Re: 6.5 y.o. started Strattera - anyone else on it? - Update

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the reply, Ruthie.

Just an update: I thought I was seeing an improvement at home, but she had a

bad day at school today. The teacher said she kept chewing on things (duh.. she

is a sensory seeker! This is exactly why I send her to school with chewy tubes

on her pencils. SO aggravated that it hasn't sunk in with that woman yet!),

didn't get her work done, lost her math packet (organization is a HUGE problem

for her... if only these people would listen to me and notice that all this

means SHE NEEDS EXTRA HELP!), and her handwriting was a mess (HELLO?!).

Although the impulsivity seems to have improved somewhat, she's still highly

distractible. Of course at home, if she can control her impulses somewhat

better, it makes for easier living for the rest of the family, but it's a mere

drop in the bucket.

I'm so frustrated. Guess we'll push on with the trial. I seriously wonder if

we're trying to treat the wrong thing though. Could it just be that until she

learns to meet her sensory needs properly that no medication will help?

> >

> >

> > Andie,

> >

> > I just got a handout from my own therapist about strattera...I don't know

much about it...but it doesnt seem like shes been on it long enough to get its

full effect.. And everyone reacts different to meds....I know this is no help

but I was wondering about it for my own son. I will be following your letters to

see how it is going...good luck I hope it works out for her and you.

> >

> > Marcia

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ( ) 6.5 y.o. started Strattera - anyone else on it?

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > She doesn't seem to be benefiting from it in the least right now. We started

very slowly with 10 mg every other day for 15 days, then 10 mg every day, then

10 one day, and 20 the next, and soon we will be up to 20 mg daily.

> >

> > She was on Adderall 5 mg extended release, which seemed to at least help

with impulsivity, although her mood changed from an almost manic happy (spaztic

at times-seemed to have no control and made loud noises or banged on things, or

hit or poked at people-but never in a mean way) child, to an aggressive grump as

the meds wore off. She even seemed to be more cooperative than she is now. Now

that we're up to alternating 10 and 20 mg, she's showing signs of anxiety more

so than usual. Wondering if it's the med, or some other variable. Her appetite

is definitely starting to decrease, which I know is a side effect, and I'm

having to bump up her melatonin slightly so she can settle down and go to sleep.

She's been getting up saying she's scared, and she follows me around the house a

lot lately, which in uncharacteristic.

> >

> > FYI she's about 40 lbs (tiny girl). I am on Strattera for inattentive-type

ADD - or whatever you want to call this issue - but one thing I notice it really

does for me is it stops the tornado of thoughts I usually have bouncing around

in my head so I can better deal with external sounds. I do feel more sluggish on

it though.

> >

> > All I really want to know is if anyone has had experience with this med and

how it worked. We are taking it slow, as I know we should, to try and avoid side

effects as much as possible. Of course this means that until we finally reach a

therapeutic level (IF we do!), she's pretty much on her own to deal with the

impulsivity, distractability, being unable to complete school work, annoying

friends, family, and classmates to the point of no one wanting to be around her,

sensory issues are compounded (lots of spinning and chewing and sensory seeking

in general - but irritated by noise and freaking about having her hair brushed

again), the list goes on.....

> >

> > I'M GOING NUTS! PLEASE, SOMEONE TELL ME WE'LL SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT SOON!!!

Lie to me if you have to! Just kidding, of course I want the truth.

> >

> > The psych said the next step is to go up to 30 mg, and if that doesn't show

improvement, we'll go back to Adderall and throw an SSRI on top of that. *sigh*

> >

> > Thanks for listening~

> > Andie

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Andie-

You said “send her to school with chewy tubes on her

pencils”. Are there special ones for pencils? Or do you just attach the

t shaped hollow tube onto the pencil? I am looking for ideas for my 13 yo.

Regards, melody

[Guest guest]

