strattea | ADHD Information

Strattera takes ages apparently to get into your system. I felt better after about 2 days but I hear it takes at least two weeks before the benefits can be felt. I had very low blood pressure early morning to the point where I had to lie on the floor in the kitchen cos got so giddy. I still have a very dry mouth. Initially I was on 25mg then upped to a level 60mg a day, one dose. I was in a terrible state with it (but still better than without) but since I have gone down to 2 times 40mg my life has really started.
I would say, better to keep the level rather constant but low. I would be tempted to keep the level very low in a child be cause you hear such dramatic stories of suicide attempts. I certainly got totally off the wall, knocking at neighbours doors at 9 in the morning in floods of tears which I unfortunately still have to say I regret. Very impulsive and out of control. Wish someone could have locked me up. It wasnt like that all the time but at 9 in the morning it was, obviously it was related to hormonal change as well but still, horrible all the same.
The benefits to my life now are unbelievable, working again, and successfully, although still building confidence. I feel as if I am able to actually learn, which I couldnt before. It is breathtaking the leaps and bounds I have made since my dosage was right. I have started to live. Really, it sounds soppy but it is true. I was recently down but able to assess it totally rationally and devise a strategy to deal with the phase which I saw through and am through it now - intact and better off for the learning which occurred.
If you have any specific questions feel free to ask me.

my son is 7 yrs old and been on medate, concerta and vvanyse and has developed tics, blinking and rolling his eyes and jerking his neck. the dr has stopped his meds to see if they go away. the tics has pretty much stopped except for blinking his eyes alittle still. he started 18 mg of strattea today but it lasted to around 11 o'clock. which caused him to have trouble in school the rest of the day. is this normal of these meds or does it take a few more days to last longer. what do you think of the strattea meds?

 

lesnathan39938.8055902778

Good for you sink, really.

Like I said, it's just another label, a larger umbrella.  It doesn't really matter what it's called.

Now instead of people (sorry, not just kids) having one of the other, they all just have ADHD only some of them have hyperactivity. 

I watch my son growing up and the struggles he goes through all day every day even with meds.  I remember my brother growing up and being exactly the same way only the Dr told my mom that he was just a boy and he'd be fine.  I just wish someone could have done something to help him before he started to self-medicate (read drugs and alcohol) before he was 10 years old.

Westy39963.6460532407

what do you mean old term ADD and hyper? I dont want to be old term anything.

Sorry this was mentioned ages back but would still like clarification.

sink39963.6086458333[QUOTE=sink]

what do you mean old term ADD and hyper? I dont want to be old term anything.

Sorry this was mentioned ages back but would still like clarification.

[/QUOTE]

The two terms used to be separate.  You had ADHD kids that had ADD and hyperactivity and them there were those kids that didn't have the H and they were just Dx with ADD. 

Now you have ADHD, period.  Only now there are kids with ADHD without the hyperactivity and those are ADHD without the H.

To me it's pretty much the same.  You have have ADD with the H or ADHD without the H. 

Whatever...It's just another way of saying the same thing.  A bigger umbrella, if you will.

Now, thank God, we have adults with ADD and ADHD combined, I say thank God because it isnt just children who have this and I am so relieved that as an adult I have a diagnosis for something that I have suffered for 45 years from! I dont really care if I am old style or new style I have it and am relieved to be able to identify with like minded people, gain strength from them and learn about myself from research. All those millions of people who are climbing up the walls with it and could be so liberated by a little knowledge.

I suppose I mean thanks for the reply but I still dont get it, now  I realise I dont care either. Initially I did.

tried strattrea but after 4 days , he seems to have more trouble in school than without his meds. hitting , seems more hyper, and more aggresive , starting to wonder if this is the right meds for him

cant you try lowering the dosage before you try getting him off it. I think the lowest dosage is 10mg capsules. I would try him on the lowest possible 2 x a day and take it from there. You wont see results from outside (I mean from your perspective, outside his brain). My hubby didnt know what I was raving about in the beginning, he could see no change at all and neither could close friends. It is only one year on that he himself has to say, yes I see what you mean. For me that was a landmile when even hubby -, so sceptical and the one having to splash out his money on the drugs  . When he accepted the improvements , that was a big step for me.

