"My 20-year-old daughter takes Strattera, but skips her medication on weekends. Is this risky?"
by
Larry Silver, M.D.
Possibly. Unlike the stimulant medications, which become effective within an hour or so and wear off within a given number of hours, Strattera works by building up to a therapeutic level in the body. This can take three weeks or longer, and the level must be maintained by taking the medication each day at around the same time. If your daughter goes off Strattera on weekends (or holidays), the level will drop and may take weeks to build back up.