|
|
Post by camismom on Feb 9, 2004 14:48:41 GMT -5
Does anyone else out there have their child on Strattera? Cami has taken it since mid-June and like so many others I've read about, she started off on it good, but has dwindled down to "bearable". Let me explain: she started it like recommended, doing the ramp-up, suffering thru the first four weeks, etc. She was taking morning doses, and from what I could see (since she wasn't in school) was doing real well on it. School started first of August and she seemed to be doing fine. I noticed though in the evenings with homework and on weekends, that though she seemed calm (i.e. it was helping with the "H" part) she was still not able to concentrate (i.e. the "AD" part) so I started to wonder if this was applying to school since this is supposed to be a consistent round-the-clock med. I then started her on a split-dosage. November came and the 2nd Progress Report for the year. She had an F in Lang Arts for incomplete work. That answered my wondering about her attention in school. After a conferance in Dec with her teachers we added Ritalin LA for school days only and since then she's back on track at school and doing better. Of course Ritalin LA is worn off by evening and homework time.  At any rate, Cami is not a breakfast eater and she was having trouble with it making her sick at her stomach when she took it mornings (I'm sure from not eating enough), so after we added the stim med back, we started giving her the Strattera after dinner which is her biggest meal of the day. I've read that this med can be given this way, all in the a.m., or split dosages, it really doesn't matter as long as they get it because it stays in the system and they get the benefits regardless. Do any of you know this to be true? What has been your experience with this? Basically what I'm getting at is all I have noticed in the last few months from this med is Cami is at a more even "keel". She is calmer all the time, and not as crazy-hyper as she used to be when taking stims only and it started wearing off (am I making sense? :  , BUT her attention is not affected by it at all. When she first started this med she would get up in the mornings and her attention was there when getting ready, she was able to stay on task and get ready on time. Now she's back to the days where she goes to do something, get's side-tracked and "spaces out" so to speak. I know I'm rambling but it's hard to explain. I guess I just need input from others who are experiencing or have experienced this med. I'm trying to decided to stick with it or not. Thanks! |
|
|
|
Post by Dad2Brooke on Feb 9, 2004 15:03:28 GMT -5
camismom, what a timely post!
I am waiting on a call from the doctor about the same thing. Brooke has been on Strattera since Nov. and is doing good. I does a good job of controlling the hyper like you said, but for the AD and the impulsiveness I don't see that big of an improvement.
I am going to ask the doctor about putting her back on Concerta along with the Strattera, because during the ramp up period when she was on both, I couldn't believe the results. Concerta seemed to help the AD part better. So maybe both will be the ticket.
I talked to her teacher today and she was concerned that I was going to take Brooke off the Strattera (testement to how well it does with the hyper.) When I explained that the Strattera was staying, just gonna see what kind of gains we can make with the Concerta as well, she was relieved and receptive.
I have read numerous times about splitting the doses of Strattera and giving it to them at night. It is a 24 hour med, so you can give it to them whenever it is best for them.
Good luck with what you try camismom. I will keep you posted as well.
One final note, it's not like I see a degradation in the Strattera, I just never saw it do that good on the AD sy,mptoms in the first place.
Hope this helps.
|
|
|
|
Post by camismom on Feb 9, 2004 15:27:20 GMT -5
It is a 24 hour med, so you can give it to them whenever it is best for them. This is what I have read to, but lately I wonder. I mean, she takes it all with dinner (usually around 5:30 or 6:00), so is she sleeping thru the benefits? She can't focus enough to even get ready for school the next morning! Maybe you'll get some answers from Brookes' doctor! Thanks for the reply and luck to you too! |
|
|
|
Post by Dad2Brooke on Feb 9, 2004 16:44:52 GMT -5
Christy, the way it was explained to me was that the benefits last 24 hours, but a lot of the side effects (headaches, upset stomach) occurred right after taking the meds. So that was the reason for giving at bedtime, so the child could sleep through them. Also, splitting the dosage helped prevent side effects entirely in some kids.
Brooke never did have any side effects past the first day of taking Strattera.
I would talk to her doctor, but what I would try is to give her the dosage closer to bedtime, and see if that improves the morning? My other suggestion would be split doses, but you have tried that. Did it still cause Cami side effects.
