Anyone Have Experience with Strattera?

Updated on December 14, 2008
S.K. asks from Gardner, KS
12 answers

Hi ladies,
I'm getting ready to start my daughter on Strattera, she's 11 with ADHD, anxiety and ODD. We tried adderall XR before and it did help but her father and I weren't crazy about her being on a controlled substance and our psychologist told me that Strattera will help more with her anxiety. Since she's only 11 she can't really be given the regular anxiety meds that an adult may take so I'm hoping this will help her. Anyway, I just wanted to hear from some other moms who are in a similar position and hear how this particular med worked for you or a family member. Thanks in advance! :)

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So What Happened?

First of all, thanks for all your responses, I feel really blessed to be able to reach out to so many supportive & intelligent women at once. I started my daughter on the Strattera and I'm 'cautiously optimistic' about the results :) I've been finding more resources like books and an online support group and I'm finally feeling like we may be on the path to a more peaceful life. I can't wait to be able to enjoy my daughter more and to feel like it's not taking away from her siblings, I know it'll be worth it. You all are awesome, thanks again!

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L.R.

answers from Kansas City on

Hi S., I'm a first grade teacher and I have seen this med work wonders on children. It should help with her behavior and help her in school. I think you will be happy. I hope that the dr. informed you that she will probably lose her want to eat. I have seen children lose some pounds on this med. L.

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S.S.

answers from Wichita on

I have nothing but good things to say about Straterra. It has been a life saver for my daughter. She is 13 now and began taking the meds when she was 2nd or 3rd grade. We started a year or so before that with other meds and they were horrible, she would not eat and she doesn't have much to loose, she could not stay awake. Straterra has done wonders, my daughter is taking it for ADD, no hyperactivity. But I have seen such drastic changes in her as a whole and with her school as well. I noticed that a couple of responses said that it would make u lose your desire to eat. That was not the case with my daughter, it actually improved her eating. The other meds that she tried were the ones that did that to her.

This being said, every person is different. So it may not work for your daughter, but if not keep trying until u find the right one. Like I said it took us a while but it is soooo worth it in the end! Any other questions, please feel free to contact me!

S.

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B.S.

answers from St. Louis on

Hello S.,
It honestly has been quite sometime since my 11yr old had been put on Stratera. He actually started out on that medication 1st. He is ADHD and is currently on the Adderall XR. I understand the not wanting your child on a controlled substance. When my son was put on Stratera it didn't help at all. The school actually thought we were lying saying that he was on something. We stayed with it for a very long time with increasing the doses. It didn't work for him at all. I hope that you do have better luck, because we sure would have liked it better.

Good Luck!

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T.O.

answers from Kansas City on

My mother in law's foster daughter who is 10 started taking it in April and she is a whole new child. Good Luck and I hope you find something that works.

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M.T.

answers from Springfield on

my son has been on strattera since he was 4, he is 9 now. it is amazing the change it had on him. he is sever adhd and his new dr thinks borderline 0dd. he has extreme emotional outbursts, but with the meds, he is just like a normal active little boy should be without the mean streak, lol. i would recommend it. my now 18 yr old niece has also been on it since she was 13 and it worked for her too.

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C.L.

answers from Kansas City on

I myself have taken Strattera for my ADHD back in 2004, I took it why attending Nursing school, and was eventually increased to the maximum dosage of 100mg. It did NOT help me at all. It's a non-stimulant inhibitor, so it works differently from Adderall, Ritilan etc... It's not for everyone. My Dr. herself takes it and says it's wonderful for her. But for me, it did nothing, I still drove my best friends nuts in school cause I couldn't sit still and concentrate! I've never taken the other two drugs, I have other ways of coping with the ADHD in everyday life. I'm about to start school again in Spring, so will be looking for something else to use so I can focus better etc... I think if your daughter's Dr reccomends it for her, it's worth a try. If it doesn't work, you can try other things. I wish my parents had me diagnosed as a child, it would of helped me so much! I wasn't diagnosed till I was an adult. Anyhow, good luck, and best wishes for your daughter!

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L.Y.

answers from Springfield on

S.
Before you start your daughter on another drug, I have a friend whose son she adopted from the Ukraine has a lot of the same systems as your daughter. She put him on Reliv and he is now off all meds. If you would like her info a personal story, call or email me.
____@____.com
###-###-####

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C.L.

answers from Kansas City on

My son was on strattera for approx. 1 1/2months when he was 9yrs old. I received a call from the nurse's office about 3 times a week. The nurse would tell me that my son was in the office complaining that he felt like he was going to throw-up. Mind you, he never actually threw-up, nor did he have a fever or any other symptoms. I thought it was nerves, maybe something he ate or drank. Although we onever experienced any allergies and very rarely was he ill. I contacted our pediatrician. He informed me that it was too early into it to determine if his symptoms were caused by the strattera. Finally, at my son's hockey game, he insisted on sitting next to the trash can while on the bench. Luckily, his coach was also a dr.. After watching & listening to my son, he suggested that he might be experiencing acid reflux. I picked up some zantac and cut it in fourths. Sure enough he felt better. Turns out..the strattera was the culprit. No one had heard of this side-effect. What a miserable thing for a child to have to go through...sure hope your doesn't!

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C.B.

answers from Kansas City on

My daughter started on Ritalin at an early age and then was put on Adderall XR at age 14. She is currently on Adderall XR at age 21 (she was never put on Strattera). You have to be consistent with the time you give the medication to your child. You also have to allow the medication to work over a long period of time. Don't give up, it just takes time.

CB

J.G.

answers from St. Louis on

My son had a bad reaction to Adderall, it made him manic. We started him on Strattera a couple months ago. He is like a new child. It makes you tired the first couple of weeks you are on it but that wears off. It is an amazing change.

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L.D.

answers from Kansas City on

I have had experience with Strattera, and I wasn't impressed with it at all. My daughter was on it when she was 9-10 and it didn't do anything for her. She was also on Adderal XR and Tegretol too and that made her wet the bed...it was part of the side effects of it. That was a nightmare! She was diagnosed with ADHD and she is now 12 and taking Focalin XR 10mg caps and its working great!! Of course she has to see a psychiatrist for it every month but it is worth it. I hope that you get some relief soon. I know how trying these times can be. Good Luck!
L. D.

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B.S.

answers from Kansas City on

My brother was on it when he was younger- around 13 maybe? He was on Adderall before and then he went on strattera. It helped him focus but he lost his appetite completely and loads of weight.

He went back on Adderall and says it's much more helpful. He's 17 now, btw.

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