My son has completely lost the plot

[daisy5678]

J was doing soooooooooo well on Strattera. Felt like I had my lovely son back - chatty, happy, generally calm.

Psych has taken him off it today for long and complicated reasons. Complete stop, no tapering.

He has gone bonkers. He's gibbering to himself, whirling round like mad, throwing things, ranting, hitting himself, can't sleep, screaming, growling... it's upsetting to watch and I know it's upsetting him too.

No need to respond...not much to say is there?! Just wanted to tell someone!

Oh, you poor love! Or rather, poor loves, must be horrible for him too. Lots of hugs to both of you.

Don't know if it helps but strattera which I presume you know is a SSRI from the prozac family has a relativly short half life.

That means the levels drop quickly after the drug is not being taken.

This is why he is going so high so quickly.

Technical phrase for this is rebound, many people on Ritalin report the same thing when they stop.

Maybe you should be on the phone to your psych first thing tomorrow demanding help.

HTH

Sorry you and J are going through these horrible withdrawals. A shame that he couldn't at least have tapered the dose, but imagine there must be some complelling reason why he couldn't withdraw gradually. I agree with Talies about phoning the psych tomorrow morning.

Yes pipin is spot on right,

I should have added there is a recognised syndrome around withdrawal from SSRI medication.

The psych should have known this.

Could have been worse though, she could have stopped his meds on a friday and left you to it for the weekend!!

PS. Just had a quick dive into the BNF and there is nothing new on there about dangers of straterra (atomoxetine)

So I cannot really see why psych was all of a flutter.

I thought strattera was a selective nor-adrenaline re-uptake inhibitor not serotonin like prozac.

Sorry that should be Norepinephrine not noradrenaline

Thanks for the replies.

The psych had to take J off it because of some (possibly unrelated, but she wanted to be on the safe side) unusual symptoms - weird rash and subsequent bad blood test (low white blood cell count). She spent a long time with the paed and on the phone to the manufacturers who had had no similar reports, but decided it wasn't worth the risk.

I guess she was more worried about the rash and blood than the withdrawal but it's not nice at all - still bonkers tonight.

She will try J on it again in a month...roll on that month!

he was doing soooooo well. It was nice to spend time with him; he was happy.

Frustrating - psych was 99% sure the meds were not related to the symptoms, but I get that they have to play safe.

Interestingly, my Googling revealed a divide of opinion about Strattera withdrawal. Some say there shouldn't be any; some say there will be. Confusing.

Strattera was the first non stimulant liscensed by the FDA (stateside) for the treatment of ADHD.

It is indeed an inhibitor of presynaptic norepinaphrine uptake that has similar effects to stimulants.

It increases dopamine and norepinaphrine levels by a factor of three in the prefrontal cortex.

One of two drugs actually classed as SNRI's as oposed to SSRI's though you will tend to find them listed with SSRI's in most drugs books.

The BNF lists rashes and dermititis amongst the known side effects.

Mind you the list of side effects is a pretty long and impresive one!!

PS Also cannot find any recognised specific withdrawal syndrome, no contraindications to sudden cessation.

Then again it is fairly new and everyone thought prozac was pretty harmless stuff when it was first being touted round the clinics..

My friend got taken off prozac cold turkey when she developed a bad rash on chest, so I think it is the standard approach they take when ther e is a possible bad allergic reaction.

Well yes if there is the beginings of allergy they would certainly allow themselves a little panic.

Anyone who has seen what happens when allergy turns into anaphalaxis will tell you they could manage without seeing that one again!!!

Strangely though the doctors at the hospital (the psych and 2 paed consultants who the psych took us to) decided that it wasn't an allegic rash - not itchy and not raised. It looks like a meningitis rash (the spots don't disappear) but isn't.

I'm now convinced he has leukemia ( and for paranoia/ overprotective, google-mad mummy) as they were all pretty sure that the meds had nothing to do with the rash or with the blood thing and he's got to go back for more tests.

Googling leukemia really really scared me as he has loads of the symptoms - the blood thing, unexplained bruises, weight loss, appetite loss, random nosebleeds... (but think the bruises are the hyperness and clumsiness and the eating thing is to do with the meds - hoping so anyway) but will have to be calm till the next blood test. They aren't too worried if they only made us stay for one overnight stay are they?

Steady now.

One day at a time.

Only cross a bridge when you get there.

Thinking of you though.

No, not your fault at all, Pipinjo. Alreadt there as soon as they mentioned the blood thing.

I don't need to phone psych -she did say she was taking him off them because of the unexplained bloods and rash, even though she was almost certain it was unrelated.

She is the only professional that has been involved with J that I've absolutely trusted, so I'll go along with her opinion. I will call on Monday just to update her about how J's been this weekend, but I am sure that she's just being cautious. Can't fault her really - she got us seen by the paed straight away and then came up to the ward when she'd finished her appointments down in CAMHS, spoke to the paed up there and to the drug company and then came and sat with us and explained things to me. She's fantastic - so I know that she's got a good reason for taking him off them, it's just a bit rubbish that she's had to!

oh GMS im so sorry you and J are going through this, It must be hard seeing J go thorough this after having been able to sidestep some of his issues for a while by using drugs.
I think DS will be offered drugs on tuesday and its a scarey world im not prepared for. Like oyu i think it will will break my heart to watch DS go through side effects etc. I know how scared i was about taking ADs and side effects. that aside im sure everything is being done for the best results for J and you will come through it.
do you wanna be my email buddy???????

Called the psych today who took advice from chief pharmacist who recommends not starting again until white blood cell count has come up. we're in for a rough ride for the next few weeks.

On a positive note, SS are going to buy us a weighted blanket.