Strattera AND Concerta? Some help please. | ADHD Information

My understanding was that Strattera helps more w/ focus, and less w/ impulsivity and hyperactivity.  If that's accurate, you might be better off asking your dr. about Tenex (generic is guanfacine) or Clonidine, as a pp suggested.  Both of them help control hyperactivity and impulsivity.  It sounds like he's getting silly when the Concerta isn't in his system.

Since your child takes Zoloft, I'm guessing there's some anxiety issue.  Both Tenex (guanfacine) and Clonidine also have anti-anxiety properties.  Strattera also can help some for anxiety for some individuals.  We've been able to keep my child's Zoloft dose lower due to the guanfacine.  This is key for him b/c the Zoloft increases his impulsivity.

Also, maybe it would help to give the Concerta earlier in the morning so he's not so silly at school and can focus better on the work?

 

Personally I used to take strattera and adderall
together, and it was great. Alone both provided moderate
benefit, but together it was more than the sum of its
parts. The only potential issue is that you're dealing
with side effects from two medications (which often
overlap), and you have to watch that carefully.
Appetite will be a big issue. And strattera can
interfere with sleep just like stimulants. If that's a
problem, change the dose schedule. Take it in the AM
instead of PM or vice versa.We tryed staterra for our 10 yr old son.  It just made him moody and he would cry very easily.  Now he is on focalin xr 10 mg and .1 mg 1/2tab AM and PM of clonidine.  He has tics and the clonidine is to help with this.  Do a google search on clonidine and tenex.  Those meds are being used now for kids with ADHD- It doesn't help the ability to focus but is supposed to help with hyperactivity.  It has a sedating effect but taken with the concerta it should even out. There is one study about using the two drugs for adhd and tics.  I know your DS doesn't have tics but it may help calm him down.  Just something to check into.  It's so hard to find the right mix of meds becuase each person reacts differently.  Good Luck.Marie, Taking Strattera with a stimulant is quite common these days. We have yet to go with the Strattera, My DS is on Concerta18mg and I wish it truly was a 12 hour med cause we get only  7 out of it. For some reason His doc doesn't want to go there. He also takes Zoloft 50 mg. I only wish he would gain weight.

My DS (8) has been on Concerta 36mg for a few weeks now (also 50mg Zoloft) and he still seems so silly in the early morning and even alot at school in the morning where it is to the point he can't do his work since he is laughing so badly and just can't stop. He evens out later in the morning and gets his pill around  8:00am. The doctor today said why don't we try Strattera in the evening around 6pm to help along with the Concerta in the day. I have never heard if 2 ADHD medications and taking one in the evening?? Anyone else use Strattera? He just took 10mg today and then we work our way up in dosage, but I always think of questions AFTER I leave the dr. I just never heard of this..

Thanks for any help.

Marie

DS 8, ADHD, PDD/NOS, OCD, ODD, SID