Our son was diagonosed as a senior in high school. Man hindsight is a terrible thing, woulda, shoulda, coulda. He has a high IQ, we thought he was just a procrastinator, etc. etc.

He is heading to College this fall, Chemical Engineering. He has a friend listed as his roomate, though it was suggested he get a single room if possible.

He wants to continue with Concerta, the first Psychitrist recommended it, she left out area and we had to find a new doc. the new doc, said no to Concerta and put him on Straterra. He dropped her they didn't hit it off. (he'll soon be 18) and wants to try another Psychitrist.

We are new at at this, any suggestions?
Concerned Mom

Welcome!

Could be the insurance driving this. It's possible Straterra will work but if Concerta is working, why mess with it? I think Strattera is more likely to have bad side effects.

Why would you say bad side effects? After researching ADD/ADHD most everything has bad side effect.

Strattera's side effects are worse - judging from the anicdotal evidende I've seen. And it's generally less effective than stimulants - Stattera is effective in a smaller percentage of people and it's effectiveness can "wax and wane" - it might be good one week and not so good another. Stimulants are really the first line treatment, but since there is a stigma to anything that has abuse potential, Strattera is often tried first. The new Doctor is probably worried that he might be one of those college students who claim ADHD in order to get stimulants as study aids - which does happen. Did she see his medical records? I'm surprised a Doctor would insist on changing from something that worked for no good reason. It's not like Concerta is readily abused - because of it's high-tech delivery system it can't be crushed and then snorted - a popular way to abuse methylphenidate. I can't blame your son for dropping this Dr - I would never see someone I didn't like.
Hopefully you'll be able to find a more agreeable Dr.
Good luck,
Greg

Some (relatively few) people have reported excellent results from Strattera but I've also read horrible anecdotes. The side effects from Strattera include those from stimulants plus some really awful things. I'm no pro but I'd say the average reaction to Strattera is moderately debilitating and takes a couple months of suffering to determine if it's working.

At high doses stimulants are a nasty drug to abuse and get addicted to, I had a friend that got to shooting up speed and that nearly killed him but at medicinal doses stimulants are safer than coffee or aspirin for most people.

Aound here (N Minn) the psychiatrists ( including pediatric psychiatrists) and the pediatricians that I know personally( which obviously doesnt include them all) have all said to me how much they dislike Straterra and how it hasn't worked.

This could have something to do with the fact that Strattera is approved for adult AD/HD but Concerta is not. As of right now the only medications which have been FDA approved for adult AD/HD are Strattera and ADDerall XR. Concerta is currently in the process of gaining FDA approval and more than likely will be approved some time in 2005.

Maybe this MD didn't really know too much about Adult AD/HD and just knew that Concerta was only FDA approved for children. If your son find another doctor who understands adult AD/HD he will probably find one that will treat him with the best medication.

Off label happens.:) Seriously, the big question is whether the first med worked or not.

Well, I'm new to all this but as a college sophmore I say FIND A NEW DOC. I have talked to three others that I just didn't agree with it but I am happy now with my NP.

I've done very well on straterra, with minimal side effects, some hot flashes some nausua if i don't eat enough.

try the straterra you can change if it dosen't work.