What dosage is he on? I weigh 67 kilogrammes and take 2x 40mg capsules per day. 1x mornings 1x evenings

sink39944.0377662037sounds like he needs a stimulant, not strattera. dr increased sons strattrea to 40mg . he has been taking it about 10 days now . i can see a difference in his listening skills, following instructions better, not quite as hyper . have not seen no side effects yet thats major seems too still be himself. appetite decreased some. still having trouble in school some. said he was sleepy today, so put him in bed at 8 tonight. mondays are somewhat harder due to sleeping in late on weekends then getting back in the routine through the week . i have got to get better at helping him with this. what would be the max for strattrea for a 54 pd, 7 yr old.

I hope someone posts the formula or does the math for you. I don't remember it.

If he is having trouble at school with focusing his attention, then strattera should help. It sounds like it is starting to build up in the blood.

If he needs help with impulsiveness and hyperness then he may need a stimulant as well as the strattera or just a stimulant. Strattera seems to be great for those more the old term ADD versus those with HHHHHyper.

I hope someone posts to help you with the formula for his weight.

DS doc added Strattera a few months ago.  He's been on Concerta for five years, and we didn't want to up the dose.  I believe the dosage is 1.2 - 1.4 mgs. per kil (something, the equivalent of pounds).  DS is now taking Concerta 54mg. in the morning and Strattera 36mg. in the evening and is doing wonderfully.  He has no extra side effects and can focus on his school work much better.  His interim report last Friday definately showed positive effects   He is also sleeping better and is doing well all around.  I hope this is a safe combination because I would hate for DS to have to go off one or the other. 

My son's cousin is on that combo and has been for a number of years. We tried, but unfortunately, my son couldn't handle the strattera. His prescribing doctor said he prescribes the combo quite often.

I think it is great that you found something that works well for your son.

I called the Dr yesterday and told her about DS problems with the Strattera.  She said to stop giving to him.  She recommended another one, Daytrana.  It is a patch.  DS is horrified at the idea of going to the office for meds at lunch time.  I called the school and there are currently no children that take daily meds in the school so we had to find something else.

I will do some research on that one and I'll do a search here.  DS metabolizes his meds so quickly that by the end of school his 12 hour med is wearing off after just 7 hours.  Daytrana is supposed to work for as long as it is in contact with the skin.

 

My DS was Dx with ADHD in August 2008.  The Dr put him on vyvanse and over time the dose went from 30mg to 40 mg to 50 mg (way to strong) then back to 40 mg then two months ago back to 50 mg without the zombie like effect like the first time he took it.  (50mg is the max for his size)

Two weeks ago DS came to me (9 yrs old, 62lbs) and told me his meds just weren't working very good anymore, he was getting in more trouble in school.  I talked to the teacher and she confirmed he is arguing with her and other students, it takes her to tell him 2-3 time to do something before he'll decide to do it. 

I had read about a bit of defiance while on Vyvanse and wondered if this may be the beginning.  I'd noticed at home also.

We went to the Dr last Tuesday and she recommended to take the Vyvanse down to 40mg and add Straterra.  He is taking 10mg per day in the am for 10 days, then 15mg for 10 days then up it to 20 mg if it seems to work.

I discussed with the Dr that my gut feeling was that the Vyvanse wasn't right for him and my hesitance to use Straterra because of the bad side effects in children.  She talked me into trying it for a month.

Every day for the last 5 days that he's been on the Vyvanse and Straterra have been the same.  Huge episodes of crying, he is having a very hard time coping with friends, school everything. 

After reading about Sink running to the neighbors etc I am worried about this drug.  I hesitate to finish the month wondering what could be in store for the little guy.

 

Hi there WEsty!!

Our only experience was with stratter, and it wasn't good due to the side effect of depression (at age 8).

I honestly believe going with your gut!! I would call the doctor tell him/her of that and discuss your next plan. If you don't feel comfortable, then I would make that call ASAP. I know that is what I would do with my child and meds.

It took us a good 6 months to find the med and then the level of that med where our son was successful. IT is emotional and exhausting, but totally worth it.

hang in there and call the doctor!! Let us know how you are  doing!!

he does good on stimulants so far but the tics fired up and stopped the meds to try strattrea . has tics after stimulants were stopped but hardly noticeable. so i guess they may have to treat the tics also however they do that with stimulant med. worser on strattrea than wihout meds but may need adjusting. he is 55 pds on 25 mg and i read some kids around the same weight taking 35 mg. just wish the dr would hurry and call . so i want worry so much about him.

Call the doctor back today, asap. There is a formula to follow and some doctors don't seem to know about it.

