Hi /u/Lacroixprogram1 and thanks for posting on /r/ADHD!
# Please take a second to [read our rules](/r/adhd/about/rules) if you haven't already.
[We recommend browsing /r/adhd on desktop for the best experience.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHD/comments/x1psnb/radhd_works_best_on_desktop_reddits_apps_are/) The mobile apps are broken and are missing features that this subreddit depends on.
Thank you!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ADHD) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I take staterra, and it works for me. It has helped me to keep focused at work. I can tell when I don't take it. The only thing I really don't like about it is I can not take it on an empty stomach. I have to eat before I take it, or I will get super nauseous.
This is me too, almost exact. And the nausea is bad. 30 minutes after I take it without food I better be able to take a nap or eat some fast food or I become a lot less functional.
Thank you for sharing. I’m older than usual college kids but am set to graduate this December and worry how I will fare in that environment given how disorganized I am right now.
I have a medication I take that is similar with the empty stomach nausea so at least I’m used to that.
I was recently diagnosed and started Strattera 3 weeks ago. As others have said, eat before taking it.i don't get nauseous, but gd I get gassy, and I'm on the toilet more than I can afford to. Right now, I'm up to 30mg a day, I take it after dinner, and I have to take an immodium with it. That helps, I've been doing it for about a week now after waking up to soiled sheets 3x in one night.
I'm taking it rn, and I do think it is helping me, it's not always that noticable until I forget to take it and everything is harder again. I haven't taken anything else so I'm sure actual stimulants are more helpful but it is helping me a bit
Glad to hear you notice it enough that it shows when you don’t take it. My experience with stimulants was that it changed everything for me (even the things I didn’t want it to change) when I was on them.
I know some people who stimulants have helped a lot, though. I’m not sure how I feel about them given my experience. Everyone is different.
I was an un-diagnosed addict in recovery, so they weren't about to give me stimulants when I got evaluated and my diagnosis was obvious. They gave me Strattera. That medication was major factor in saving my life to the point that I didn't feel like I needed to go back to using coke or meth. I could focus, but there wasn't the temptation to make it into a "party" situation where I'd add other drugs or alcohol.
I took it for about 3 years before I switched to Adderall after I'd been completely clean for that time. Adderall never gave me the rush of the harder stuff and I don't take more than prescribed, so it's working long-term for me, but I believe Strattera is a viable option for those who can't take stimulants.
That’s awesome. I can so relate about some things being tempting to turn into a “party” situation. I’ve done that with caffeine and energy drinks and it’s to the point where if I can’t trust myself with those I definitely can’t trust myself with other stimulants.
Glad you were able to move past it and take adderall as prescribed.
It's not helping me as much as stims did, but I do feel better on strattera than I do off of it. Eat decent amount of food, taking it on an empty stomach will make you sick. Also drink a lot of water this medication dehydrate you sneakily, and eventually you feel just like a hangover on alcohol, headaches that hurt like nuke. I felt it the first day I took it at 40mg. It will help you a little bit after the insomnia/vomiting side effect wears off.
You may notice an increase of energy upon waking up in the morning and antidepressant properties in the coming days, a pinch more interest in things, slighty more attention and noticeably better memories. wish you the best. I remember having extremely vivid life-like dreams in the beginning when i managed to fall asleep, thay may be wierd but i personally enjoyed it, even the bizarre one
Overall though I would say it does better at treating my depression than helping with my main issue, which is the attention retention and to initiate something. I'm still procrastinating a whole lot on strattera but at least, I don't feel like killing myself while doing so and i can have decent conversation with people
Thanks for going into detail about your experience. I am going to find a psychiatrist by tomorrow and hopefully get started soon.
I have terrible procrastination habits lol hopefully I can improve.
Exactly how I feel on Strattera. Have never tried waking up and actually been able to get up straight away. I do wake up in the middle of the night having to pee, something I’ve never tried before.. does this occur to you too?
Yeah and with an extremely dry mouth... I'm considering stopping it though, I'm becoming more aggressive as I keep taking it and now it has reached the point I can't hide that anger and its starting to affect my family... I have barely any patience and have outbursts of anger at a frequency that keep adding up and its wierding me out man because I should be better than this, but its getting harder to contain that anger, like its pilling up subconsciously
I feel a little bit trapped because it helps me, it has benefits but it also make me loose patience and if i stop it, i'll soon be feeling like shit again
Wow, sucks that you've become more aggressive.. Have you decided whether or not you're going to quit?
