Why is that? I’ve heard about the crash. I wonder if it would feel the same on a lower dosage
Because the med is wearing off and there is sometimes a rebound reaction.
He will be having a doctors appt with my husbands internist. He hasn’t had a physical since he was about 21. So he needs a new doctor. This will all be discussed with him. I’m just helping get info for him besides his own research in the web.
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Strattera is not particularly effective for ADHD symptoms. I only prescribed it when the person was not medically a candidate for stimulant medications. I often used it when there were concomitant symptoms that were likely to benefit from an SSRI med. For example, it did wonders for a boy with excessive, obsessional hand washing and exectutive functioning issues. Usually, the patient reported that they saw no difference when on the med, but the family could see a big difference in improved executive functioning, and decreased OCD or anxiety or depressive symptoms.
It does not sound like a match for your son at all.
I would recommend that he restart Focalin but in the short acting formulation, and that he use it as he sees it is needed. It will work for about 4 hours, and he should start with a prescription for a low dose, such as 2.5 mg. He can then try it as one pill, and then 2 pills the next time, etc, until he finds the lowest effective dose for him, and he can use it only when he thinks he needs it. He’ll have the least side effects this way, and feel that he is in control of his medication, as opposed to the other way around.
I hope that you obtained the records from his original evaluation and treatment, because this will help him to get another MD to prescribe stimulants for him.
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I’ve taken Strattera. It didn’t work at all. I thought it did, but my doctor knew otherwise. There are good adult ADHD medicines. I’m on Vyvanse, which has a generic version. It’s a good stimulant that also doesn’t cause crashing like other meds. The best thing for him is to see a doctor. Believe me, the medicine really helps.
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Thank you. I’m going to relay all this info. I really like, and so will he, the feeling of being in control.
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I’ve been reading along on this thread. Just chiming in to say my ADHD son crashes when his Vyvanse wears off, so I guess it depends on the person.
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Yes, I think this is correct. Some patients report a crash when the meds wear off, others have no crash. I think it depends on the person, the med, and the dosage. There is some playing around involved to get the right med and dosage.
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I have seen vyvanse cause a “bad trip”, even at a very low dose. I’ve also seen it work well for patients. However, the thing to remember about Vyvanse is that its main advantage (at the time of initial approval) was that it is a pro-drug, that consists of dextroamphetamine (a powerful stimulant) formulated with an attached molecule that is cleaved away by an enzyme in the bloodstream, so it cannot be crushed and snorted for an immediate intense high, thereby making it less likely to be diverted for abuse.
It is another valuable option for treatment of ADHD, but some people do not do well at all on it.
Please , please just view these views per the person taking the meds. Meds can affect people differently with the same issue. Have him get a physical and consult the appropriate professionals to diagnosis and treat. I am not a fan of medical advice on non medical forums even though everyone is well meaning.
I was on a few things till biofeedback. Vyvanase made me feel like my heart was coming out of my chest and I had thoughts of hurting myself. But of course my wife thought I was at my most “normal”…LOL. Good luck. I have seen biofeedback work on many, many people with ADHD that were on meds…just saying.
He will be seeing a doctor and discussing all this. I think we all pretty much view internet advice the way it is meant..,just personal experience, which is invaluable. But we take the advice and consult the professionals, but are armed with information. Your advice I take to heart, too. Vyvanse and a racing heart!
I was diagnosed with Ménière’s disease in 2008 by an ENT. Was a little devastated. Went to the internet and found a forum for that disease, and the participants there encouraged me to go to an ENT that specializes in inner ear diseases, not just an ENT. Not many around. So I went. Sure enough, after they ran an MRI, found a tumor called an acoustic neuroma. Was able to have cyberknife surgery and kill it. If I hadn’t listened to people on the internet (and just listened to the professional), that thing would have kept growing and caused all sorts of issues…hearing loss, facial paralysis, etc. (I didn’t have Ménière’s disease after all)
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Trust me, I get it. I look at forums for various thing’s also and understand. But I just see (not on your current thread) some advice that makes me wonder sometimes. I know you’re going to do the right thing, but on other forums some people just listen to people that don’t have the expertise. Look at sites like Chadd which is an adhd forum. https://chadd.org/
But yes, we all have our lived experiences with many here that have been through this.
Good luck to your family and once again if you’re able to check out biofeedback. If around Chicago I have an amazing person that I refer people to. The last ones mother told me it changed her life after a short few visits and I and my daughter have been through it. DM me if you want to learn more. After session 2. My daughter at that time like 11, can home and spent 5 hours cleaning her room. Every drawer and closet and floor. She said “how did I ever live like that” lol. It was a disaster before and only so much we can do as a parent. I called the doctor and said “whatever you did just keep doing that”.. Lol. The school asked what med she was put on… It was eye opening for them as well. My nephew went through it as well. If you want to find out what happened the first visit reach out. Lol. Not as successful. Lol. I have also been through it and I am not medicated. Adhd runs heavily in my family tree. To me, if used correctly. Lol, it can be your super power. Thinking differently and out of the box and quickly, has given me advantages in life. My daughter tried Ritalin for a day. At 29, she’s on something that is not a stimulant and I can ask but she says it’s what got her through graduate school that she just got her masters as a SLP. For me 15 or more year’s ago Ritalin was the first time I could sit and read (studying for a board certification) from like 9-3 at a library. College. Med school etc was a struggle. Hyperfocusing on patients and in surgery. That was the easy part.
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