My son took ADHD meds from kinder to 7th grade and they only took the edge off, in my opinion. We tried maybe 5 meds or varying doses through the years, but I never was satisfied completely. I accepted that much of what D was doing was related to sensory issues so no meds would help with that. We advocated getting him help in class, like a place to go when feeling overwhelmed in the classroom, and that helped. He struggled with reflux, allergies, asthma, eczema, etc. since he was a baby but he seems to be outgrowing most of that. When considering all of those types of sensitivities he's had to deal with, it's amazing he's done so well. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&TFrom: "andie" <andie6294@...>Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:41:40 -0000< >Subject: ( ) Re: 6.5 y.o. started Strattera - anyone else on it? - Update Thanks for the reply, Ruthie.Just an update: I thought I was seeing an improvement at home, but she had a bad day at school today. The teacher said she kept chewing on things (duh.. she is a sensory seeker! This is exactly why I send her to school with chewy tubes on her pencils. SO aggravated that it hasn't sunk in with that woman yet!), didn't get her work done, lost her math packet (organization is a HUGE problem for her... if only these people would listen to me and notice that all this means SHE NEEDS EXTRA HELP!), and her handwriting was a mess (HELLO?!).Although the impulsivity seems to have improved somewhat, she's still highly distractible. Of course at home, if she can control her impulses somewhat better, it makes for easier living for the rest of the family, but it's a mere drop in the bucket.I'm so frustrated. Guess we'll push on with the trial. I seriously wonder if we're trying to treat the wrong thing though. Could it just be that until she learns to meet her sensory needs properly that no medication will help?> >> > > > Andie,> > > > I just got a handout from my own therapist about strattera...I don't know much about it...but it doesnt seem like shes been on it long enough to get its full effect.. And everyone reacts different to meds....I know this is no help but I was wondering about it for my own son. I will be following your letters to see how it is going...good luck I hope it works out for her and you.> > > > Marcia> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ( ) 6.5 y.o. started Strattera - anyone else on it?> > > > > > > > > > > > She doesn't seem to be benefiting from it in the least right now. We started very slowly with 10 mg every other day for 15 days, then 10 mg every day, then 10 one day, and 20 the next, and soon we will be up to 20 mg daily.> > > > She was on Adderall 5 mg extended release, which seemed to at least help with impulsivity, although her mood changed from an almost manic happy (spaztic at times-seemed to have no control and made loud noises or banged on things, or hit or poked at people-but never in a mean way) child, to an aggressive grump as the meds wore off. She even seemed to be more cooperative than she is now. Now that we're up to alternating 10 and 20 mg, she's showing signs of anxiety more so than usual. Wondering if it's the med, or some other variable. Her appetite is definitely starting to decrease, which I know is a side effect, and I'm having to bump up her melatonin slightly so she can settle down and go to sleep. She's been getting up saying she's scared, and she follows me around the house a lot lately, which in uncharacteristic. > > > > FYI she's about 40 lbs (tiny girl). I am on Strattera for inattentive-type ADD - or whatever you want to call this issue - but one thing I notice it really does for me is it stops the tornado of thoughts I usually have bouncing around in my head so I can better deal with external sounds. I do feel more sluggish on it though.> > > > All I really want to know is if anyone has had experience with this med and how it worked. We are taking it slow, as I know we should, to try and avoid side effects as much as possible. Of course this means that until we finally reach a therapeutic level (IF we do!), she's pretty much on her own to deal with the impulsivity, distractability, being unable to complete school work, annoying friends, family, and classmates to the point of no one wanting to be around her, sensory issues are compounded (lots of spinning and chewing and sensory seeking in general - but irritated by noise and freaking about having her hair brushed again), the list goes on.....> > > > I'M GOING NUTS! PLEASE, SOMEONE TELL ME WE'LL SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT SOON!!! Lie to me if you have to! Just kidding, of course I want the truth. > > > > The psych said the next step is to go up to 30 mg, and if that doesn't show improvement, we'll go back to Adderall and throw an SSRI on top of that. *sigh*> > > > Thanks for listening~> > Andie> >>

[Guest guest]

Yep! They're called Chewease. Here's the Amazon page:

http://www.amazon.com/3-Clear-ChewEase-Pencil-Toppers/dp/B001G2DAK8

I cut them in half since they're so long. They are the best things ever! The

only pencils in my house that haven't had the erasers chewed off are the ones

with the tubes on them. More so because the tubes cover the erasers, but the

point is, she gnaws the erasers off of EVERY pencil, so these things are a God

send.

I guess she got in trouble today at school for putting paperclips in her mouth.

I've learned not to freak out about her oral obsession. She's been putting

inedible things in her mouth all her life and she's never once choked - not

saying it's a good habit - but this kid can cough stuff out with enormous force.

Personally, I'd rather have her putting paperclips in her mouth than chewing

holes in her Gymboree leggings!

>

> Andie-

>

> You said " send her to school with chewy tubes on her pencils " . Are there

> special ones for pencils? Or do you just attach the t shaped hollow tube

> onto the pencil? I am looking for ideas for my 13 yo.

>

>

>

> Regards, melody

>

[Guest guest]

Oh yeah, there's also Chewlery. Bracelets and necklaces that look like fairly

normal stuff that can be chewed on.

>

> Andie-

>

> You said " send her to school with chewy tubes on her pencils " . Are there

> special ones for pencils? Or do you just attach the t shaped hollow tube

> onto the pencil? I am looking for ideas for my 13 yo.

>

>

>

> Regards, melody

>

[Guest guest]

Thanx andie. I just ordered one 3 pack. It is weird that I

cannot see what they look like in the product picture. Looking forward to

giving them a try.

Regards, melody