It either works or it doesn't. We were recommended to try Strattera for difficult child 3, but after 3 days he was getting increasingly agitated and violent. Finally he attacked me, plus the way he was behaving afterwards (and the way he was talking, not making a lot of sense) told me we had problems. I rang the hospital and they said to bring him in, but by then it was 2 am and he was finally getting to sleep. We discontinued the Strattera.
Just a few weeks ago, easy child 2/difficult child 2's shrink (now ex-shrink for reasons which will become obvious) told us she could not prescribe dex for easy child 2/difficult child 2 (even though she's been on it for 15 years, no problems) until we'd had a neuropsychologist assessment for her. With waiting lists months long, I did not relish easy child 2/difficult child 2 running out of medications and being off them for that long. The doctor offered to prescribe Strattera instead, but clearly did not understand that it has to be taken every day. I told the shrink that I wasn't happy about giving easy child 2/difficult child 2 a medication she hadn't taken before, and a medication that had caused problems for her brother, when there was a medication on the market that she was already used to that helped and didn't cause problems. The shrink then suggested we give easy child 2/difficult child 2 her brother's leftover Strattera (dose unknown). Hence - ex-shrink, now.
Some doctors see Strattera as a better, non-stimulant option to stims. It is supposed to be a better choice in cases of ADHD that are also anxious. However, we've seen that where the anxiety is exacerbated by the kid not coping with ADHD, treating the ADHD (however, including with stims) helps the anxiety also.
difficult child 3's psychiatrist doesn't like Strattera, he prescribed it on the advice of another specialist but warned us that it probably would not be as effective. And he turned out to be right. In our case.
So it's a "su ck it and see" situation. If you try it and it works, then it's great. But if there are problems, jump ship sooner.
Marg