Attn: Albertans intested in Strattera | ADHD Information

Strattera finally became available in Canada on March 7/05 after having been approved for ADD/ADHD back in January. My Dr. & I decided to try it and see if it worked better for me than the regimen of Ritalin & Dexedrine I'd been on for the last 8 or 9 years (see my other posting).

I finally got my new prescription today and went down to the Pharmacy to get it filled. It was then I learned that the Alberta Blue Cross drug plan does not cover Strattera. At least not yet. Long story short, Man, was I bummed out !  Then they told me what the full cost of it was and I just about went code blue (coronary arrest) right on the spot !

I'm trying to contact Alberta Health & Wellness & Alberta Blue Cross to find out if & when it might be approved for coverage but in the meantime I'm trying to get the word out to anyone in Alberta who's interested in using this drug for themselves or for their child/children and asking them to lobby the appropriate people at AH&W and ABC to get Strattera on the approved drug list. I've heard they don't cover Concerta either.

I think the only way to get these drugs on the approved list for the drug plan anytime soon will be if everybody starts calling, writing and faxing the appropriate people and pressure them to get it done. So please spread the word and keep the pressure on Alberta Health & Wellness/Alberta Blue Cross to put Strattera and Concerta on the approved list for the drug plan.

Thanks,

-Roj-

 

Dear Roj,

Honestly, all Strattera did for me was make me very nauseous-to the point that I would have to leave my classes in the morning- and did not keep me awake or focused or attentive.  In other words, for me it didn't work at all.  I've never had that happen to me before and I've been on Ritalin/SR, Adderall/XR, and now Concerta and Focalin.  All have had some kind of "Helpful" effect in addition to their side effects, but all I got from Strattera was a headache, sleepiness, and nausea.  I stopped taking it after one month, because the introduction period is supposedly two weeks at the max, but i was naive.  Actually, if you can get Focalin, go for it, because I like it best (or dislike it the least).  Good luck with your search for the best meds!

By the way, whereabouts in Alberta are you, I've got some family about 15km (I think) outside of Edmonton (my dad is from Winnipeg, though my mother's from North Carolina, haha).

Ask Dr. to talk with the Ins. company.