You need to get it right to see if this helps. A lot who have tics do well on strattera, that is one of the reasons that they go to it

Look for the thread about it on the these boads under all. It could even be under the childrens title.

Keep us posted!!

dr called , need to give it more time. stimulant meds don't keep kids from hitting she said. but he never had this problem unless his med were off so i guess we will try strattrea a couple of weeks

Did he tell your the formula based on weight? Are you at your childs max dose???

I wonder if this doctor knows this med?? It is weight based and needs to be ramped up slowly, but are you even doing this???

he is on 18 mg working up to 25mg then see if it is enough, working up, 36mg is max based on his weight she wants to slowly increase to make surre we don't miss the right dosage. the only thing that i seem to have a problem with is , this is not what i am used to watching. stimulants you can tell with in a week if its right or not. strattrea seems to work different so i 'm not sure exactly what i'm completely watching for. i see a little difference sometimes then sometimes i am like well i don't know. little more confusing especially since it takes time to get into the system. any advice on this is greatly appreciated

Once you reach the target dose, keep an eye. From only reading, I learned that it works great for those with no hyper or impulsive tendancies. My son took it so that we could keep something in his system to help calm him, but it depressed him. So we just deal with life when the meds wear off. He is getting better as he gets older, but DS is still very hhhhh and impulsive, and immature. But a wonderful, thoughtful, sensitive boy. He unfortunately is truly ADHD and can't control it without the help of stims.

another bad day at school, still has a hard time following directions, still hyper and impulsive. his appetite hasn't decreased any. he ate 2 ham sandwiches that his dad fixed for him. now for supper he ate 3 hot dogs and some chips and a ice cream cone for dessert. i read that the appetitte decreases some. maybe that happens when he meets his target dose. ds is 7 so he still has some growing up too do. but i have seen a difference in him since first diagnosed at 4.

I dont think his behaviour is going to change with Strattera, he can take more in /perceive his environment better because he will be less distracted by the behaviour issues caused by his ADHS but that is all it did for me. One year on, my husband has at last said that he notices a difference because I have started work, take on more etc. but this very weekend was horrible because I realised that the chaos that runs in my kitchen (big style disgusting mess) has changed little. With strattera, if I put my mind to it, if I want to, I can clear up, which I couldnt before, but I have to want it. It is only Strattera as an adult in combination with years of therapy (where I learnt about what is normal and what I want) that has been useful. I think Strattera for a child is a totally different ball game. I was even thinking of going for a bit of Ritalin myself when I have particularly challenging jobs to do eg. pack to go on holiday - with strattera I dont go into total breakdown mode when I have to do it which means I can do it, but I am still (but less) flakey about forgetting, misplacing etc. I think your son will see his own behaviour differently on the Strattera, ie. realise it is wrong/inappropriate, but have no more power to influence it than if he wasnt on the Stratt. The immediate impact of Stratt for me was the 'putting the glasses on' which Hallowell and Ratey describe in their book -Driven to Distraction. For the first time in my life I could hold eye contact and could speak in full units of meaning. My psychiatrist said that she rarely has such night/day cases as me. But my husband/and best friend - couldnt see anything, but the psychi could. This is fascinating.

 

A big diffence is , my hyper , roller coaster mind is on more of an easy moderate track now. So I would say the Stratt does help that. I am 68kg, dont know what that is in pounds, I take 40mg mornings and 40mg around 6pm.

I started off on a different/higher  dose, one time a day,  and I should have been locked up, but I still felt it was  better than no meds, but my behaviour was absolutely unacceptable early in the morning after taking the higher dose. So bad that I am still living with the consequences one year on in my neighbourhood.

sink39951.9934375

I would call his doctor ASAP.

I honestly do not believe this med alone is the one for him. you mention hyper and impulsive, which both describe my son as well. He honestly needs stimulants to help him. His cousins take BOTH a stimulant and strattera and we tried that as well. Unfortunately for MY SON, the med wasn't for him. His cousin is still taking both meds to keep him medicated at all times.

I really would call the doctor and discuss this. It is unfair for your son to be in trouble in school for things he honestly can not control. I have mentioned here before that my son's first grade teacher tried everything, everything to help me before we resorted to meds. I will never forget when she said he truthfully doesn't mean to do the things, he doesn't even realize he has done it until it is over and he is in trouble. It really broke my heart, and hers!!

Please consult his doctor and discuss what is happening at school. Don't wait.

Please let us know how you are doing!!

I would support Bethan in what she says and would like you to keep us posted too.