Strattera combined with anti-depressant

Some parents are using Strattera and Paxil. Strattera does contain anti-depressant in it already. If you want more info and advise go to ADHD.com medication board. The Parents there are well versed on Strattera and other meds.

The FDA recently issued a warning about the pediatric use of Paxil (though not about other SSRIs). Parents whose children are taking Paxil might want to read the warning, which can be found at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2003/ANS01230.html

Andrea

[quote=”Ann”]Hi all. I’m new here so please forgive me if this question has been asked before. My DS13 is starting Strattera and I know that it has some anti-depressant qualities. Is there anyone out there whose child (or you) takes Strattera IN ADDITION to an anti-depressant? I was just wondering if this was a possibility and if it is I would like to talk to my doctor about it. Thanks in advance.[/quote][quote]

Hi “Ann” my son had been taking lexapro along with strattera. The anti-depressant surely helped him. I’m not 100 percent convinced that the Strattera was right for him, it certainly brought him down. We’ve been through a whole host of meds, adderall, ritalin … We’ve had a great summer and once again I am faced with the medication question, whether or not to start out the school year with meds or not. I don’t know how to decide!!! Jasal[/quote]

Lots of anxiety kids, it seems, are having as much an issue with Strat as stims. I think a lot of parents thought, because Strattera was an anti-D that it might be the one med answer for them, but its not always. I have read of wellbutrin, zoloft, prozac all being used with success with Straterra. Paxil too, but I don’t think its avail in the states anymore? With the exception of Wellbutrine, the other meds are warned to be cautious when using Strattera. It seems they are all similar and taking them together can alter the way the meds would normally metabolize in the body. You’ll have to monitor closely for signs of too much, and maybe go with lower than recommended doses. I’m not a doctor and my son doesn’t have anx, I’m just passing on what I have read. I hope some else posts, it’s only been recently that I have been reading of parents and doctors trying these combos, but so far so good. Its very hard to treat aDHD wihtout worsening the anx. Much as we all hate even one medicine for our kids, sometimes, some of them need two. But if it makes you feel better, I have read of good success with Strat and the above mentioned meds. So you still have a few options.

:shock: Be careful…..Strattera….. is so new that they don’t have a lot of real data on it yet. My daughter took it and became even more agitated so I tried it and it made me feel like I was in a rage, just horrible. I have a friend whose son has had a similar response. When you start something new, keep a VERY close eye on it. What works for one, or everyone else, may not work with your child. :wink:

Strattera isn’t that new, it is very similar to prozac and that had been around for ever. Clearly, if a child has this reaction;

“My daughter took it and became even more agitated so I tried it and it made me feel like I was in a rage, just horrible.”

Their reaction is cause for further investigation into the child, not just the med. This is a very successful treatment, anyone having more than a little adjustment moodiness to any med may have much bigger problems than ADHD. A rage reaction is a very bad red flag that should be taken seriously and not just blamed on the medicine.