My daughter was recently in the hospital for abdominal pain and slight jaundice and they discovered her liver enzymes were very elevated. They still remain elevated after discontinuing her Straterra over 3 1/2 weeks ago. We are back to square one and she is very distracted and her grades are going down again. Her pediatrician says she'll never be able to put her back on Strattera because of what it did to her liver. Any suggestions? New here......we've also tried Concerta, Adderall, Dexedrine and herbal stuff with NO success whatsoever. Thanks!

Welcome to the forums!:)

I'm sorry your daughter had such a bad reaction. My daughter is 9 and ADHD (as am I). Neither of us tolerate medication well. The route that has helped us involves lots of exercise and other accomodations. Hallowell and Ratey in Delivered from Distraction discuss how aerobic exercise is like getting a dose of Prozac and Ritalin holistically. Ratey states that there are 4 - 6 research papers coming out each week on the benefits of exercise to the brain. (See the article I posted by him at http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34538 ).
The improved focusing according to Delivered from Distraction can last up to 4 hours, so exercise multiple times a day is important.

Another good book full of specific suggestions and a good explanation of the different things that can impede ADHD kids (and others) is Mel Levine's book A Mind at a Time (you can also read articles by him or see short video clips free on line at "All Kinds of Minds".

The great things about exercise is that is not only helps focus the mind but it also helps modulate the emotionally reactivity so common with ADDers -- both the literature I've read on this as well as personal experience bears this out.

There is also some research indicating the adding Omega III fatty acids from fish combined with exercise can be helpful. Other studies have found ADDers typically low in magnesium and zinc.

Another excellent book is Raising Resillient Children by Robert Brooks and Sam Goldstein. They focus a lot on finding "islands of competence" to build upon. For what it's worth, they say to date the research doesn't bear up the medication alone makes for a better long term outcome, although for many it certainly helps in the short term.

Take care,
Scattered

Are you sure it wasn't the herbal stuff that affected her liver? I am assuming she used the herb after the strattera not before?