EFFEXOR | ADHD Information

ok I really appreciate the respond I got back  on this topic and request I had made. I am really frustrated with the doctor. Just because I called and told her I didnt want to put my son on the EFFEXOR and maybe there was something else we can try she was like no there is no other options. She suggested increasing his Stratterra to 80 mg once a day. Right now he takes 60 mg once a day. I just know there is more medication out there for ADHD/ADD patients. Something tells me maybe I should find another doctor. Any advice on that? Thank yall so much!

Chelle,  I am very new here-this is my first post.  I think you are doing the right thing by finding another doctor.  A phychiatrist or paeditician may be appropriate for your son.  I have and know others who have had negative side effects while taking EFFEXOR, Although EFFEXOR did help my brother for depression.  It may be a useful drug for some, but I question it's role in treating Adhd.  My 12 yr old is ADHD ;innattentive, for 5 years, he is on dexedrine 10mg time release. (my brother and I suspect we ourselves are undiagnosed adhd'rs), I have some knowlege, but personally my son has always been on Dexedrine.  I would find out if the FDA,or Health Canada-wherever you are-recommends this drug for this treatment-I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS,and if they do, I would find out all you can regarding research, side effects..  I would suggest that this drug is not mainstream treatment for ADHD,I would definetly go forth with caution if it were my son.  Hope this helps in some way,      anj

I linked to this site this evening and saw that no one has replied to your post, that disturbs me as I am sure it does you. I know you are desperate, I understand that, my own concerns for my child led me to your post.

First off I want to tell you to find a pediatric doctor that specializes in ADHD, I went throught 3 doctors before I found one for my child that actually listend to my concerns and discussed options with me.

Second of all, I honestly have never heard of a doctor putting a child on Effexor, if I had I would have told them what I know about the med, I honestly cannot believe your doctor did not suggest something else before going to Effexor.

What I do know about Effexor, after being on that med myself (as an adult) I did alot of research on it, I have seen the "case studies" on the med and was disturbed by the fact that a substantial number of the case subject will never be able to come off this med for fear or serious hospitalization, a small percentage of the case subjects were in fact hospitalized as a result of discontinuing the drug and will now have to take a small dose of the med every day because the withdrawl is so bad. I know also that the FDA has reclassified that med as not to be consider as a first course of treatment and doctors are to consider it if other meds have failed first.

I regret that I no longer have the web pages saved due to a computer virus a year ago but if you want to read stories from others like myself that have had trouble with Effexor google seach Effexor and Brain Shivers, the "brain shivers" are the reason I chose to take myself (very very slowly) off that medication and have chosen to be unmedicated, the longer your child is on Effexor the harder it will be to ever get him off of it, the side effects and especially the withdrawls can be almost unbearable.

Please try to find your son a pediatrician or at lease get a second opinion. You can do some research here online about Effexor but do read the forums from Effexor users.

i have also taken effexor for 6mths.  it did work great for me but i am an adult.  i've never heard of it being giving to children.  the withdrawal symtom that i ended up getting was sensory shock and it was hell.  every move i would make would send a shock through my body and brain, it was so bad at times i would go back to taking a full dose to get rid of the symtom.  i did some searching and it didn't take much to find many sites saying that you shouldn't give children effexor.  you need to check this out!!!

http://www.drgreene.com/21_1684.html

Chelle, the fact that your Doctor believes that there is no other medication to try is reason alone to find another doctor, a psycologist or a pediatritian.

 I do know that my daughters pediatrition does (depending on the symptoms and full diagnosis) at times prescribe Wellbutrin aside from Startera, Adderal and Concerta. Also depending on the symptoms she sometimes prescribes a combination of (example only) Adderall and Stratera, or Concerta and Wellbutrin, aside from  the medical aproaches she uses she also believes that treatment of ADD and ADHD is a three part process, Medication, Counceling and Behavioral therapy.

As for my daughter were are having her re-evaluated before considering any changes to her medication.

Know that you have every right to question any treatment your doctor suggest for your child, you have the right to refuse any treatment that you are not comfortable with and you always have a right to a second opinion.

Hi I was just wondering if anyone has had to experience with EFFEXOR for adhd in children. Well actually he is 11 years old. He was taking Strattera but it is just not helping him at all....If so could someone please reply and give me some advice I might would want to know or should look for or anything. My main concern was the doctor said I would have to monitor him. Thats scary.