6.5 y.o. started Strattera - anyone else on it?

February 19, 2010

She doesn't seem to be benefiting from it in the least right now. We started

very slowly with 10 mg every other day for 15 days, then 10 mg every day, then

10 one day, and 20 the next, and soon we will be up to 20 mg daily.

She was on Adderall 5 mg extended release, which seemed to at least help with

impulsivity, although her mood changed from an almost manic happy (spaztic at

times-seemed to have no control and made loud noises or banged on things, or hit

or poked at people-but never in a mean way) child, to an aggressive grump as the

meds wore off. She even seemed to be more cooperative than she is now. Now that

we're up to alternating 10 and 20 mg, she's showing signs of anxiety more so

than usual. Wondering if it's the med, or some other variable. Her appetite is

definitely starting to decrease, which I know is a side effect, and I'm having

to bump up her melatonin slightly so she can settle down and go to sleep. She's

been getting up saying she's scared, and she follows me around the house a lot

lately, which in uncharacteristic.

FYI she's about 40 lbs (tiny girl). I am on Strattera for inattentive-type ADD -

or whatever you want to call this issue - but one thing I notice it really does

for me is it stops the tornado of thoughts I usually have bouncing around in my

head so I can better deal with external sounds. I do feel more sluggish on it

though.

All I really want to know is if anyone has had experience with this med and how

it worked. We are taking it slow, as I know we should, to try and avoid side

effects as much as possible. Of course this means that until we finally reach a

therapeutic level (IF we do!), she's pretty much on her own to deal with the

impulsivity, distractability, being unable to complete school work, annoying

friends, family, and classmates to the point of no one wanting to be around her,

sensory issues are compounded (lots of spinning and chewing and sensory seeking

in general - but irritated by noise and freaking about having her hair brushed

again), the list goes on.....

I'M GOING NUTS! PLEASE, SOMEONE TELL ME WE'LL SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT SOON!!! Lie

to me if you have to! Just kidding, of course I want the truth.

The psych said the next step is to go up to 30 mg, and if that doesn't show

improvement, we'll go back to Adderall and throw an SSRI on top of that. *sigh*

Thanks for listening~

Andie

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