But I agree, I am happy with the even keel, but Brooke needs to be able to focus or her schoolwork will continue to suffer.
Bottom line, I like what Strattera does. She is calmer on it than anything else she has been on (and we have tried them all), but I think it needs help. That is why I am thinking of reintroducing the Concerta.
Let's keep one another posted on any progress.
|
|
|
|
Post by swmom on Feb 10, 2004 6:06:43 GMT -5
camismom -
We've been on Strattera since July and doing fine. We give 35 a.m, 20 after school. Works nicely, except when she's sick. Stops working until she's better.
I recommend going to:millermom.proboards23.com/index.cgi for a thorough discussion on Strattera, how to use it, what to do if it stops working, how to tweak the dose, etc. It's essential reading to be successful on Strattera.
Good luck with it. My child could not tolerate stims. Strattera has changed our lives.
|
|
|
|
Post by camismom on Feb 10, 2004 8:08:34 GMT -5
Bottom line, I like what Strattera does. She is calmer on it than anything else she has been on (and we have tried them all), but I think it needs help. That is why I am thinking of reintroducing the Concerta. Ralph, I totally agree with this comment. That is why I reintroduced the Ritalin LA for school days only. It's a shame though, because so many of us had high hopes for this med and went to it to get our kids off stims! I like you're ides of giving it to her right before bedtime. I'll try that. She did have side effects even with the split dose. She kept a stomach ache daily because she doesn't like to eat breakfast and wouldn't really eat enough to keep it from bothering her. There are many mornings she won't eat at all, and being the age she is now, I can't force her to! She's never really been much of a breakfast eater. Anyway, she makes up for it at night by eating a big dinner and snacking all night on top of that, so giving it to her right before bedtime may help. Thanks for the idea! Good luck to you with Brooke, and yes, let's keep each other posted! swmom - I have seen Millermom's post on Strattera, she started it on the old site. As a matter of fact, I had never heard of Strat until I read about it on ADHD.com. I go to Millermom's site and lurk sometimes because there seem to be more Strat users there. I wouln't know half of what I know about this med without the insight I get from Millermom and Mayleng! Both her sight and this one are very informative and helpful. This just seems to be the one I post on more. Thanks for the suggestion though! Glad to hear Strat is helping your child!  |
|
Madison
Member
Tomorrow is another day............
Posts: 90
|
Post by Madison on Feb 10, 2004 20:37:35 GMT -5
Hi,
I've got a friend that has just started Strattera with her son. She HOPES it will keep him on task with homework/school work. So far (it's early) they've not seen alot. He was on stims. but that got where it wasn't working anymore. She has a friend that her boy has been on strattera for several months and doing very well with focus and attention problems using it.
take care..madison
|
|
|
|
Post by LitlBaa on Feb 14, 2004 21:44:03 GMT -5
Katie's been on Strattera for about a year. I agree that it helps the H but not the AD. She takes it in the morning, on her way out the door, after eating. If she takes it on an empty stomach she yaks. I took her off the stims because she wasn't eating or sleeping very well, but her focus was incredible! She's put on 16 pounds in the last year, now she's up to 96 pounds. We don't get the "all-day" benefits they advertise on TV, though. About 9 pm when she starts getting tired, I start getting increased attitude from her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mishamom on Feb 23, 2004 22:49:51 GMT -5
My Emily started taking Strattera (her first med) this past November. Her pediatrician, occupational therapist, psychologist and myself took a different approach than the traditional 'ramping up' method though. They all say they have seen good progress and results on far lower than recommended doses of Strattera as well as keeping the dose steady unless an actual 'need' was identified.
Emily started out on 10 mg and is still on the current dose. For her weight the recommendation is 28 mg. However, we have seen only short term side effects, she has caught up to her classroom performand level, made great gains in rehab therapy (speech and occupational) and is socially a night and day difference with the neighborhood kids. We couldn't be happier at this point. We also have the luxury of room to increase the dosage as she ages since we did not immediately ramp up to the suggested/max for her weight.
I realize that each child's situation is different though. I also realize that many physicians and such stick very closely to suggested protocol. I have been very luck to get to work with a very open minded and supportive group of professionals. At no point have I felt they disregarded Em's needs or risked her in any way.
|
|
