Strattera | ADHD Information
My 7 year old son was diagnosed with ADHD about 18 months ago. He has been on Ritalin all this time and we really noticed a difference in his behaviour. He was calm most of the time, his behaviour at school improved and generally he was a lovely boy. His doctor has recently changed him over to Strattera 25mg and I have noticed that his behaviour is detiorating again. He has been really loud, hyperactive and generally misbehaving and I don't know how to handle it.
How long does it take for the Strattera to work and is this normal?
I am not sure what to tell you because I don't have my daughter on anything I have a Mobile Therapist for her and a TSS worker. When I think of how I was in school she is mild so I refuse to medicate. To me it just seems like a faze some kids go through. I was never on meds for being hyper or not being able to work I turned out fine I made sure to educate myself when the schools failed me. I am very active in my daughters treatment plans. If it were up to me and it's not no child would be on meds there are so many other healthy ways that I just can't do this med thing. My son is on ritalin. The psychiatrist here in England told us that the new drug of choice coming from America is Strattera. Why is this considered better, does anyone know?[QUOTE=wifeandmum]My son is on ritalin. The psychiatrist here in England told us that the new drug of choice coming from America is Strattera. Why is this considered better, does anyone know?[/QUOTE]
It is not the best, it is an alternative for those that cannot take stims. My son had a horrible rebound from Adderall & we found that the Strattera works very well for him.
[QUOTE=LynC]How long does it take for the Strattera to work and is this normal?[/QUOTE]
To see the full effects of Strattera, you need to wait 6 weeks. Each week my son showed a slight improvment in different areas, & it has been smooth sailing since the 6th week. For my son, 25mg was not enough, 60mg works the best & we didn't need to add any stims.
Why did the doctor switch him if the Ritalin was working so well?
Straterra usually takes between 4-6 weeks before you see results.
OK I'm confused. How could Ritalin stunt your growth but not Concerta they are the same thing only one lasts for 4 hours and one lasts all day. MafiaKiddo38378.6487152778Hi Lyn C, My daughter 7 1/2 was prescribed Straterra on Dec 3rd & at present is still on Concerta XL 36mg. The plan is to wean her off Concerta & just be on Straterra. I have noticed no improvement in her behaviour - she still has major meltdowns but not as frequently- 3 a week as opposed to every day. I am going to contact the doctor tomorrow as I don't think she should continue on it as it has not improved anything.Im off ritilan now. It stunted my growth! I have been through a whole lot of others and am settled on Concerta now!
Concerta is a slow release, so it lasts longer and it works. You dont have to take one at lunch or break time with it.
My advice is ask about Concerta. Get more information and then decide.
(Slow release doesnt mean it takes ages to start working)
My son, who is now 12 going on 13 has been on several differnt drugs to keep him calm. I'm finding Strattera scary. I have read that Strattera causes liver disorder. Can anyone give me some advice. I feel like I'm harming my child instead of helping and was more satisfied with the Redlin.
[QUOTE=Shelina]My son, who is now 12 going on 13 has been on several differnt drugs to keep him calm. I'm finding Strattera scary. I have read that Strattera causes liver disorder. Can anyone give me some advice. I feel like I'm harming my child instead of helping and was more satisfied with the Redlin.
[/QUOTE]
You should certainly be careful regarding any meds. Only 2 people out of 2 million users had a liver problem & once they came off the Strattera their liver was fine. Read this article: http://add.about.com/od/medications/a/stratterawarn.htm
csmommy38377.4982175926My son who is almost 5 started Stattera a week ago. We gave him 10 mg in the morning, and noticed an immediate change in his attitude and behavior. He took Ritalin for 2 weeks and his mood swings were horrible. He had more tantrums than without meds, and was crying more. On strattera, he is happy, and fairly focused...and just more aware of what is going on around him. He is having some side effects...not eating as much, and not able to sleep as well. We are hoping that will get better.
I guess everyone reacts differently to these drugs...this is our third try and so far it is hopeful. He is so much happier with it than without it.
