About Stratera Medication for ADHA info from those who might have taken it or know something about it?

Question

I took my child to the physcologist she is 5 yrs old diagnosed with ADHD she tried Daytrana 10 mg patch and she had a horrible reaction with it . We only used it the one time. Dr. has now recomended Stratera since it is not a stimulant. Do you thing this is better? Any reactions? Mood swings or disorders? She cant slow down and her school work is suffering or I wouldnt even be thinking medication. Thanks to all who answer

Answer 1

Neither Daytrana or Strattera is approved for children under 6 years old. The only medication approved to treat ADHD in children under 6 is Adderall. That should have been the first thing your daughter tried since it's the only one approved for children her age. Also, she should have tried Ritalin before Daytrana since it has the same active ingredient but is a more standard preparation. Generally doctors will only prescribe a long-acting stimulant (Daytana, Concerta, Adderall XR, etc.) after they've established that the short-acting equivalent works well for the patient.

Considering that your daugher's doctor chose to put your her on a stimulant that is NOT approved for children her age when there is actually another stimulant available that IS approved for children her age, and is now recommending another treatment that's not approved for kids her age, stil without trying the one that is, you might want to consider consulting another doctor.

It's rare for a child to be so severely ADHD that they require medication before the age of 6. Stimulant medications are normally only given to young children if their ADHD is so severe that it's resulting in serious injury (mulitple broken bones, etc.), and extremely dangerous behavior (jumping of playground equipment, hanging from ceilling fans, etc.). Not doing well in school is not generally considered enough reason to medicate such a young child, especially with medications that aren't even approved for children that age. I think you should consider holding off on the medication a bit longer. Whatever school work she's assigned in kindergarden simply isn't worth risking her physical safety for, and since the medications you're talking about aren't approved for kids her age, that's what you'll be doing.

Answer 2

There is something else you could try. I've done medical typing in hospitals and was shocked by how many KIDS are in psych units! "Oppositional defiant disorder", they call it, and attention deficit disorder. I asked one of the psychiatrists one day, Are these kids ever tested for allergies? No. They should be.
If I eat beef, then tomorrow and next day I turn into the Hulk. If I eat fish, then tomorrow and the next day I have an incapacitating headache. Shrimp makes me cry. Squash family irritates the bladder and causes urge incontinence. I believe everyone should be tested for allergies. It was 22 years from the time it started bothering me until I learned the cause. I knew that antihistamines would help, and a decongestant gave me back a brain. But it didn't make sense to a doctor.
She's only 5. Find a doctor who knows about food and chemical allergies, and have her tested. He may be an allergist, but may also be a family doctor (as mine was) who knows about this kind of problem. aaem.com for more information.

[phone] 0R go to their email at [e-mail]

Answer 3

In my opinion Stratera is not a good drug for ADHD. I took it for two months and had to get off of it. My moods would shift from one extreme to the next in a heartbeat. My sleep cycle changed and I had horrible nightmares.

Answer 4

well my husband is taking it currently, and he seems to focus better when he takes it.