I took strattera. It made me angry for no reason. I stopped taking it immediately.

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Joyce, My husband tried the Straterra and it did nothing for him. Straterra has not been that successful for most people in treating ADHD but it does work for a few. If your son hates taking medication at school, why couldn't he take the time-released Adderall XR? Has his doctor considered the possibility that his anxiety issues need to be addressed? If someone has an anxiety problem that is not treated, Ritalin and other ADHD medications can make it worse. Could he need a higher dosage with the Daytrona patch? Dosages for many of the ADHD medications are based on reduction of symptoms (without too many side effects) and not simply on weight or age. Just some things you might want to consider and discuss with his doctor.

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I realized I read your post wrong, and the Daytrona patch was working but causing anxiety issues. I thought you said it wasn't effective but it was the Strattera. Straterra, unlike the other medications for ADHD, takes at least 4 weeks to start working. My son takes Concerta during the day but if he needs additonal medication later in the afternoon or early evening, he takes a short acting medication (Focalin in his case) to cover the period when the other medication has worn off. If your son is still having problems, can he either keep the patch on longer or take another short acting med when the other begins to wear off. Your doctor should be able to explain and go over that with you. Again, you might want to consider that he has an anxiety issue that needs to be addressed. I have had anxiety problems but just considered it a part of my personality, worrying all the time. It wasn't until I had sleep problems that couldn't be addressed that my doctor finally asked me anxiety related questions and put me on medication that made a huge difference.

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Strattera has been shown to work for the inattentive type but not so well for impulsive and hyperactive. Why did your son not like to take adderal at school. did he get called to the clinic to take it and it embarrasses him? If so the XR version of any of the meds will stop that. Based on your post you have only tried a few meds. Even ones in the same class can behave very differently. Did you try same med but higher dosing? Some times you need to give a certain med a longer trial while increasing dosing. lastly remember meds are only 1 tool in your tool box. Did he get structure both in school and out? Some teachers are much more laid back and tolerate behaviors that in an adhd kid can escalate to intolerable behavior quickly. Did he have clear and consistent consequences for his behaviors at home and school? Did you catch him being good and reward small successes? all these non-medical factors can play an important role in the success or failure of meds. Good luck and keep trying your not alone.

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it put my 12 year old son in a daze at first, then it seemed to help, then it did not help at all, with focus, and attention. I was not impressed. He felt like his heart was beating fast.

He is now 14 and has some impulse control issues, gets angry and argumentative, has to be constantly stimulated, poor judgement at times, and forgetful. any ideas? i was concerned about arrythmia he has but cardiologist said it is within normal range........ i am afraid for when he drives. anybody to talk to out there?

thanks. linda

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When the doctor switched my son from Concerta to Strattera, she did it over the summer but it is a gradual build-up and she said it would take about 6 weeks to take effect - which would coincide with school being back in September. I don't think this drug is a miracle cure that will make him a perfect student (if there is a such a thing - even among "normal" kids, but at least he is functional, which he wasn't really before. And homework is no longer the challenge it used to be because the drug is in his bloodstream 24/7, instead of just in the morning.

Another issue that interfered with his success was that he was in French Immersion. We live in a bilingual city/province and we wanted him to have the benefit of being able to speak 2 languages. But by grade 4 it was too much for his brain to process. So over Christmas we switched him to English. And he is doing much better and now I starting to see the Strattera being effective.

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My daughter tried the strattera and it was as if she wasn't taking anything. She also complained with a stomach ache very often while on this medication.

one2risky

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My daughter had bad experience with strattera, depressed and when we stopped taking it, serious depression until off for a while. Won't use it again.

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started a week ago with 25mgs and moved to 40, 60, and now i'm at the "recommended" 80mgs daily. I don't feel any more focus or anything else except drowziness. I know that it could take up to 3 weeks but you'd figure that after a week you'd get something. Is strattera worth it? its been said that after 4 weeks it is just as potent as a stimulant and much less harmful to your overall health. Anyone have any experience with it? Has anyone tried Strattera that can tell what to expect. Is it normal to not feel anything except sleepiness nearly a week after starting to take strattera?

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I wasn't diagnosed until my freshman year in college... I couldn't make it through one sentence and know what I had just read (oddly enough, this became a problem with my abnormal psychology class). My doctor started me on Strattera, and it worked, sort of. I didn't have ANY side effects, which was great. The kicker was when at 80 mg a day plus major lifestyle changes, I could make it through.. a paragraph but not a page. The medicine is not magic. You aren't going to wake up one day with a perfect brain. The medicine helps, but you have to give it time.

As far as people bumping up to 60 mg in 2 weeks and things like that, you have got to be kidding me. Each time I started a new med, I was on the lowest dosage for a month just to make sure I wouldn't have any bad side effects. And plus, you have to let each new dosage get into your system. Oddly & cruelly enough, patience is required to treat ADD and ADHD.

It is going to affect each person differently, though. If you notice any problems or a lack of improvement, step one is ASK YOUR DOCTOR.

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Our son was on Straterra a couple of years ago. We tried it over one summer and all he wanted to do was sleep. He hated it. So he's now on Concerta, 36mg. He seems to be very happy with that, and we've had little or no problems since he made the switch.

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