How do you control an upset stomach from Strattera?

Answer 1

Remember that milk contains TONS and TONS of sugar. I would not advise feeding sugar to a child with ADHD or ADD. My best advise is to take the Strattera after the first bite of a meal, definitely before the meal is finished, and with lots of water. I eat two fried eggs, a bowl of yogurt with organic flax seed sugar free multi-grain cereal, and a a cup of fresh blueberries for breakfast. I take my Strattera at the beginning and seldom have problems. Before being so careful about my diet I had vomitted several times as well as experienced some of the worst nausea of my life several times a week. Luckily the nausea seldom lasts more than 10 minutes but it is horrifying. I still take Strattera because of the benefits but an organic diet rich in whole grains with plenty of fresh fish and fruits and vegetables definitely helps my symptoms as well. Also eating every 3 hours has been a miracle for helping my ADD. If your kids cannot eat a snack every three hours there is a major problem with their school and medication should not be tried until they are eating properly. Every kid is different though and I am not a doctor, these are just my own experiences. All in all a quarter-pounder with cheese and a large ice water is the best thing to help the sickness but I really can't recommend that to anyone. Once again from my childhood experiences I cannot stress the importance of eating at the right times and eating the right diet. Here is more information: * Our son complained of an upset stomach when he took Straterra in the morning. We switched to taking it in the evening right before bedtime with half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The doctor recommended taking it with peanut butter because he felt the oil in the peanut butter somehow neutralizes some of the gastro-intestinal effects of the Straterra. My son doesn't complain of an upset stomach anymore and he is able to sleep just fine. == == * I come unpleasantly close to vomiting if I take Strattera in the morning with little or no food. If I take it after a reasonably-sized breakfast, I'm fine. == == * My daughter has been on 18mg for about 7 months. This is the first time that it has started to affect her. She takes her pill with her supper. She has just now started to complain about her stomach hurting. Take with a big meal as this will usually help. I do not know which foods assist in absorption the best though. Most important though: WATCH HER DIET! Dairy, esp. cow's milk, affects the usage of Straterra! Check out ADD and diet online. I have read that Omega-3 Fatty Acids are very important. These are found in flax seed & olive oil. You may have heard that fish is "brain food." Omega-3s are why they are. == == * I take Stratera and originally I awoke during the night with searing stomach pain. I have found that drinking thick shake type drinks such as Slimfast immediately calms my stomach. == == * I have two children taking Straterra, one is 13 and one is 17. My son (13) has been on it for about 6-8 months and has had mild stomach pain to vomiting, but generally has been better lately. Our biggest problem is that he still doesn't have much of an appetite until late in the afternoon or supper time. My daughter just started on Straterra, and has been so happy with how she feels (after 4-5 years of not trying anything -- allergic to Ritalin, Adderall gave her migraines), however, she was very nauseated, and when the dose increased she vomited all morning. She researched this problem, and started eating PBJ every morning for breakfast, and has felt great. We also started giving my son PBJ for breakfast and now he is eating lunch better also. I don't know why, but it seems to be doing the trick. == == * I take Prevacid already and started taking two Pepcid (famotidine, Wal-Mart brand) and that seems to really help. I also tried taking it with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I think both helped as I was feeling nauseous my first day taking it. I am on my third day of 40 mg. I will increase it to 80 mg. in the mornings after one week. I also take Prozac and I feel much better mentally and physically than I have in many, many years. I am fifty-three. My psychiatrist said he wanted me to try Straterra before he tried Adderall. He said that it works well with mood disorders (combined conditions) and that if it works for me it is much better than Adderall would be for me. == == * It's really simple. If you are vomiting STOP taking the Straterra. My doc and the children's both want it stopped if there is vomiting. One suggested to try again later, maybe it was a coincidence virus, but quit. The doc said this happens to about 6% of people who try Straterra. So stop taking it if you are vomiting!!!!!! If you are worried about a child loosing weight add Carnation instant breakfast to their diet or slim fast. They should take it at night w/ whole milk and extra powder. Take last thing AFTER dinner. This is meant to add calories not substitute... == == * The upset stomach associated with Straterra is only one of many outward side effects of a dangerous drug that could be an indication of far more serious and devastating--even permanent-- side effects that no sane adult should tolerate inflicting on an innocent child. Published data reports that this