Strattera
My son was prescribed Strattera when he was 5 – 8 years old. This was the third ADHD drug that we tried. This is not a recommendation to put children on Strattera. I am not an advocate of medicating children unless it is absolutely necessary. My family and I did a ton of research and had some real hard conversations before accepting any prescriptions for ADHD medication. Based on his behavior at school, we determined that it was necessary to medicate him in order for him to succeed. Without medications, he was at high risk from being expelled from school in Kindergarten. He was a danger to himself and others.
My big issue with Strattera is that it can have some real serious side effects. None of these affected my son when he was on it. But the risk was there and that was bothersome. While on this medication, my son’s grades became consistent and he, for the most part, made A’s and B’s. He was able to focus in class with minimal redirection or by moving himself to a quieter area of the classroom. He was better able to control his hyperactivity and calm himself down when overstimulated. This was, by far, the best medicine he had experience with for ADHD.
Purpose
Strattera is a non-stimulant medication that is prescribed to gradually improve symptoms of ADHD.
Pros:
Improves academic issues
Increased ability to focus
Decrease in impulsiveness
Decrease in hyperactivity
Price
Cons:
Increases the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions
May cause liver damage
Can cause heart problems or sudden death in those with heart problems
Long term use can stunt growth
Price
$48.71 after insurance. This was a high price in comparison to other ADHD meds. Prices start at $238.84 without insurance.
Overall Rating
5 on a scale of 1-5.
If you have any questions or would like to share your personal experience, please be sure to leave a comment below by clicking on the response link next to my name. I welcome all feedback and will respond to each comment.
Concerta was a wake-up call for me. I was diagnosed with ADHD in my late fotires. I can only imagine how different my life would have been had I been diagnosed in my youth. I still managed to acquire two scientific university degrees and went directly to my Ph.D. (abandoned). I have also held prestigious positions (temporarily). I have also jokingly called the poster boy for ADHD by some colleagues. However, ADHD affected me negatively and profoundly on many levels. When I first used Concerta I was astounded by the effects. It was a revelation of a lifelong battle with a disorder I did not believe in. Regardless, Concerta, Ritalin, and currently Adderal actually deliver on their claims. They also have an anti-depressant effect in my particular case. When I was first given the generic extended release methylphenidate, it sent me into a deeper depression and I lost all motivation. At the time I did not even question the fact that my ADHD medication had changed. Generic methylphenidate acted only as a harsh stimulant with greatly diminished ADHD symptoms relief. The generic product made me feel wired while the brand name product had made me feel motivated and purposeful.I am now using brand name Adderall with some success but nowhere near the result obtained with Concerta. However, brand name Adderall is better than generic Concerta. Adderall is covered by my provincial drug plan.I also have a degenerative lower back disorder and use opioid analgesics such as fentalyl trans-dermal patches and hydromorphone for breakthrough pain. I use the analgesic with extreme moderation. I am officially disabled and unable to work. I simply unable to pay for the brand name medication that are not covered by my Provincial Disability Program drug plan. The key point here is that: Most of my medication is generic and apparently effective. However, in the case of psycho-active medication such as generic Concerta, it is difficult to get treated when the physician prescribes a particular medication but the patient receives another.P.G.D
Hi Andre,
I’m sorry that you’re having such difficulty getting the correct meds. I agree that not getting the correct meds makes it more difficult to treat the disorder properly. A lot of people don’t believe in ADHD. This is partly due to how often it is misdiagnosed and how negatively the medications have impacted some lives. I do believe in ADHD. I was diagnosed with it in my thirties. My son was when he was 2. However, my son was partly misdiagnosed and ADHD wasn’t the only problem. There are dozens of medical conditions out there that mimic ADHD.
Many insurance companies, employers, family members, etc. aren’t aware of how ADHD impacts your life when you have. They don’t understand how hard it is to get through that college degree or to even complete simple tasks at work. I hope you’re able to get some better relief from the symptoms.
~Kris