strattera

[misty]

sweetnsilly............... Thread Started on Aug 3, 2006, 10:28am

My daughter has been on 18mg strattera for a little over a month now and she takes the med at night, it wasn't enough so the doc put her on 18mg in the morning and at night, i have seen a big change in her, she listens doesn't holler at her bro's and sis's and isn't out of control anymore, she has been able to entertain herself wich I have never seen her do, she spends alot of time in her room brushing her dolls hair and watching cartoons but every 5 min she has to come and give me a hug...which is not a bad thing...but she has gotten to where she plays with my hair and I catch her pulling my hair out just one strand and I stop her but I thought it was weird because she keeps doing it. and only my hair.



jj.

Sweet,
I can't help you in this area as I know nothing about Strattera. I do know that little girls love to mess with hair and they go through stages so I'd like to think that is what this is. (My little step Gneice would beg to let her "fix" my hair) Pulling out the hair...well I don't know.

Is it typical that kids take Strattera at night too? I guess I never heard of that but then what do I know.

Hopefully, someone else will have some insight.



sweetnsilly

she takes it at night so it will be in her system in the morning, because when she wakes up she is one grumpy person, if any of the other kids just look at her she would kick and hit them, real aggressive. the doc said this would help and it does, but it wasn't lasting past noon.



misty

My daughter used to take Strattera. She took it at night too because it made her incredibly sleepy! I never heard of the hair pulling. I took my daughter off it because of severe anger & depression that it caused in here, but many kids do well on it.

Heres a link to a thread on another site called "Everything you wanted to know about Strattera".....you can read it without registering there.

millermom.proboards107.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1067310659

[marcelmom]

Strattera is a first option for those kids that have tics, like my case. The problem comes when it does not give good results. It is possible to use stimulants, but if tics worsen, there are other meds to help cope with this. My problem is: how many meds I am supposed to give to my kid?? I understand that those meds that help in lessening tics are regularly used for high blood pressure in adults. As a mother, I think that this is way too much for my little one.
I have been trying to find different medical opinions on this; I mean, the possibility to use stimulants, but I haven't found one that supports using them in my son's case, at least in the place I live. As I am not a doctor, I prefer to respect those opinions and follow docs advice.

[misty]

My daughter took straterra. She had a terrible time with side effects and I did NOT want to put her on stims. She's unmedicated. We give her Fish oil, vitamin E and a good multi vitamin & she's doing great. Her inattentiveness & isn't as severe & she's able to focus on schoolwork. I don't really know much personally about tics, but maybe Omega 3 (fish oil) can help your son...have you tried it yet?

[marcelmom]

Yes, I tried Omega 3, magnesium, and vit E for about four months and did not see results. I am afraid to say that I even saw him at his worst. You know, every kid is a different world. I am going to try Strattera at night. He usually took it in the mornings. Doc told me that I could possibly see a change. If I don't see a change, I guess I will have to go unmedicated or take another route. But let's try just to be optimistic.

[marcelmom]

I haven't posted since long; however I am usually looking around all good information that is posted here everyday.

After being non medicated for some time, my son was finally prescribed Concerta. Strattera definitely did nothing for him. I was having so many issues at school that I finally decided to go to the doc again and evaluate what could be done in regard to my ds. The doc prescribed Concerta and told me that we should start it with the smallest dose for at least a month because he wanted to be extra careful due to the tics issue. I was very scared at first but I decided to start this med with my ds. After about two weeks I didn't notice tics, but I was still having some issues at school; however, one of the first things that called my attention the most was a very noticeable improvement in his handwriting. So I called the doc and he decided to up his dose to 36mg to see how he does. Well, he has been doing much better now; I haven't noticed tics at this dose, but maybe it is still too early; anyway, I want to be optimistic....

He is quieter right now at schoolwork ; body movements have decreased; they have almost stopped. I really feel this is the right med for my son; just hope that tics don't start showing; however, the doc told me that if they do, and if they happen to be too bad, there is hope.....

But I am happy right now. He has been having a better mood and is easier to discipline. The rebound is showing a little in the late afternoon, but I don't really care as long as it is helping at school, and when he has to cope with homework and extra activities.

The only negative aspects up to now are his lack of appetite and difficulty to fall asleep. I am giving him an appetite stimulant (which is working a little) and a very small dose of melatonin during school days so he can go to sleep earlier.

[charliegirl]

Thats great that the concerta is working Marcelmom. I hope it continues to be the right med for a long time. I bet he is feeling really good about how well he can do now also. Wonderful!

[misty]

Thats WONDERFUL news, Marcelmom! I'm so glad your son is doing well & keeping my fingers crossed that this continues!

[marcelmom]

Thanks, I really need positive thoughts. He is really feeling much better right now at what he can achieve with school work.

[jj]

Great news! I'm hoping all goes well with the Concerta. Just curious and if you don't mind saying. What appetite stimulant are you using?

[marcelmom]

jj said:

Just curious and if you don't mind saying. What appetite stimulant are you using?

I don't mind saying at all, the bad part is that I don't live in the US so I don't know if you would have this med under the same name. It is called Maxibol 1mg. The active ingredient is Cobalamin that is really vitamin B12. It is used for lack of appetite, anorexia, and growing problems; it also comes in different doses according to age.

After a week or two, you start noticing a difference in appetite. My son, who has become VERY skinny, after all this med issue, has been eating a little more after this. He doesn't eat a lot, but at least sufficient to face the day and not to get undernourished.

I hope you find this information helpful.