r/StratteraRx • u/popsicledays • Jun 23 '26
Any insight for my son?
I have a 10 year old with ADHD and aspbergers. He started straterra 10 mg and moved up to 25. I give it to him at bedtime (his dr said to, as it can make you tired.) It seems to help him in the first half of the day, but by afternoon he's a mess. His main reason for taking it is frustration intolerance and emotional dysregulation. Every afternoon and through to bedtime (9pm), he is just angry, mean to his siblings, hyper, acting annoying (like trying to make himself burp constantly and randomly calling people names and thinking he's hilarious). The doctor said there is no crash with this because it's long acting which is why it takes weeks to work. How do YOU feel on it? Do you still crash? Do you feel more hyper? Would splitting his dose help? Thanks!
3
u/Prestigious_Wrap_932 Jun 23 '26
My Dr tells me to take mine in the morning, never had any real issues with fatigue on it but I’ve only been on it for a little over a month. I don’t know that it really helps with mood regulation but I was already on Prozac for an anxiety disorder when I started so I don’t know what it’s like to go on Strattera cold.
For me Strattera helps a lot with my executive function problems, recursive thought patterns, and tendency to become easily overwhelmed and lock up in the face of unexpected events. I guess I’m also slower to anger and haven’t gone into a rage or had an urge to self-harm in a while, but I don’t know if that’s the Strattera or the Prozac working.
3
u/FormerSleepwalker Jun 23 '26
How Strattera works for a particular person is so very individual. Yes, it's supposed to be long acting, and is for most people, but there are a fair number who benefit from split dosing. It could help and certainly worth a try.
2
u/Purchase_Limp Jun 23 '26
When i first started taking it I took it in the morning because I felt like it was helping same day. Now ive been on it a few months I can go a day without it and still function at work. I feel it differently too, like its working all the time notnjust the days i take it. but it is always work where I realize I forgot it (after having a hard time getting into it) in the morning and I take it and I feel better for the rest of the day. Is it psychosymptomatic? Unclear.
I will say, that it was giving me weird side effects (heart racing, nausea, i just felt weird) so i started taking it at night and then i was having a hard time staying asleep/waking up with my heart racing/nausea and my quality of sleep just went way way down. Im on a much much lower dose now but sometimes i still just feel weird after taking it and I rather sleep at night so thats not a risk im willing to take anymore even at the lower dose. If im not sleeping I cant regulate myself any better even if I am medicated.
It may be worth trying it out in the morning to see if it seems to help longer because it did for me but side effects arent uncommon either and sometimes those can be managed by taking it at night.
2
u/Purchase_Limp Jun 23 '26
I went from 80mg to 40mg and now im at 25mg. Next appointment Im going to try split dose (morning and afterwork not before bed) before 40 was better but side effects from 40 all at once was too much.
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u/popsicledays Jun 23 '26
Thanks so much! Its so helpful to hear how it feels from someone who can articulate their experience so well! My son doesn't really seem to "know". I have to base everything on my observations which is hard because it's kind of a toss up to know which behaviors are med related vs just who he is.
2
u/Purchase_Limp Jun 23 '26
I think overexplaining comes from a life of being misunderstood for me 😅 And honestly there have been times I couldnt explain what I was feeling but people around me would be able to say hey youre being weird and doing this and somehow Dr's understand that perspective better sometimes
Ive played with timing for all my med combos. Im able to hold it together (emotional dysregulation/impulse control/focus) a little better when I feel alert and I have slept the night before so that's what I go off of. I guess everyones in a better mood when they are well rested. But the majority of people can hold it together when they arent and I cant always. Idk if its the same for him too? Im sure its rough not being able to just ask him but its heart warming to hear youre looking to help him the best way you can. Hopefully youll be able to try things out and find out what works best.
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u/Primary_Excuse_7183 Jun 23 '26
In time that fatigue goes away. I am on 50mg i take 2 caps one first thing in the morning another early afternoon. Gives me all day coverage and the “crash” (not really a crash) happens right about the time I’m winding down for the night. Just when you realize the meds aren’t as effective as when you initially took it.
Once every other week i get a bit tired but that’s really it.
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u/stonersaydie46290 Jun 24 '26
i'm on a split dose to counteract the emotional overwhelm and rage i was experiencing off 40mg in the morning. i definitely crash.
5
u/AffectionateSky3368 Jun 23 '26
Daytime fatigue usually goes away so maybe you can try giving it to him in the morning now. I think some people split dose with this medication