Posted by sjjbryant on January 20, 2004, at 9:46:03
I have just recently been diagnosed with ADD though I suspected I had it for years. I never bothered to really look into it until I discovered Strattera, a non stimulant treatment. I cannot take stimulants because of a predisposition to cardiac arrythmias. My Dr. had me start very slowly with this med to decrease the chances of my going into atrial fibrilation. Rapid heartbeat is a known side effect of the med and I wanted to avoid it if I could. I am a healthy, fit, 260 lb. 42 year old male. I started with the 18mg starter pack of 4 pills over 4 days then to a week on 25mg, and now I am on 40mg, for the past week and a half. Even with my size, I experienced many side effects, even at the 18mg dose! Happily, most of the side effects didn't last too long and the drug seems to be having a subtle positive effect on me. I can't imagine giving a 50lb child 40mg of Strattera to start. That is about 10x my starting dosage when you consider the weight differential. I was moody, very tired, had trouble sleeping, dry mouth, impotence, etc. These side effects are for the most part gone now, but it has taken me about 3 weeks and I am still on only 40mg. I think that people get used to the instant change that comes over them on the stimulant meds and expect the same with Strattera. I feel the price you would pay in side effects would be too great if you jump right in to the higher dosages. It may be that the recommended final dosages are correct but the quick ramp up to those levels almost certianly is not. Hopefully parents will find this website before they follow the manufacturers recommendations with this med.
poster:sjjbryant
thread:303191
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040118/msgs/303191.html