csullivan, I am just starting my son on stratterra - I am happy to compare notes with you.
This is our first day on it, up till now he has been on dexamphetamine.
Seems good this morning.
However, under the Dr's advice - we are weaning him onto it in small doses.
I have been on Strattera for 7 days and it has made me overly tired and zombie like. I really don't like it. Try at night instead before bed. Son says likes it better then. We are not on the strattera cause out of school right now for summer.I have just taken my son off of Concerta 2 days ago and started on Stratterra...we overlapped the 2 meds for 1 week at the advice of our pediatrician. The last 2 days have been from hell...anger, rude, physical violence, talking nonsense, not listening and on and on. I don't know whether it is a rebound from the Concerta or a reaction to the Stratterra. I am really unsure of whether to keep going with the Stratterra as I have been told that it takes up to 4 weeks to take effect. Can anyone out there offer advice?
My son was on it for about 6 weeks and it was horrible. I was told to give it 4-6 weeks but that after 2 weeks we should at least see some improvement. We didn't. It made him worse, exactly what you're describing.
He was on 20mg each p.m. for 7 days then up to 40mg for the remaining 5 weeks. I would hang in there a little longer but if you don't see something within the first couple of weeks, it may not be the right med. It's bizarre how it works for some and not for others.
Good luck, I hope it works for you!
If given before bed time lessons side effects more. Our son liked it better then also. He is off while on summer. He has anger issues before medacine. He as depakote in the morning. I believe if pushed anyone can have this issue. Our whole family is that way. It has been good for him because before he would not talk about his feelings. He has Sensory issues also. He grew and gained weight on this also. He eats like a hog on or off the medacine. We refuse stims because he is a little guy and can't afford weight issues. I refuse to use those meds. When he eats good he is good. When he has sugar/ junk foods he is a mess. This is what we have noticed. We do alot with what he eats. He is on Melaleuca supplements that are food derived to fil gaps in his diet. It is the amazing the differences in him.
Brent/ Rachael
I have had my 8 year old daughter on Strattera for a year and it has worked well for her it took longer but once we split the dossage to 18mg at night and 18 in the morning it just evend her out and it was great. unfortunally her doctor has moved her to Concerta and I hate it. It has made her tired and her attitude is bad it gives her head aches and is making her hard to deal with. keep trying it actually works just takes a little longer.dmmfox...thanks for the comments. I am curious why you would switch to Concerta if the Stratterra was working well for your daughter? We are moving from Concerta to Stratterra because it was no longer working for my son and he hadn't gained any weight in a year! On the advice of my doctor we are continuing the Concerta until the end of the school year(3 more weeks)and he is now up to 18 mg of Stratterra...once he has been on the Stratterra for 4 weeks and up to 25mg we will stop the Concerta. I don't know that Stratterra is any better but I will be happy to get him off the stimulants. I have also started a herbal remedy this week and the last few days have been good..he is happier and calmer. The difficult thing is I don't know whether it is the combination of meds or the herbal remedy that is working. Sometimes I feel like he is a ginnea pig and I hate it.