drug is a non-stimulant medication, however the side effects are similar. It works upon the norepinephrine neurotransmitter. Straterra is considereda Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Norepinephrine is the brain's adrenalin. Norephinephrine is involved in the increased rate and force of the heart muscle, constriction of heart muscles, pulmonary function (Hedaya, 1999). If these functions are increased, it would be evident that Strattera could produce possible untoward effects on the cardiovascular system. It is interesting to note that in the safety information that Eli Lilly provides on its website, it refers to possible hazards to those who have Heart disease or high blood pressure. Information provided by Eli Lilly accompanying prescriptions of this drug note the possibility of tachycardia, and increased blood pressure. Tourette's disorder, though the etiology is not fully known is being examined as difficulties arising in the metabolism of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. it is known that stimulant drugs can produce Tourette's like behavior in some children (Breggin, 1998). If Straterra affects the norepinephrine system, then it would seem evident that the possibility of such Tourette's like behavior could also become manifest in some children using Strattera. Therefore, though Straterra is being marketed in the fashion of being a non-stimulant drug, its ill effects are quite similar to that manifested by the stimulant medications. Eli Lilly's website notes that growth suppression is a common side effect and needs to be monitored in children making use of this drug. Loss of appetitite and weight loss is also seen. The most common side effects as listed by Lilly are upset stomach, decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, tiredness, and mood swings. These are not unlike that associated with the stimulant medications. Lilly states in its press release in regards to Straterra's introduction: "It�s not known precisely how Strattera reduces ADHD symptoms. Scientists believe it works by blocking or slowing reabsorption of norepinephrine, a brain chemical considered important in regulating attention, impulsivity and activity levels. This keeps more norepinephrine at work in the tiny spaces between neurons in the brain.� If we examine this statement carefully, we see it states 'it is not precisely known', therefore once again a drug is being prescribed whose effects are not fully known for a'disorder' whose psychopathology is not yet delineated. Clinical trials for Straterra have been limited and any information on long term effects has only been studied by Lilly itself. It is interesting to note that before Straterra was actually placed on the market and had just received FDA approval that the stocks for Eli Lilly rose 6% at the announcement (CBS Marketwatch, November 27, 2002). Lilly is aware that it will profit highly by being able to market a drug as a non-stimulant (though its ill effects are similar), that is not a Schedule II drug thus less subject to scrutiny and regulation. Hemant K. Shah, an independent analyst qouted in an AP Health News Report (August 15, 2002) states that Strattera's market potential is large at a time when Eli Lilly is seeking to offset recent setbacks. , "Parents who have refused stimulant dangers because of their knowledge of the hazards involved will now be coerced to utilize Strattera being led to believe it is somehow safer because it does not fall into the category of a stimulant/ Schedule II drug. There is no test for ADHD and neurological testing shows these children to be perfectly normal. == == * My son is 7years old and has been on Straterra since it came out on the market. He experienced stomach pains, vomitting and surpressed appetite. What we found that works for him is to eat his breakfast first and then about half hour later he takes his meds and he is fine. If is should bother him we always pack crackers or granola bar and he is good to go. Be certain to communicate with your child's school nurse and teachers. == == * For anyone with a family member who is taking a prescription drug you should read the Reader's Digest, May 2004 issue, pages 114-120. If your child is vomiting from taking any prescribed drug, this article is a must read. == == * Although the label says it is not necessary to take with food - eating a good meal AND drinking a glass of milk 10 minutes prior to taking Strattera effectively controlled the nausea for me (it disappeared entirely after about three weeks on the medication!). == == * I want to thank the peanut butter faction for this suggestion. I've started eating it just prior to taking Strattera and wow! what a difference! I'm going to mention it to both the doctor and the pharmacist. == == * I have a great remedy that worked wonderful for my son who is 14. FLAXSEED capules. the peanut butter didn't seem to work well enough so I tried giving him 2 1000mg FLAXSEED OIL capules in the am with his 40mg straterra and again in the evening with his 40mgs more. He did not get the usual terrible stomach ache or nausea at all. Try it out. If I give my son the staterra on a very full stomach and make sure he drinks his juice to dilute the acidity of the stomach he does not throw up, if I give just fruit and yogurt something not filling he vomits within about two hours.