My 6y son just started Strattera 18mg 2 nights ago. How fast would this med give you side effects?
He is taking Risperdal at night also, along with Melatonin.
It was a huge decision for us to put him on Strattera. He is dx with bipolar, Aspergers, anxiety, expressive language disorder. He has inattention due to focusing on his interests. He is also very impulsive---aggressive and destructive.
He has tried Adderall and it caused tons of anxiety. It actually worked the first day---but caused him to severe hyperfocus with obsessions. (standing at dryer for 55 min and telling me the numbers of how much longer until done---every minute!!!)
He's been on prozac and celexa at 4y----before bipolar dx and became manic. He was on tons of mood stabilizers from 5-6y until we took him off and sought out a DAN dr. for other treatments for Aspergers.
Right now we are trying the Strattera for the impulsiveness at home.
I ask about side effects because the pdoc told me that in the 14 bipolar kids that he had put on Strattera----10 of them became manic/agitated. All were on mood stabilizers.
Tonight---after the melatonin and risperdal---he impulsively jumps up from the sofa while watching TV and screams, climbs on the back of the sofa and jumps to the table. Luckily it was short-lived. It brought back memories of manic days. (not climbing our vans yet or on the roof!)

So....too soon for side effects?

Holly

Wow you have your hands full and I can relate. I'll try to help. First of all, you should see side affects fast with these kind of meds, usually in the first week or two they get into your system. My 12 yr. old had very similar diagnosis, but also has ADHD and the bipolar is questionable! He is on Adderall XR 15mg AM and Risperdal .5 mg PM. If you are giving the stratera at night, I would DEFINITELY change that to morning as it can cause insomnia like all the other ADHD drugs I'm aware of. My son has been on 15 different meds since age 2 until we got this combination and dosage to work right. Each kid is different so its hard to say. I am bipolar and ADHD and take Zoloft, Adderall, (AM), Lithium, Seroquel,Topomax, and Lorazepam (PM). It took me 7 years and 24 meds to get totally stablized. We have very diffficult and severe cases. I was on stratera in addition, but stopped it due to high blood pressure issues which stopped within days of my ending the med. I've foung that the only thing to do is KEEP TRYING for short amounts of time and find a doctor you really trust until you finaly get these terrible disease totally under control. Then you have the rest of your life to enjoy your "healthy" child.:p

Unfortuanately SSRi's can actually cause mania in some people like peanuts can cause death in some people. Some people, especially kids, just cannot tolerate the overstimulation SSRi's cause and that results in anything from irritability to all out mania. IMHO, the idea that only a people with bipolar tendencies or latent bipolar are the only ones who become manic on SSRi's is questionable, it is a theory only. I personally have read many stories of adults who became manic on SSRi's but didn't buy the said explanation. Instead, they weaned off the SSRi's and the mania vanished for good. I'm doubting a true bi-polar would just only be bipolar on SSRi's and not bi-polar off of them....that's a bit silly isn't it?

Yet that's what doctors tell the patient, I'm guessing because they are taught that particular theory and don't question it.

Obviously, drugs can cause actual diseases and disorders all by themselves to those who simply cannot tolerate them; some people can but that's different. My hubby cannot tolerate tomato sauces that I lap up and feel absolutely fine with; that's just the way it is....that doesn't mean he had a "latent" stomach disorder and needs to be medicated, he just should not eat tomato sauce.

Perhaps the bipolar itself in your son was caused by med use. Certainly is possible. Also, Adderall and other stimulants can cause OCD or obsessive behavior too so that might explain the obsession with the dryer.

Why did he start meds in the beginning? Could be the meds caused most of the stuff he is now doing? Also, Risperdal is an antipsychotic, a major downer that can cause some depression and nervous system problems so be careful with that one.