When myson Chris was on Strattera 25mg those where the side effects he had was the no appetite and lack of sleep and on Saturday it seemed he caught up some what he would get up and then a couple hours later he would go back to bed for about 3-4 hours this at first worried me but when I realized what he was doing was catching up from his week at school I let him sleep.My son has been on Strattera 25mg and we also seen a behaviour therapist. Just Wed. his ped. switched him to Ritalin 5mg at 7 and noon I am not real comfortable with it since he is small for his age. The Strattera really was doing ok. I am just worried about switching from a non stimulant to a stimulant.
steph
Any one on meds. should have liver tests anually our Dr. said. Any meds can cause problems.rshn[QUOTE=csmommy][QUOTE=LynC]How long does it take for the Strattera to work and is this normal?[/QUOTE]
To see the full effects of Strattera, you need to wait 6 weeks. Each week my son showed a slight improvment in different areas, & it has been smooth sailing since the 6th week. For my son, 25mg was not enough, 60mg works the best & we didn't need to add any stims.
[/QUOTE] my son is 11 an has adhd an he has tried ritalin ,concerta an these did not work for him he has been on strattera for 5 days an already i have seen an improvement the schoool has also can this be possible to see an improvement so quickly ?Why would the Dr. not increase my sons Strattera first? Does he not weigh enough? I thought she would do that first. By the way I called her office she is out till Wed. and another Dr. was in and he said I need to give the Ritalin another week and if it still has the same effect then I should call back. I am thinking I would rather have my child on Strattera and deal with the behaviour in other ways than have him frustrated to the point of crying I know he just got started on Ritalin so it needs time but come on his emotional state is important and I am not going to have a child on a ton of medications if one works!
[QUOTE=wflorey][QUOTE=csmommy][QUOTE=LynC]How long does it take for the Strattera to work and is this normal?[/QUOTE]
To see the full effects of Strattera, you need to wait 6 weeks. Each week my son showed a slight improvment in different areas, & it has been smooth sailing since the 6th week. For my son, 25mg was not enough, 60mg works the best & we didn't need to add any stims.
[/QUOTE] my son is 11 an has adhd an he has tried ritalin ,concerta an these did not work for him he has been on strattera for 5 days an already i have seen an improvement the schoool has also can this be possible to see an improvement so quickly ?[/QUOTE]
Yes it is possible!
To see the full effect will take up to 6 weeks. Good luck.
Strattera is being tryed more 3 reasons :new,less side effects,not a narcotic.Can be refilled more easily also. Any one on meds should see Dr. on a routine schedule for montoring side effects.All meds can have side effects.Therapies should be done with meds.
Choleterol drugs problems, antidepression drugs.problems. No medacine side effect free.rshn
Anyone on any medacine should be haveing lab work on regular basis.This is what our Dr.told us.When you look at it all meds.can have negative effects.
Has anyone checked out becalm with any of these companies other products.rshn
RSHN38399.6104976852Mobile therapist what is this and how and where do you get one?I am so tired of hearing about how some people do not put their kids on meds, they keep a close watch on their care and so on. Every child is different. For those of you who refuse to face the reality of this problem here is the skinny. Kids suffer the worst if parents refuse meds on some principle that they have to live up to. Kids don't get along with kids they don't get invited to parties, they don't make good grades and are humiliated, they can't finish things and are needlessly punished or yelled at. It goes on and on. Is this mistreatment of kids worth standing on some no drug principle? I have even listened to a mom say do you believe in tubes when you have ear infections? Well yes when the infections are weekly or bi weekly, when the child is going deaf I do. By the way this same mom refused meds on her kids and he was a sad child, never had any friends, no one came to his parties and so on. If you have the money and the time to sit and monitor every move your kid makes and you are willing to take the chance of them being alone and friendless and remain blind to the real issues than that is fine. But please leave those of us alone who live in the real world and try to make our kids have a normal life that includes friends, parties and decent grades which ends up giving them self esteem and an enjoyable childhood.
[QUOTE=Oloveia]I am not sure what to tell you because I don't have my daughter on anything I have a Mobile Therapist for her and a TSS worker. When I think of how I was in school she is mild so I refuse to medicate. To me it just seems like a faze some kids go through. I was never on meds for being hyper or not being able to work I turned out fine I made sure to educate myself when the schools failed me. I am very active in my daughters treatment plans. If it were up to me and it's not no child would be on meds there are so many other healthy ways that I just can't do this med thing. [/QUOTE] Strattera takes 6 weeks before results show. Add a multi and antioxidant before breakfast. Give med after meal. Avoid food colored drinks. Citrus in morning lessons absorption rate. Caffeine and nicatine also. Add herbs into the protein you have at each meal. Helps.All drugs have effects. A good Dr. should be monorting it we know go every 3 months since dosage is correct.rshn RSHN38401.415