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Post by camismom on Feb 20, 2004 14:33:51 GMT -5
I have decided to take Cami off Strattera, but I am so scared about it at the same time. It seems like the Strat helps her be less "bouncy", but she is so argumentative and it has no effect on her attention. She has to take it at night because it upsets her stomach pretty bad when she takes it in the morning (she's not a breakfast eater). There are many nights she or I forget (at least once a week) and I know if she's not getting it consistently she's not getting full benefit. She has gained weight recently and needs a bit of an increase so yesterday I called for a new presc. I SPECIFICALLY asked for 58 mgs. with a 40/18 split so I can do morning and night doses (with the 18 being in the morn with a light breakfast) or I can "tweak" it sometimes when needed. I get a call last night from the nurse telling me doctor had decided to "up" it to 60 and has already called in the presc. 60 will be one pill and so I won't be able to do what I wanted. 60 would be too much in mornings. I'm tired of the fight with this med! To top things off, Cami forgot it last night after I reminded her three times. When I noticed this morning and said something to her she told me she didn't want to take it anymore, it doesn't help anyway, and only makes her stomach hurt! So, I decided, what the hay? I'm chunking it! But again, the thought scares me. Though my gut says she is right, what if I take her off and she becomes Tigger again? What if she declines some in school? (She takes Ritalin LA for school days, but a much lower dose than she did pre-Strattera.) Then I realize the med was helping more than I thought and I'm back to square one?! It is so frustrating trying to figure out what to do and playing this med game! How do you know what's best? You don't and that's the problem in a nutshell. My husband says we won't know until we try, but if we try and fail, I'm looking at starting over with ramp up, reaching target dose, etc! AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! I hope I'm making the right decision....
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Post by finnmom on Feb 20, 2004 14:52:44 GMT -5
Camismom This is such a circle of trying and error´s, of-and-on-again with med´s. If the situation is not good, if you hesetate so much of giving strattera, then I think you should do as your gut´s tell´s you to do. Think about it; there is always the other option, if this doesn´t work, you can come back, even if it take´s a lot of work, there is still an option for it. I know this is very scary and hard desision, but what ever you deside, I know you have done your best I´am sorry i cant be of any help. good luck for you what ever you try! Marja
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Post by AnneM on Feb 20, 2004 14:57:23 GMT -5
Oh this is tough ... i can really "feel" what you are saying ... but at the same time it is soooo personal that it is really difficult to give any advice .... but I do agree so much with finnmom that what your gut instinct tells you is normally the very best route to follow ....
GOOD LUCK and please keep us posted!!
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Post by shelli on Feb 20, 2004 17:27:44 GMT -5
I agree and am also learning listen to my gut instinct or I like to call it motherly instinct! That is one thing I am learning, if something is nagging at me, I probably need to just do it. Some times I think fear holds us back so much. It is so scary because these are our precious children and we are so afraid of making things worse. When I finally cave in and do something, I usually end up saying I wish I had done this sooner. Good luck and keep us posted!! shelli P.S Your not crazy
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Post by geewiznit on Feb 21, 2004 0:17:21 GMT -5
Just to comment on forgetting to take meds. I always hand my daughter her pill and water and watch while she takes it. Kind of a childish way to treat a 12 year old, but she knows it's for a good reason. We have specific times for everything--Paxil with her vitamin pill with juice in the morning; Ritalin LA just before leaving the house on school days; and, for the last couple of weeks, Abilify just before bed (since it makes her too sleepy any other time). The night dose is the hardest to remember, but I try to give medicine in the same place and at the same time every day, so it becomes as habitual as brushing her teeth, and that helps.
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