Jun 17 2008
What Is the Purpose of this Medication?
Gus has been on Strattera for about a month now, at three different dosages, currently 25 mg per day. The first two levels made him a bit quieter, more subdued, and wore off around dinner time when he would start bouncing off the walls, I guess to make up for lost time. His appetite had decreased a little and his sleep has been erratic. All weekend, he was waking up at about 4:45 am. At bedtime, instead of dropping off immediately like he typically does, he’s been getting out of bed several times, or a few times, he’s woken up in the middle of the night looking for a drink.
Yesterday, he fell asleep at school for about ten minutes and didn’t eat his snack or his dessert at school - watermelon, which he loves. He wasn’t too hyper in the afternoon, but about normal.
So here’s what I continue to ask myself. What is the point? The complaint was that he wasn’t able to focus at school. From what I’ve seen over the weekends is that he’s quiet and sleepy (oh, and complained of a headache briefly) for much of the day, but does that equate to ‘focused?’ I’m actually finding him less responsive that when he’s not on the medication, but maybe I’m just biased.
I’m trying to give this thing a chance. I want him to feel successful at school. But if this is life on Strattera, I can’t see it lasting too much longer.
