Hello everyone. I'm hoping that one of you may be able to help me. My 13 year old son started taking Strattera at the end of April and his appetite has virtually disappeared. He has gone from 91 pounds to 78 pounds. I am very concerned. His Dr. is going to make a decision about switching him off it at the end of this month. Did anyone else have this problem and if so, did it pass in time? Other than this problem the Straterra is working fantastic for him. He has also had a problem with OCD and stimulant medication really aggrevates this problem so I really hate to see him go back on them. Right now I am in a lose/lose situation. It took over a year to come up with the medication combination that he's on right now and it is working so well. I would appreciate any help you guys can give me on this.
Thanks.

I am told -- and the recent commercial on Strattera on T.V. does say - that Strattera used by kids -- may cause weight loss...Yes, 13 pounds is a lot.....Darn those side effects, Summer, huh? When I was on it, I did not lose, did not gain...did not affect my appetite...but I'm an adult...and adults and kids respond differently to meds.......I'm sorry this has happened to him....would an appetite enhancement med be a possibility?? to along with his current regimen? What do others here think, especially those of you with kids?

Joan,
Thanks so much for your response. I will ask his Dr. about adding an appetite enhancement med, I didn't even know there was a medication that would do that. I am at my wits end - it is always one step forward two steps back with these meds. I thought we might actually have the "magic combo" this time, everything seemed to be working so well and then his appetite just disappeared - he has absolutely no interest in food. I hate to switch his meds again especially at the beginning of a school year.AAAARRRGGGHHH!!! This is just so frustrating and it just breaks my heart, he has been through so much.
Summer

I hear ya Summer. Listen Summer, there's an antidepressant...don't know at ALL if it's ever been used for kids...but it seems to increase appetite as well....called Remeron....perhaps check this one out with your doctor? Then there's just a regular medication for appetite increase called megace, used in hospitals....anyway, I'm sorry about the hassle you're going through....I know how it is to think you've found the "right combo" with something -- only to find a glitch......

Listen, also when you feed him, with what he DOES eat, can you sort of try to sneak in calories without him knowing it??? Extra butter, extra mayo, extra peanut butter, extra cheese, even shakes with extra whole milk added?

I will ask his Dr. about the Remeron. He was on Risperdal briefly and it did increase his appetite alot but it had very bad side effects so he had to be taken off of it. I have tried adding extra cheese ect... to the foods he eats to boost his calories but the problem is he only eats a few bites and then he thinks he's not hungry any more. He used to eat like a normal kid but now he will just eat half a peanut butter cup and leave the rest.

Is he more willing to eat at school with his peers?

I have a friend who is 14yrs old. He started taking strattera at the end of school and lost about 15lbs. This side effect is supposed to go away after time. Its supposedly one of those "in the beginning when you take this medication" side effects. Well now my friend IS eating normally, he has put back on the weight he lost and is still gaining (which is good because he was very think to begin with from being on stimulants since age 3)

I am 19yrs old/female, and I have been trying strattera, not planning to stay on it long term. Just wanted something to compare my natural treatments with..to make sure theyre working as well as other treatments would. Anyway, I started taking it about a week an a half ago and I lost about 7lbs.

A good thing that I started doing after the first couple days is, eat an entire meal with the dose of strattera. You can also get him some of those meal bars. They are like candy bars but with enough calories/fat/protein/vitamins in them to be an entire meal. So if he can eat one or two of those per day, then one regular meal that would probably take care of the problem.

I only wish the weight loss side effect worked the same way with adult ADDers.