![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BUCKEYE FANATIC on May 9, 2006, at 12:25:19
My wife thinks we should try this drug to help our son focus at school.
He has gone downhill consistantly in his academics and behavior,, during the last 3 years.
Any opinions or experiences with Straterra?
BF
Posted by Larry Hoover on May 11, 2006, at 12:10:59
In reply to Strattera for Our 17 Year Old, posted by BUCKEYE FANATIC on May 9, 2006, at 12:25:19
> My wife thinks we should try this drug to help our son focus at school.
>
> He has gone downhill consistantly in his academics and behavior,, during the last 3 years.
>
> Any opinions or experiences with Straterra?
>
> BFWhat does your son think? I'd start there.
Lar
Posted by linkadge on May 11, 2006, at 16:35:06
In reply to Re: Strattera for Our 17 Year Old » BUCKEYE FANATIC, posted by Larry Hoover on May 11, 2006, at 12:10:59
Could it be related to other things? I mean, do you think that innability to concentrate is the core issue?
Linkadge
Posted by BUCKEYE FANATIC on May 12, 2006, at 18:41:33
In reply to Re: Strattera for Our 17 Year Old » BUCKEYE FANATIC, posted by Larry Hoover on May 11, 2006, at 12:10:59
>
> What does your son think? I'd start there.
>
> LarHe is adament against medicine.
I am probabley to blame since I have often spoken against drugs being over prescribed in our Society,..and he has witnessed my own struggles with xanax.He refuse to even go or be taken to the Dr Appointment...he made quite a scene.
And still...his anger goes from 0 to 1,000,000! in a matter of seconds, he has ALL F's on his report card, and he is impulsive and hides his anxiety with a tough-guy image.
BF
Posted by BUCKEYE FANATIC on May 12, 2006, at 18:44:12
In reply to Re: Strattera for Our 17 Year Old, posted by linkadge on May 11, 2006, at 16:35:06
Good question Linkage...I appreciate your interest
Yes...his inability to concentrate has been evident for at least 5 years. As school got harder, his progress went steadily down.
Right now...his self-estemm is shot, he feels like a failure, and seems to be depressed or hyper, and yet...he has not been diagnosed as bipolar or anything other than ADDH.
BF
Posted by Cairo on May 13, 2006, at 10:21:28
In reply to Strattera for Our 17 Year Old, posted by BUCKEYE FANATIC on May 9, 2006, at 12:25:19
Has he been checked for learning disabilities, auditory processing, language issues, etc.? Problems with these can cause secondary issues with attention.
Psychoeducational testing might be appropriate if you suspect difficulties with learning, but you'd need to find someone he can relate to so that he feels that you are working with and for him, rather than against him.
Anyone closer to his age that might be able to approach him and have a discussion about what might be bothering him?
Cairo
Posted by patrickhh on May 16, 2006, at 15:01:51
In reply to Re: Strattera for Our 17 Year Old, posted by Cairo on May 13, 2006, at 10:21:28
> Has he been checked for learning disabilities, auditory processing, language issues, etc.? Problems with these can cause secondary issues with attention.
>
> Psychoeducational testing might be appropriate if you suspect difficulties with learning, but you'd need to find someone he can relate to so that he feels that you are working with and for him, rather than against him.
>
> Anyone closer to his age that might be able to approach him and have a discussion about what might be bothering him?
>
> Cairo
>
>
>
>In someone this age, you have to look at it from 3 different approaches. 1. Could it be something situational in his life that's leading to the problem. 2. Could it be a mood disorder like Bipolar or Depression. 3. Could it be a learning problem like ADHD.
I really question whether it's ADHD. If it were ADHD he would have had the problems all through elementary school, and they wouldn't have shown up just in the teenage years.
Because he's had obvious rage episodes and anger, and because of his hyperactivity, and lack of focus, I tend to lean more towards bipolar. Has he tried any mood stabilizers? Lithium might be a good shot.
Finally, what's going on in his life? Is he getting along with his peers? Is he having problems at school socially?
What medications is he currently on? Could an SSRI be causing these symptoms by triggering rage or akathisia?
If you're wanting to treat ADHD, I don't think Strattera is the best drug. Strattera works in some, but dopamine seems to be the main culprit in ADHD. Ritalin, Adderall and other stimulants work better.
If these drugs tend to make him worse, then he's obviously bipolar.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.