Strattera question

We are wrapping up our second week on Strattera. Earlier in the week, we tried to switch to giving the pill to our daugther at night because we thought she was getting too tired during the day.

Disaster! We gave it to her w/ dinner at 6:30 p.m. and she went to sleep at the normal time, 8:30 a.m. Slept all night. In the morning and THROUGHOUT the day she was hyper, hyper, hyper. Climbing on tables (she is 5), scaling the pantry shelves. I have never been so glad a day was over. I'll take tired over that any day.

So, we are back to a.m. and she is back to being tired. On the way to preschool today, she announced she was tired and could I pick her up early to take a nap?

We are on 18 mg and are scheduled to go up to her target dose, 25 mg, on Sunday. So I can only assume that means more tiredness.

Anyone have a solution? How does Strattera release? At what point does it typically provide 24-hour coverage? If the tiredness continues, should we wait a few weeks and try the night-time dose again?

Any insight appreciated! We would like to keep going w/ Strattera because it seems to help, at least a little.

Oh my gosh, thanks. This explains a lot.

Like why she completely looses it every night just before dinner. We give the med at 7:30 a.m. and we eat at 6, so that's about 10 hours - the life of the drug? She has a period where she seems tired and curls up in a blanky, then suddenly comes to life and is crazy, crazy through dinner, bath and bedtime. So it's a rebound, of sorts? (I thought you weren't supposed to have rebounds on Straterra, but anyway...).

And I had no idea you could supplement the dose in the afternoon, so to speak. Seems like a good way to get through the day. I'll keep an eye on our afternoons and try to pinpoint if/when things break down once we get up to 25 mg.

Thanks so much!

Hi Marykath! When we tried to go from 20mg to 30mg Logan got REALLY hyper!  It was worse than without meds!  It was just too much for him. We waited several weeks and tried to go up to 30mg again and it happened again so we've stayed at 20mg and added a small dose of Ritalin.  It seems to be working well so far. Fingers crossed!

Also, his doc said Strattera is "supposed" to be a 24 hr med but it doesn't work for some kids.  Since my son metabolized the meds so quickly he takes 10mg in the morning and 10mg at around 3pm.  It seems to make things much smoother and it lasts all day. You may want to ask the doc if you can break the dose up over the day...just a thought! 

He also got tired in the first 2 weeks or so but it went away after about 3 weeks. Hope it works out for ya!  Keep me posted!

Talked to the ped neurologist yesterday. He would like her to stay on the 25 mg a.m. dose for two more weeks (this will bring us to  two days shy of six weeks, I think) before we consider adding a booster or splitting the dose. So, we will tough it out.

I must say every day things get a little bit better. She sat down and finished a puzzle yesterday, something she would not have ben able to do before. Also, she slept through the night last night - the first time since starting Strattera.

A strange thing, when the drug is in "full effect" in the late a.m. she sniffs all the time. Is this a tick or just a stuffy nose?

My big worry today is she has been invited to a birthday party tonight at 6:30 p.m., the percise time the Strattera effect seems to diminish. Wish me luck!

I hope the party's going well for you!  I have to say that it has taken a full 6 weeks or more to get the full effect of the Strattera.  So your doc may be correct in wanting to wait a little longer. 

Also, my son was doing a strange thing also.  At different times during the day, he would pick his nose compulsively! over and over and over.  It was obvious that nothing was bothering him in his nose but he just kept doing it...like a tic.  Maybe that's what the sniffing is?  Thankfully the nose picking has gone down to almost nothing! Wheww!  Give it some time and see if it goes away.

I just got my son's perscription filled and it was sooooo expensive. I paid 67.?? for 57 pills.  My son is 11 and weve been fighting the focus as school issue for years, he's had A & B's until this year(5th) and he's just having a rough time and his grades arent what they should be. I am so scared to give this to him.  I want whats best but what if 10 yrs from now the kids that took it start getting sick?? I am so scared. How do you know if its right or not? I just dont want to do anything that will hurt him later in life. Anyone else scared? How do you deal with it? Thanks!!

I'm no longer scared but I was in the beginning.  You deal with it by educating yourself as much as you can.  Any medication that you take (even antibiotics) has warnings associated with it.  But these medications for ADHD have been extensively tested and found to be safe. 

You asked "How do you know if it's right or not?" If the medication is right for him then his success in life will tell you it's right!  Your son is also old enough that he will be able to tell you if it's helping or not.  Strattera takes a while to take effect so it may be several weeks before you can see any results.  If the medication gives him positive results then your fears will be eased.

It's perfectly normal to worry! We only want what's best for our kids! and sometimes all this is scary. Just remember that you are doing what's best for your child.  And the good news is that if the meds don't work...you can always stop using them! Good luck!

Thanks so much for replying.  Anything to help ease my mind is always nice to hear!! He's only been on it one day so we will see.

Thanks!

The only thing I noticed the first few days with my son was that he got sleepy during the day. But that went away after a month or so.  You may not notice anything for up to several weeks so don't get discouraged.  Hang in there!  It WILL get easier!