th so I think they are increasing slowy. He's eating normal and no tics! [/QUOTE]

Hey, you might be onto it! I ate on Strattera. I find it hard to eat on Ritalin. I had good effects with it--so keep on ramping.

It didn't start to really kick in for 4 weeks or so for me. Gradually it knocked out the ADHD side effects one by one although I didn't have focus I felt good enough to do a bit more than usual just from not feeling crappy all the time.
Thanks! he's on 40 now and increasing to 60.

I'm just so anxious to have him at a thereputic level to see if it may be that miracle drug I've been searching for.

I'm sure you all understand.      Plus, as much as I love our Dr she's a family Dr plus she's free and overworked so I like to double check even though she's gotton an A+ everytime!    Thanks! I haven't seen many positive effects but just learned he's on 1/2 of lowest dose, 40 if I'm correct. He has appointment on 18th so I think they are increasing slowy. He's eating normal and no tics! Sorry to bother again, I can look it up but you guys are so knowledgeable, What is the average dose for an 180lb adult?

[QUOTE=2Dazed&Confused]Thanks! I haven't seen many positive effects but just learned he's on 1/2 of lowest dose, 40 if I'm correct. He has appointment on 18th so I think they are increasing slowy. He's eating normal and no tics! [/QUOTE]

 

You won't see results on Strattera unless you're int he target range. Strattera is tricky with kids and you need to be on the right dose.

[QUOTE=2Dazed&Confused]Sorry to bother again, I can look it up but you guys are so knowledgeable, What is the average dose for an 180lb adult?[/QUOTE]

Strattera is not as weight dependant with adults. If you do the formula it seems 100mg appropriate. May be started lower and see how well tolerated at 80 first, then go to 100 if needed.

Hi,

Mine just started it a few days ago. Is there anything I should look for besides tics and should he be on a complementary drug? So far he hasn't had much of an appetite. He does have anxiety but they give him Xanax.

Thanks for any advice. Ideally Strattera alone will work great. We saw results in about 2 weeks and then again with each dose increase at that same pojnt. 4-6 weeks AFTER hitting target dose gives you a good picture of where they'll be at. Generally if you do see side effects it's during the ramp and they subside. If they get to be too much you can ask about taking it at night to start, this helps. My daughter had some nausea when she first started it, but it passed and by giving at night she slept through it. On Strattera she is calmer, less anxious and her tics have pretty much gone away. She is EXREMELY inattentive and we did have to add back a low dose stimulant, which we are still playing aorund with due to weight issues, but overall the Strattera /Methylin ER combo has worked very well for her and she's been on more drug combos than you want to know, both 1st and 2nd line and even some third line choices.I wasn't hungry on Strattera for the first bit. After about a month I felt like I was starving for fruit.

Strattera is a slow kick in as it ramps up. I didn't get anywhere for a while then it slowly crept up on me and helped a lot.
[QUOTE=LR41]Couple questions about Straterra.  I'm not sure if I need to give the medication 4 to 6 weeks to work from the time he initially begins to take it, or 4 to 6 weeks from the time he reaches the target dose.  My son has been at the target dose for almost two weeks, and I don't really see any benefit.  Should I give it a couple more weeks, or no?

Also, if I decide to stop giving it to him, can you just stop, or do you need to ramp down?

Thanks.
[/QUOTE]

You need to give it 6 weeks at least from starting date. I'd give it a couple of more weeks. It doesn't just work immediatly it sort of creeps up slowly.

I just stopped with little ill effect although with a child I'd suggest ramping down if you can because they don't have the capacity to describe their feelings.

I'd also suggest NOT taking another med for two weeks from stop date because it has to finish processing through the body and has a long half-life.


