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lynn1513
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Need advice!
11
 Thu, 03-27-2003 - 8:14pm
My patience is wearing thin! My son is 8 he is on Addrell 1 pill 12 hours. He takes it before school 8:30am by 7pm it is wearing off. This is when he starts homework, there is nothing I can do to get him to do it prior to 7pm. But here we are 9pm and we only got through 1 1/2 page of math, we still have 5 more problems to go plus spelling words and he as to read, not to mention he hadn't taken a bath. He has chewed up 2 pencils and three erasers, we've spent the last 20 mins trying to add 1 quarter, 2 dimes, 4 nickles and 2 pennies and all I get is "I don't get it?" He's in ESE (exception student education)Short of giving him the answers I don't know what to do, I'm at the end of my rope, I am using all my power not to explode, thats why I'm pounding the keys and deep breathing. I've been to ADHD parenting groups and nothing sems to work, he will not work independently, I have to sit next to him and use his fingers and walk him each step of the way. Classes are 28 or more kids to a teacher, he will not be able to get the one on one attention he seeks, he has to learn to do this stuff on his own-HELP!!!!!!!

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keke0116
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: lynn1513
Need advice!
 Sat, 03-29-2003 - 5:28am
They 'advertise' Strattera as having a 24-hour effect, but I don't see it. Kevin's been on this (switched from Concerta) for 6-7 weeks, and what I noticed was that he was hyper in the afternoons. The thing-is, Kevin's ADHD is the impulsivity type, with attention as secondary. The one thing he is NOT is hyper ... and I felt that the Strattera was almost 'making' him hyper. Very goofy, very un-focused ... ? They increased the dose at increments 'til we got to 60 mg, and that didn't stop. I suggested we either do a split dose ... 40 mg in the a.m and another 18 or 24 after school ... ~OR~ go back to the Concerta, and increase the dose of that ... and doc suggested we add 18 mg of Concerta to the Strattera and see if that doesn't help. The added boost of a stimulant does seem to be helping. When asked about the 24-hour effect, the doc said "well, it's not really 24 hours ... what it does is last longer than the Concerta or Adderall XR. It's longer lasting, but NOT 24 hour!" So, mornings still aren't great. What I did with Concerta was give Kevin 18 mg before he woke up (I'd wake him at 6:30 to give him a pill and let him sleep another 45 min) so when he got up at 7:15, the meds were already working ... then he'd take a 2nd 18 mg after he ate. (36 mg on an empty stomach make him ill.) I may start doing the 18 mg before he wakes up again, then the Strattera after breakfast, to see if that help.

Anyway ... Strattera is NOT a miracle drug. None of them are. But, it is supposed to be longer lasting. There are some side effects ... so far, however, Kevin's had none of them! (No negative effects ... but it's not working as good as they suggested it would either, so maybe there's a corelation ... but if you're looking for longer effect, this is probably worth a shot!)

Nancy

Nancy 

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