From Adderal to Stratera is it worse for my kid?

DeAnna - posted on 02/02/2011

I also have a 17 year old that was on medication for serveral years, until 5th grade. He was the same way, I made the mistake of not giving him his medicine on the weekend and the summer. So when he started 6th grade,I went to give him his medicine again and he refuse to take it. I think that was my mistake. They do feel different but sometime it is for the best. My son struggled with school and is still struggling. He failed the leap test in 8th grade and I made him repeat the grade. He is now in 11 th grade and he is still having problems. Last year he wanted to play baseball and he needed his grades better to get on the team, he asked me to put him back on medicine. So I did and he did very well for a year. I am battling the same thing now, he doesn't want to take it again and his grades were not good enough to be on the team. I am very dissappointed but it is his choice. So my 10 year old doesn't have a choice, he takes his meds, weekends and summer. I am not making the same mistake!! Hope that help!!

Kathy - posted on 02/02/2011

Another morning of no school. Now he's crying he's too sick to go to school.I need some advice.I told him when i got back custody of him that all i ask of him is to do good in school.And if he doesn't I'll send him to a foster home or to someone else who will see to it that he goes to school and gets a good education.I don't no what to do cus he's not listening to me.Any suggestions?He's in bed sleeping.I don't think it's his meds.I think it's because he's a teenager.

Anastasia - posted on 02/01/2011

You sound like you have much experience with medication. My daughter is 12 and has been on vyvanse and focalin. Vyvanse seemed to work well. She was doing much better in school and with her relationships. The problem is she refused to take it on the weekends and now refuses to take it at all. She says she is much more fun without it (not the case) and that it makes her feel down. She doesn't feel herself. Iam wondering if you know if the inconsistancy of taking the medication is not giving her body a chance to grow use to the effects. Therefore going on in off only causes the side effects to become more magnified?

DeAnna - posted on 02/01/2011

My 10 yr old son was on Concerta for many year. I wanted to change his meds because of the lack of eating. So I tried Stratera. I waited the whole 4-5 weeks and it did nothing for my son. So then we tried Vyvanse. That made my son sick to his stomach. He threw up thre and four times a day with it. We took him to dr and thought it was a virus, so we took him off for a few days. Starting giving it to him again, same thing started throwing up again. I am going back to Concerta and just going to try and give him boost and lots of milk to help him grow.

Kathy - posted on 01/27/2011

Hey everyone.I decided to start giving Matthew his meds at night instead of the A.M.This morning when I woke him for school,it was all good.Now,I just pray it will stay in his system so he can focus in school all day.I'll find out when he gets home.I'll keep u posted.Thank to you all for your advice and help..

Cori - posted on 01/26/2011

Have you tried the generic version of Adderall? My son used to take that and the insurances usually cover it because it's not brandname.

Amy - posted on 01/26/2011

My son got angry on strattera. It's a known side effect.

I'm struggling to understand why medicaid won't pay for adderall, which is generic, but they WILL pay for strattera, which is not? Is there a problem with your pharmacy?

My son is currently on Adderall and Intuniv. I'm pretty sure next month he'll be transitioned to Intuniv only. Intuniv is also a non-stimulant, and from what I read online, it's pretty darn effective with fewer side effects... but it's not available as a generic, which is a bummer.

Keep working with your pediatrician to see what works best.

Alicia - posted on 01/26/2011

My daughter who is 8 recently switched from the stimulant Vyvanse to Stratera because she was getting hyperfocused. We were warned that the Stratera takes about 4 weeks for an effective level to be reached and to know if it was effective at all. Apparently if a child has been on a stimulant ADHD medication for many years a non stimulant medication may not work. This is why Stratera is now becoming a first strike ADHD medication. Also I was told that if my daughter became irritable that it was considered a symptom of too strong dosage. For our family the first 2 weeks were hard but than we saw positive results. The first week was the worst because my daughter was mad that this medicine didn't work instantly and she got in trouble at school. The Stratera is working for our daughter enough although not as well as the Vyvanse did for the year she was on it that there was hardly any side effects. As Adderal is a Stimulant form of ADHD medication there are others Ritalin SR, Concerta, Vyvanse and others. I would contact the prescribing physician and have a frank conversation of the problems. Also, your local Learning Disability center may have some support. Other parents of ADHD kids have experienced the frustration as have I. Hang in there