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ADVICE NEEDED! Behavior changes from Straterra coupled with Clonidine!

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 ****THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THIS PAGE IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE OR REPLACE MEDICAL ADVICE, OR TO PROMOTE, IN ANY MANNER, ANY OF THE MEDICINES/DRUGS. FOR DIAGNOSING A HEALTH PROBLEM OR DISEASE, PLEASE CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR OR MEDICAL ADVISER ABOUT MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS FOR PATIENT-SPECIFIC ADVICE.*****

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Question: Anyone have a child on Straterra coupled with clonidine? My son has been on them for a year and for the most part it has worked. However we have been seeing some adverse behavior from him and it’s the second time he has upped dosages, each time it has started out with the adverse behaviors and we upped the medication, how many times must we do this?

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Answers:

  • Kar W. clonodine made my son really aggressive.
  • Kristin R. How so? I mean we had punches thrown today over a back pack.
  • Kar W. like that, and he tends to be moody but it escalated it.
  • Angela S. thats what I was going to suggest, my son only takes it at night. But if its being taken during the day it can cause aggression and it has a 5-6 hour effectiveness
  • Kar W. if it only effective 5-6 hours why take it at night? curious.
  • Deborah S. I’ve mostly seen it used to help with sleep only.
  • John C. Contact a pharmacist to check your choices prior to going to the Dr
  • Judy  H. Rather than increasing dosage, if you’re concerned~ another med may be needed. My son was on Disipramine for 8 yrs coupled with a Clonidine patch and tab at bedtime. Worked great from age 7-15. Add hormones, like any typical child, and changes occur. He has been taking Olanzapine, Zoloft daily and again at bedtime with Clonidine. He is now 26. Each child responses/needs something different AND periodic adjustments during development. Good luck!
  • Anna K. My son did HORRIBLE on Straterra, had tics/Tardive Dyskenesia , real bad time for our family..
  • Janet M. Adjustments are part of it. My daughter is 15 we are still adjusting or moving those same dosages to different times of day. Hang in there
  • Scott D. Mine only uses it at .1 mg for night only just clonidine to help him sleep.
  • Missie D. My grand daughter was on Clonidine and Steroid which gave her night terrors. She would hit, bite herself, scream anything that was not her normal loving way! We took her off of the Clonidine and lowered her dose of steroids! Now she is back to her love able self! Good luck
  • Raina L. My son is on both and he doesn’t have adverse affects
  • Kelly B. You decide. If it is not working make those calls to check out the next step. Good luck.
  • Shannan C. My son take clonidine throughout the day. 1/4 breakfast and lunch. 1/2 tab at 4. 1 tab at bedtime and 1 tab at midnight. He doesn’t have any capability to fall asleep and stay asleep on his own so basically when he wakes in the morning, Iam preparing him for sleep that night. It works, he didnt sleep until he was 4 and I have been adjusting it with his specialist ever since.
  • Jessica S. Hate to say it but bribery with a treat after appointment.
  • Beth-Ann B. Give him an ice pack or ice cube and let him numb the area himself.
  • Lana M. The emla cream really works,but u need to apply it a few hrs b4. A book of pictures u make b4 nay help. Good luck.sometimes life is hard for our kids but all we can do is b prepared and do our best.
  • Angelica C. I was told to do a visual sensory story to prepare my son .
  • Jackie L. I agree with the full disclosure thing. He may not like it but if he understands whatsoever going on and why it can help with future trips. Also when we have had to get blood drawn I ask our doctor office to schedule the draw separate from a doctor visit. We then make an appointment with the nurses who work in a different area of the office. (They typically do jaundice checks, antibiotics shots, equipment changes- simple in and out procedures that don’t require the doctor.)that way , even thought he still has anxiety the next few times afterwards because of the needle, he knows we aren’t getting pokes unless we’re in those rooms. My guy is 6 with autisn non verbal. I also usually take a sucker or soda as a treat afterwards no matter his reaction. My way of making peace! LoL.
  • Jennifer M. How freaked out does he get? flailing and thrashing, throwing stuff? we had several nurses to help hold that arm to the bed. a NICU phlebotomist is heaven. They do tiny veins on wee babes all day on the first stick. we gave him control of the little things: he checks that the vials have his name right, which arm, how high to put on the band, trying to find a good vein, which poster to looks at, count down from 10 or 5, which band-aid, which sticker. which treat: chocolate kiss now, or ice cream cone later.ask him what pain level he thinks it will be, ask again right after, and again when you get to the car. use this info to reassure him next time.
  • Lori B. Every time they gain weight, you have to go up on the meds most likely. We are doing straterra, abilify and topomax. For now, that is working, but mine has epilepsy too.
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