MetisRebel, his problem is he needs to focus! Plenty, too much energy. If he decides he's cleaning the house today I want to leave because it's like a race to him and he can't focus on what to do in order, he just goes from what bothers him the most to the next thing.
So it worries me when you say you didn't focus.
I don't think you have the same ADD type, maybe you do, what do I know, but he's either ADHD similiar to Manic Bipolar or he is both! I think they're the same thing. The reason they're trying him on the Stattera is because it's not a stimulant and that would make him worse! 4 Weeks huh? Would it be rude to mark the calander?    Bix Xs through every day. Don't worry - would never do that! [QUOTE=2Dazed&Confused]MetisRebel, his problem is he needs to focus! Plenty, too much energy. If he decides he's cleaning the house today I want to leave because it's like a race to him and he can't focus on what to do in order, he just goes from what bothers him the most to the next thing.

Sounds like we houseclean the same way

So it worries me when you say you didn't focus.

Some docs will do a top up with a small amount of adderal or ritalin. Had I stayed on it--I'd have tried that.

If he stops bouncing around like a lunatic believe me, it was nice for a change! I was much calmer and less frustrated. That made doing things easier.

I don't think you have the same ADD type, maybe you do, what do I know, but he's either ADHD similiar to Manic Bipolar or he is both! I think they're the same thing.

Not really. My good buddy is bipolar and there are some differences. One example I can think of is if I accidentally say something stupid [adhd trait] when she's manic it soars right over her head--doesn't even connect. I wind up apologizing but it's like NOTHING can bring her down. Such a comment would make an ADHD'er cry.

The reason they're trying him on the Stattera is because it's not a stimulant and that would make him worse! 4 Weeks huh? Would it be rude to mark the calander?   

Go ahead, mark it. And an optimal trial is 6 weeks. I was willing to stick it out that long but it actually started a bit earlier.
At 8 weeks I cleaned my bedroom
Bix Xs through every day. Don't worry - would never do that![/QUOTE]

Why not? I would! Of course, time and I don't understand each other without writing anyway...
Yeah, I'm addicted to my Wall calandar! Trying to be more addicted to the pocket friendly organizer I can bring with me. Palm Pilot ADHD'ers UNTIE! Oh man, you want me to learn another computer device when I'm just getting good at my cell phone!Right now I'm frustrated with it cuz I got this great grocery list program. I hate typing on the pda--Itype the lists and stuff on the computer then load them in--and the program only works on the pda--NOT the desktop.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

Otherwise I love the thing

mars, you could've pm'd me!

Is he taking ONLY Strattera or a combo? It could possible be the Strattera, or more likely, the tics would be there now anyway. Anxiety could be up. BIGGEST tic trigger is anxiety. My own personal rule of thumb on time frame (especially for side effects) is 2 weeks. I dont know that you have to wait 4-6. What's his weight? As you know Strattera is very weight dependant. If it's anxiety hte increase in Strattera may help over time, I'd certainly give it one full week if you can.

Diane:

I am alittle slow...lol...what is pm'd?

He is on 27 mg of Concerta, was on 36, but just lowered last week because he was rebounding hard on 36.  He weights 63 pounds.  He also takes 2 mg (1 in a.m. and 1 in p.m.) of tenex.  I will give it more time...I hate this up and down playing with meds.  It is so frustrating trying to figure out what it is that is causing certain symptoms!

pm is prvate message, the button is on each of our posts or under profile. You click on it and send a private message.

Yup very difficult to figure out what is casuing symptoms. Could be all that cahnge at once exacerbating the tics, try to stick it out, but you're right the Strattera dose seems a bit high. We went above target on my daughter once, but it made her dizzy.

Diane:

Thanks for the info.  I was gone at a seminar all day; just got home so not sure how the day went with regards to the tics.  I  will have to watch him over the next few hours to see.  I hope it is just the change and the will settle back down.

Diane:

Hi, I was hoping you would reply to a message so I could send you one!  They uped my ds son's strattera dose to 65 (40 in a.m. 25 in p.m.) and I am noticing in the evening his tics (different one) are back.  Do you know if this could be from the strattera?  We were just at the dr. Monday, but since he wasn't having tic issues then, I didn't ask.  I wanted him to go to 50 (25 in a.m. and 25 in p.m.) but the dr. said he thinks he is metabolizing it too fast and needs a  higher dose.  So far, I don't like what I see, but do I need to wait another 4-6 weeks to see a differenc?

Thanks Diane!

Mars