|
|
Post by Eliserose on Jul 27, 2004 15:07:01 GMT -5
My 8 year old dd ADHD combined is on a straterra trial(I visited this board and you answered some previous questions- thanks) and she is now on 38mg.(SHe weighs 48 pounds). She seems to require a pretty high dose. The lower doses do not help much for her. I know that your daughter is on Concerta and Strat and wondered how that is working for you. The Strat seems to help my dd with temperament, mood and frustration levels- makes her more even keeled and she seems happier to me. I do no see any improvement in the attention or focusing area and know that if we are to stay on it we will need to add a stimulant. Prior to Strat she had been on Concerta and it worked really well for her in terms of focusing and attention and hyperactivity, but at times she would seem withdrawn and irritable. Sorta edgy. Just wondering how your dd was on the Concerta alone and how you like the combo of Concerta and Strat. Is your dd both inattentive and hyper, how old is she?
Thanks so much for your insight. School will be starting in about 4 weeks so we have to get this nailed down soon. Nancy
|
|
|
|
Post by Dad2Brooke on Jul 28, 2004 8:33:50 GMT -5
Eliserose, Brooke was OK on Concerta, but we seemed to be missing a little something with the hyperness. Plus, we wanted to take her off the stims and I had heard good things about Strattera. So, we decided to try her on it.
The Strattera worked really well once we got her at target dosage; very calm. But we noticed that the focus wasn't there as well as it had been with the Concerta.
We asked the doctor about it and he said that we could add the Concerta back, but because of the Strattera, she would probably only need half the dosage she was on before. 18mgs instead of 36.
So, at 7 years old (almost 8) she weighs 65 lbs and is on 40 mg of Strattera and 18mg of Concerta, both given about 7 in the morning. She also take Guanfacine twice daily of .5 mgs, because it helps to control her tics that stims had given her (although we plan to drop it soon to see if the tics are still there.)
All that said, she is doing good on this combo. The meds and her IEP happened last year at about the same time, but the schoolwork really improved. Her hyperness is better, her focus seems better as well. She eats weel, she sleeps well. She doesn't have as many tics as she had on just the straight Concerta.
But, lately I have really noticed a lot of anxiety with her. She can't take no for answer, she is always worried about doing something better or "funner" even when she is having fun. So, her pediatrician is helping us find a phsychiatrist to review her meds and talk to her about these issues. We may wind up changing her meds, even though they are working for her old issues, there seems to be new ones all the time.
I really hate the thought of all new meds or even adding a new one.
I hope this helps. You mentioned that your daughter seems to need a higher dose. I noticed that at 48 pounds, 38mg is pretty high, but if it is working for her, than that is good. How long has she been at that dose? How long has she been on Strat all together?
|
|
|
|
Post by Eliserose on Jul 28, 2004 11:31:02 GMT -5
Hi,
Thanks for responding. Sorry to hear that you may go back on the medication trail again. I know how hard it is to be consistently trying different meds in search of the right one. I also think it is so hard to decide what behavior to attribute to med side effects and what is just our kids. ANy way good luck with your appointment with the psych doctor.
You asked about our dd. She is on 38mg of Strat and that is right at the 1.8mg per kilogram mark, on the high side of the dosing regimen. We had been on 28--30 mg for 3-4 weeks but saw no improvment. At this dose which she just started, she seems nicer to be around, more compliant not so hyper, but her focus is awful on it. SHe does seem to be more aware that her focus is off, for example she said to me, "isn't it weird that if someone asks me when my birthday is, i will tell them and then I think about misquitoes??" So she realizes now that her thoughts are distractable. Guess that is good???
Anyway, we are going to give it another week or so and then either go off it or maybe try a combo with a stimulant.
Nancy
|
|
|
|
Post by rosyred45 on Jul 29, 2004 12:51:01 GMT -5
Hey Ralph, this isn't related to the meds BUT that is about the age when kids bug for everything....and I mean everything. Tara went through the I want this better than this because it's "Xer"-funner, bigger, better. Mikey is just starting to get to the stage. A lot of it is plainly testing on her part to see what she can get. I know it's a pain, but that is the age when they start not only noticing things but wanting better than the next. It's a matter of how you shape it and remind her to appreciate what she has. And that she can't always get what she wants. And you can tell her Miss Kaiti says so :oTake the heat off of you  |
|
|
|
Post by Dad2Brooke on Jul 29, 2004 15:42:39 GMT -5
Nancy, if you decide to try a stim again, I would definately try it with the Strattera first. The ramp up for Strat takes so long, I would make sure that didn't work before taking her off.
I know that adding the Concerta to her Strattera made an enormous difference. I have been really pleased. I wil try to stay on this med mixture if possible, because she does better on this than anything she has tried in almost 4 years.
Yesterday, I got the names and numbers of 2 physcologists and 1 psychiatrist that will see kids Brooke's age and can provide role playing and counseling for social skills and her anxious behavior.
Kaiti, thanks for the support and I realize that kids want everything, but in Brookes case it just seems so much more so.
And although she is an only child, she has never been given everything so I am not sure where this behavior is coming from
|
|
|
|
Post by rosyred45 on Aug 5, 2004 8:02:49 GMT -5
Well, can I send Tara and Mikey to your house to play ;D They'll give you a good thing to look at, talk about wanting and the DRAMA when told NO |
|
