Strattera..any success stories? | ADHD Information

According to DS's DR..strattera is the last med for him to try.  He has had both families of stimulants without success (tics, dark thoughts, aggression, kill talk) and is currently taking Tenex.  The tenex seems to turn his system down..just a little bit.  But, we still have issues with explosive anger and aggression.  I have read the "Explosive Child" and it definitely describes our child. 

We are looking for something to give him a "pause" before he reacts ...a 30 second pause would be a God send. 

Anyone using Strattera with success.  Any input could be appreciated...if the prescription is filled we will start tomorrow.  I know this is one that must build up in his system.  TIA.

My son sounds very similar to yours.  He took stimulants, Focalin, for years with success and then a little over a year ago he started showing negative side effects with them.  Increased anger, agression, aggitation....etc.  We've been through all the stimulants, tenex and intuiniv (which made his blood pressure drop too low and  also made him horribly sleepy) and finally strattera (which also made him super sleepy)  So right now he is on Abilify to help even out his moods (the doctors think he could be bipolar also) but really needs something for the hyperactivity.  We deal with explosive anger and agression daily and to find a med that would help him "pause for 30 sec. before reacting" would be a god send.  We go back to the doctor next week.My daughter was very sleepy as well with the Strattera.  This is why we tried splitting the dose.  My doctor tried the 10mg at breakfast and then after school another 10mg.  To raise the dose he did the 18 mg at breakfast and kept the 10mg after school until she was tolerating the increase.  After a couple of weeks he pushed the after school up to 18mg and she has been just fine.  Her sleepiness was gone by doing it this way.  I am not sure if this is what you tried when your son took the Strattera.  My daughter as well dealt with the hyperactivity and the anger and the aggression daily.  I truly hope your doctor next week can help you get closer to finding "calm" for your son.
My daughter (13) was taking Concerta and after a year of seeing no results we switched to Strattera.  She was taking 10mg in the morning before school and then 10mg after school.  Did this dosage for 5 months and increased her to 18mg twice a day.  I have been very pleased with this dosage and how much "calmer" she finally is.  I really like breaking up the dosage because this helps with that "groggy" feeling meds can sometimes do and also I find it lasts for the whole day.

It has been a very long 9 year battle with doctors getting to this point.  Amazing how much strength we as mothers have to keep going to find the answers we know are out there.

I wish you all the best and do hope your child does reach that point of "calm" my daughter has finally found.

Brownie,

Thank you for the rely...DS developed a complex motor tic during the 3rd week of Strattera.  Dr doesn't think it was related to the Strattera..but it stopped two days after strattera was stopped.. 

 

Praying for continued success for  your daughter!