A positive experience

[goodlife]

I found this site the day my son's doctor switched him from Adderall to Strattera. I was so depressed after reading all the posts on here, not to mention scared to death.

I thought I would post now three weeks later to say that we absolutely LOVE it. What a change. My son is 14 yrs. old and has been on medication since he was 7. He started on Ritalin. He stayed on that for a few years but by the time he was 10 I didn't like the mood swings and the anger that he was exhibiting. We switched to Adderall. While that worked so much better, the mood swings were still there and it upset his stomach. Not nearly as pronounced....but several weeks ago I decided to take him to see his Dr. about a dosage increase. He hadn't had one since he started on Adderall. He was only taking 20 mg. in the morning and 10mg in the afternoon. Very low dosage. Instead of increasing his dosage, she wanted to try Strattera.

What a change! For the first time in his life, he's communicating his feelings about his medication with me. He told me that he just feels more calm. He said he feels like this medicine doesn't wear off whereas the Adderall he could tell when it was wearing off. His tone is 100% better as is his attitude. He is very much less oppositional, less defiant, and less argumentative.

That first weekend he was on the medication....he slept four and five hours in the afternoon and was always starving. That first day he ate a huge breakfast, then ate FOUR PB&J sandwiches for lunch...went to sleep for about 4 hours and when he woke up he ate an entire box of cereal with milk. That was on Friday..by Sunday night...he was back to his normal. No side effects whatsoever.

Anyway, I just wanted to write a post here that would offer a more positive experience...
BTW...I also have a friend who's son takes Strattera...and has been on it since Feb. of this year. She loves it also...

[joanrdtobe]

Goodlife: Since this is your first post, I would like to say "welcome" to the forums....and success stories such as yours are ALWAYS wonderful to hear...And especially since your son is only 14 -- he's young and has the rest of his life ahead of him....it is great that you and he have found something that works for him....

Strattera works for some -- not everyone -- as is the case with all meds -- and it is apparent that is the one for him....

Please keep posting....

[Andrew]

goodlife,

Welcome to the ADD Forums!! I too have had great success with Strattera after switching to it from Ritalin. I ALSO had similar side effects as your son did after long term use of Ritalin.

Glad to hear things are working out so well for your son. I look forward to hearing more about your son's successes in school.

[Wheel1975]

I was probably one of those whose experience with Strattera participated in your anxiety... sorry!

I'm glad it is working out well.

Do what works! -- is one of my favorite motos....

[dollface88]

We just started our 8 year-old, ADHD Autistic son on Straterra one week ago and I want to thank those of you who have taken the time to post the positives. We have experienced the sleepiness so we have been giving his dose at night. I have been reading too much online. Too many people take the time to post the negatives and not enough post the positives. We have been down the road of Ritalin (too moody, weepy) and Concerta (no effect!). I hope Straterra helps our little guy. I hate to see him struggling so! Thanks again to those of you who posted the positives. I think my blood pressure might have dropped some.

[jbdrichey]

dollface, I also have a son on the autism spectrum. He is 7 years old. Does the meds work for him through out the day with him taking it at night?

goodlife, does your child take his dose in the morning or at night?

We are waiting patiently for our appt. on the 10th to discuss medication for the first time. I would like my son to start out with Strattera to see if that is successful before trying the stimulants.
We will see what the Dr. thinks.

Brandy

[dollface88]

Okay, our 8 year old ASD son is up to 40 mg dose (recommended for his weight). We have had some upset tummy and vomitting issues. We are experimenting with the timing of the dose because we don't want to stop the Straterra. He is doing much better in school. We notice that when he wants or needs to focus the Straterra seems to allow him to do that. Otherwise, he can be his normal rambuncous self. No "drugged" look in his eyes. I like this and I think he does too. Straterra is not a drug that "wears off" so the one dose at night seems to work fine!

[TomFNP]

As a Family Nurse Practitioner, I am responsible for diagnosing and treating ADD. I also have a 12 yo son on Concerta.

I am wondering if I should make an attempt to switch all my patients to Strattera for a number of reasons:

1. Not a triplicate medication
2. Not a stimulant which requires more monitoring for side effects such as growth retardation, over-stimulation, and insomnia
3. Fewer problems with case management
4. ? possible help with anxiety and/or depressive symptoms

and other issues.

I would like feed-back, ideas, etc. on this idea.

I am seeing about 3-5 ADD children and adults daily in my practice of about 25-35 patients each day.

Tom