Important considerations about medication

When you discuss medications with your doctor, make sure that you insist on one that will last a minimum of 6 hours. You want your child to be able to get through a full school day without a second dose. Nothing is worse for a child´s self-esteem than lining up at the office at lunchtime to get their meds. Everyone knows why they are there, and they are often labelled as "bad" or "dumb" kids.

Strattera Side Effects

ADHD-Strattera (atomoxetine)- Side Effects!
Strattera is a selective norepinephine reuptake inhibitor, a new class of treatment that works differently from the other attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medications available.
Strattera is not a stimulant under the Controlled Substance Act.
Strattera is an oral capsule and can be taken once or twice a day. Capsules are supplied in 5, 10, 18, 25, 40, and 60-mg strengths.
Although Strattera (atomoxetine) is a non-stimulant ADHD medication, it still poses many side effects consistent with the side effects of other ADHD medications - and a few new ones that adults might find less than pleasant.
Common Strattera (atomoxetine) Side Effects Include (But Not Limited To):

Dry mouth, Decreased appetite, Weight loss,
Upset stomach, Nausea and/or vomiting, Constipation,
Dizziness, Tiredness, Mood swings, Influenza, & Irritability
Strattera is also reported to cause Problems sleeping/Insomnia.
Sexual side effects (in adults studied):

Ejaculatory problems Urination problems
Decreased libido Impotence

Painful menstrual periods


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The following, though rare, have also been reported:


Strattera (atomoxetine) can cause potentially serious allergic reactions.

Strattera (atomoxetine) can increase heart rate and blood pressure.

Strattera (atomoxetine) can also worsen the conditions of high blood pressure and heart disease.

Strattera (atomoxetine) should not be taken at the same time as, or within two weeks of taking, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor.

Patients with narrow angle glaucoma should not take Strattera (atomoxetine).

You should alert the prescribing physician of the following condition before beginning Strattera (atomoxetine);


Current or past depression, psychosis or other mental conditions:

Alcohol or drug abuse

Heart disease

High blood pressure

Epilepsy or seizure disorders

Liver disease or kidney disease

Pregnancy, nursing or plans to become pregnant

Norpramine Side Effects

Norpramine: Psychiatric disturbances, seizures, anxiety, hallucinations, restlessness, agitation, nightmares, insomnia, confusion, tremors.

Cardiac side effects: Sudden death in children, heart attack, heart block, stroke, arrhythmias, rapid heart rate.

Side Effects of Prozac

Prozac: Anxiety, restlessness, mania/hypomania, seizures, suicide, impaired judgment, agitation, amnesia, confusion, emotional lability, apathy, depersonalization, hallucinations, hostility, paranoid reaction, personality disorder, delusions.

Cardiac side effects: hemorrhage, hypertension, angina, arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, heart attack, rapid heart beat, atrial fibrillation, cerebral embolism, heart block.

Concerns about medicating for ADD ADHD

There is a lot of controversy surrounding medication for ADD ADHD children. Many parents are uncomfortable with the idea, afraid of how it will affect their child. The truth is medication should be a very last resort after all posibilities such as food allergies, learning disabilities & enviromental allergies have been ruled out. The medical proffesion is to quick to give children mind altering substances without looking further into other causes.

Paxil Side Effects

Paxil: Mania/hypomania, impaired judgment, agitation, depression, anxiety, drugged feeling, depersonalization, amnesia, emotional lability, abnormal thinking, hallucinations, lack of emotion, hostility, manic reaction, neurosis, paranoid reaction, antisocial reaction, delirium, delusions, drug dependence, stupor.

Cardiac side effects: hypertension, rapid heartbeat, syncope; EKG abnormalities, angina, heart attack.

Ritalin Side Effects

Ritalin (Methylphenidate) Side Effects

The drug has become such a common element of schooling that the New Yorker magazine listed it as one of the three R´s . . .

“Readin - Ritin - Ritalin” . . .
on its cover.

We begin with a quote from this report on a Congressional Investigation into the use of Ritalin and other drugs given today´s children.

Peter R. Breggin M.D. Testimony September 29, 2000
Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Committee on Education and the Workforce
U.S. House of Representatives.

" Parents throughout the country are being pressured and coerced by schools to give psychiatric drugs to their children. Teachers, school psychologists, and administrators commonly make dire threats about their inability to teach children without medicating them. They sometimes suggest that only medication can stave off a bleak future of delinquency and occupational failure. They even call child protective services to investigate parents for child neglect and they sometimes testify against parents in court. Often the schools recommend particular physicians who favor the use of stimulant drugs to control behavior. These stimulant drugs include methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, and Metadate) or forms of amphetamine (Dexedrine and Adderall)."


Side Effects of Ritalin!

Insomnia, Nervousness, Insomnia Skin Rash,
Hypersensitivity, anorexia, Nausea, Dizziness,
Palpitations, Headache, Dyskinesia, Drowsiness,
Blood Pressure, Pulse Changes, Tachycardia, Weight Loss, Angina, Cardiac Arrhythmia, abdominal pain And More

The following side effects have also been reported in patients taking this drug:

Instances of abnormal liver function ranging from transaminase elevation to hepatic coma.
Isolated cases of cerebral arteritis and/or occlusion; leukopenia and/or anemia.
Transient depressed mood
And a few instances of scalp hair loss.

In children, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, weight loss during prolonged therapy, insomnia, and tachycardia may occur more frequently; however, any of the other adverse reactions listed above may also occur.

There have been reports of Tourette´s syndrome.

Toxic psychosis has also been reported.

Luvox Side Effects

Luvox: mania, apathy, amnesia, delusions, depersonalization, drug dependence, emotional lability, hostility, paranoid reaction, and phobia.

Cardiac side effects: hypertension, rapid heartbeat, syncope, angina, heart failure, and heart attack.

Catapres Side Effects

Catapres: Adult high blood pressure drug: delirium, mental depression, visual and auditory hallucinations, restlessness, anxiety, agitation, irritability, other behavioral changes, drowsiness.

Cardiac side-effects: congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular accident (stroke), EKG abnormalities, arrhythmias, chest pain, syncope, high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat and palpitations.

Zoloft Side effects

Zoloft: Mania/hypomania, suicide, agitation, anxiety, emotional lability, apathy, paranoid reactions, hallucinations, aggressive reactions, delusions, illusion.

Cardiac side effects: heart palpitations, chest pain, hypertension, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, syncope, fluid retention, heart attack.

Dexedrine Side Effects- ADHD medication

Dexedrine: Amphetamine with high potential for abuse, controlled substance, may lead to drug dependence, may exacerbate behavior disturbances and thought disorders and psychotic episodes.

Cardiac side effects: palpitations, rapid heartbeat, hypertension, cardiomyopathy with chronic amphetamine use.

Wellbutrin Side Effects

Wellbutrin: Agitation, anxiety, restlessness, delusions, hallucinations, psychotic episodes, confusion, paranoia, mania, seizures, hostility, depression, depersonalization, mood instability, thought disorder, suicidal ideation.

Cardiac side effects: edema, chest pain, EKG abnormalities, shortness of breath, heart attack.