Hi everyone! This is my first post. A friend sent me to this site. My son is 8 and is ADHD on 10mg Adderal XR and a 5 mg Adderal in the evening. He is very thin and the Dr. informed us he is in the 10-15 percentile for weight and 5-10 percentile for height. He has been on Adderal for about 1 year and 1/2. They want to try Straterra at Christmas time. Basically to see if he will grow some more. I am afraid to go to something new when the Adderal is working so well. No side affects there. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jen
Re: Strattera/Adderal ADHD
Hi!
I just found this site and your post is so on point with my situation, well this site is really so on point with my life :lol: .
I just switched my son from adderall to strattera. Although he did well with adderall until he hit puberty, I beleive that the stimulant add drugs tend to add to the problem once puberty hits. I’m not a dr. or anything, but I am an assistant manager for a site for parents with children with add (and add adults), and I have heard of many stories where the stimulant drugs do not mix well with the moods of puberty. Our doctor also agree. Anyway, it was true in our case. I felt compelled to change from Adderall, (which I loved up until now), because at this point the side effects were unacceptable.
Strattera takes up to six weeks to reach its full strength. The first three days are generally half doses. It is a non-stimulant and a non narcotic so it is available by phone in perscription on refills. I know that there are side effects out there, and that it is a new drug…but I have only heard and seen good things about it at this point. I know you probably know alot of this already, or will before you switch your son, but, I thought a little reinforcement wouldnt hurt.
My older son has been on it for about 3mos. and has shown great organizational talents, better moods, and certainly no problems with eating or sleeping. My younger son has just gone on strattera (from adderall), and although his focus seems a little off, and he is not as organized, he has only been on it 1 week. He seems calmer and better able to handle frustration and the changes he is facing this year. Also better able to focus on his schoolwork. His moods are definately improving. This school year, (with the onset of both puberty and Jr. High) has not been an easy one for him. Last year was so great that I almost forgot he was adhd/odd/ld. Since the strattera I again have hope of getting back the happy and sucessful child I had last year.
I guess what I am trying to say is that if weight gain worry is an issue, you wont have to worry about it with strattera. That there are many positives to this treatment. But you are his mom. And you know best the treatment your child needs. I am sure you will research it and choose the best choice for your child. I wish you the best.
SkylerAnn
Was he small before the adderall? If so, the medication probably is not a contributing factor, unless he now has really serious appetite suppression that he didn’t have before. Lots of children with ADHD tend to be small. It may be that both physical and emotional immaturity are part of the disorder. That said, Strattera has shown some good results although it also has the side effect of appetite supression.