Currently my guy is on Strattera and Risperdal with okay success. The end of the school year started to decline with behavior problems related to fast temper and short impulse control. The pharacologist that we are using has recommended stopping the Strattera and substituting Wellbutrin and continue with the Risperdal.
Any advice/experience with Wellbutrin?
Any advice/experience with Wellbutrin mixed with Risperdal?
Any advice/experience with suddenly stopping Strattera and starting on Wellbutrin?
Thanks
Paul
Wellbutrin: This is a molecule very similar to the cathione in Khat plant and amphetamine with a chlorine molecule tagged on it, plus an extra carbon/methly.
I found that it does very well for me on a daily basis. The Dopamine re-uptake inhibition action really helps w/ memory and focus. I don't wake up in that grey fog, feeling like my overwhelming problems are just keeping me treading water. You may find an initial headache with it, but that passes. I find that it also moderates the effects of the amphetamines I take, since the dopamine levels are now high, but the nor-epinepherine levls get the boost. That translates into less feel good/up and more action orientated.
I honestly couldn't believe how depressed my dopamine levels were until i tried this and found out how life was for "normal" people.
wife can't use wellbutrin cause of past childhood epilepsy activity. She use a Melaleuca .com products she loves. It's called Luminex.It does work on her. cost for members is 18.99 for non members is 27.50. Here's what she uses from this companie. Their daily for life pack, luminex, replenex, and cleaning items. Our kids take Aussie pals and provex plus.It is very common for students with "issues" to start acting out at the end of the school year. It can be a combination of separation anxiety and anxiety over the daily routine ending. Some kids with extreme anxiety (like my son) already start worrying about next year...who will his friends be, what will the teacher be like, etc.
My son has had a great year, but the past week has been TERRIBLE! We still have 1 1/2 weeks left of school so I'm not surprised that his behavior has started to decline. He had his first trip to the principal, since October, on Friday.
Just a thought.
On a side note, Strattera is a SNRI and caused my son to be very irritible, angry, and aggressive.
Why are these meds given to kids when Fda approval hasn't happened for kids yet. All antidepression meds now require suside warnings. Wife hates these meds.tisacson
My guy is 10. I'll let ya know if we make the two week mark.
Paul
Thanks to all of you for your timely feedback. Its been 4 days since we transitioned from Strattera to Wellbutrin. So far, my guy is a bit more hyper in the evening and a bit more silly and less focused in the AM. But the doc said it would take two weeks before we know......
Tater, what does SNRI stand for?
Paul
Paul
How old is your child. I'd really like to hear how it turns out. I am considerign wellbutrin for my 8 year old.
P -
My situation is very different from what you described, but I was compelled to write you. I don't know how much you know about the different meds, but: &n bsp; &n bsp;
Wellbutrin is a "stimulating anti-depressent" - it increases the amount of norepinephrine & dopamine in your brain. I've read that it also increases serotonin levels (certain neurologists say that "W" works mostly on norepi and serotonin).
As for Risperdal, it increases dopamine and serotonin. I don't know much about Risperdal, but based on the above it also seems to have a stimulating effect. Many people w/ Bi-polar disorder take this med.
I took Strattera for a while, but I can't remember if I stopped taking it abruptly or if I was weaned off of it.
Maybe your guy was having behavioral issues b/c he was taking two forms of stimulants. Wellbutrin has a stimulating effect, but it does effect serotonin.
Try and read as much as you can on the different meds and talk to the dr. again - you may also want to get a second opinion.
Good luck. I know it isn't easy.
Jme
Brett,
Your question is a good one : Why are these meds given to kids when Fda approval hasn't happened for kids yet? Many of these drugs (i.e. Wellbutrin and Risperdal to name a couple) were not originally designed and tested for the treatment of ADHD in kids. The drug companies reasoned that the target group for a specific diagnosis wasn't big enough for the investment to perform all of the necessary testing (often more expensive and time consuming then the original research to design the drug). So they only tested for the biggest (and most profitable) group. Thus the term 'Off-Label' usage....meaning that a drug that has been FDA approved for one use but has been found effective for another but is not so noted by the Drug Company; since it could open them up to liability. And good reason, since adverse side effects could result and often do in a higher percentage then a medication that has been completely scrubbed by the FDA.
So why would anyone resort to a medication that has not been approved by the FDA? Because it works! Unfortunately, we take a bigger gamble using an 'Off-Label' drug. But when vitamins, diet, therapy and accepted treatments don't work, then we are often force to resort to 'Off-Label' applications.
My feelings are the same as your wife's, but seeing a happy child with friends and good grades in a home where we are not always yelling and under stress makes the decision worth while.
Paul
Thanks Paul .. we have had to take him off of stims b/c of tics and straterra did not work. He isn't hyper so much as he is distracted and emotional. Always looking for the right drug .. gave up on looking for the perfect answer a while ago.tisacson,
So far so good. It's been two weeks and so for so good. Theoritically he is totally off Strattera and transitioned on to Wellbutrin. We are still doing the Risperdal as well. He's a bit more hyper in the evening as evident of the motor mouth, but has no problems sleeping. Still a little mouthy in the morning but tolerable. But he appears to be not as anxious and confrontational during the day. Still too soon to tell and difficult to separate not being in school and the joys of summer vacation. He successfully made it through his first week of his summer program with no negative feedback.
Will keep ya updated.
Paul
Paul
How is the Wellbutrin working?
Teri
Just an update on our experience with the med change to Wellbutrin from Strattera.
After four weeks we noted several changes, first he didn't have his afternoon blowup and he was pretty reasonable, but we ended up trading it for very difficult mornings instead. Next, we noticed that he wasn't able to focus as well and became much more hyper; not so bad for the summer, but not acceptable for school, so we decided to give up on the Wellbutrin.
Our pharmacologist now has him on the same level of Strattera as before but half in the morning and half in the afternoon instead of one big dose in the AM. Will let ya know how that goes.
Paul