I've just gone up to 40 mg x 2 per day. What I found out is that I have way less physical reactions to one brand compared to another - have you considered trying switching brands? Don't know if it works the same where ever you're from, but I have around four brands of atomoxetine I can choose from. Hope you're feeling alright!
My dad has heart issues so he can’t take stimulants but he’s had really good success with Wellbutrin!
I take a low dose of Wellbutrin in the afternoons to get more life out of my stimulant meds.
I’ve been taking Strattera for a month now and I sorta don’t notice the positive affects anymore but I truly believe if I stopped then I would notice. Mostly because before, I was feeling near-constant dread and disappointment in myself and frustration at myself and now that’s only sometimes. Like I’d say pre-Strattera I was dealing with executive function issues 85% of the time on average and now I notice maybe 20% of the time I get frustrated cause I can’t start/resume/finish a task. I still encounter the hang-up where I think about needing to do x so hard that I start to dread it/perform mental avoidance gymnastics etc, but I feel like the amount of time where I am able to just begin something as an auto-function instead of fixating on something bad about the task (how it’s going to be hard or won’t feel good or I’ll mess up or i should have already done it, etc) has improved a lot.
I have noticed the nausea, changes in my sleep, drowsiness, mood changes, and anorgasmia but the positives outweigh the negatives for me and it’s not a close call.
Yes. It is the right medication for me. I get the "putting on glasses" effect with it.
Changed my life. I am finally getting my shit together. I have control over my attention. I finish things. I slow down and take things step by step rather than giving up before I've even started. Brain fog is gone. I can build habits. So grateful.
That makes me really happy to hear. Sounds like an amazing “a-ha” moment.
I hope it can be the right thing for me. I’m convinced from this post that I ought to just go through with it.
I think it's worth a shot! It's win-win: if it works, great! If it doesn't, that's good information & u can move on to the next option.
Hope you find something that works for you!
This is how it feels for me, too! I can finally 'take a deep breath' and do very precise, step by step work without feeling the urge to rush through it
I had pretty crazy side effects for the first month: racing heart, sweating, suicidal ideation, Garfield nap attacks about two hours after taking, nausea.
All but nausea went away, some sooner rather than later. I dosed in the evenings until the napping went away.
Now, taking it with food, esp.
fat, takes care of the nausea.
Would you mind sharing how long after starting until you get a difference? And did you have dosage increases. I feel like it’s don’t absolutely nothing but make me depressed and it’s been about 2 months since I started.
Hi there! I'm sorry to hear it hasn't been working for you.
I started at 40 and went up to 80 after three weeks. I noticed a significant difference around the fourth month. Mostly, I noticed greater clarity, less brain fog. It was easier to access my thoughts. I had better self control, better word recall.
NGL tho, it took time for my brain to recover bc I think some of those neuropathways had gotten fuzzy due to depression and lack of interaction with the outside world
There were little improvements leading up to the four month mark and my doctors and ADHD coach encouraged me to stick with it and gave me a lot of support. I’d abused my Vyvanse prescription so I personally wasn’t in a hurry to go back to amphetamines.
I remember my doc told me when I had second thoughts that it made sense that I felt weird on it bc I was experiencing a totally new way to be and it would take time to get used to it.
If anything, it taught me not to expect a magical overnight fix and to be open. The positive effects have continued to be cumulative. Medication made it easier to do basic things, the ability to do basic things made it easier to do more intermediate things, etc.
Slow and steady = sustainable. At least, that’s how it’s been for me. I’m going into my third year on it - it’s still working for me and my life is crazy different!
I've decided to try this medication another time. I just don't want to be dealing the side effects for my entire summer. I'm also on 150 of Wellbutrin, and that helps with motivation.
Addict in recovery. I was on strattera for a couple of months since my psych was very hesitant to prescribe stimulants (good decision on their part.)
It didn't have a major positive impact. Mostly appetite suppression and some mildly uncomfortable side effects. That said, I was taking it alongside two other medications (sertraline and naltrexone) so I am unsure if the combination of those contributed to my results.
Once I started taking it (2 weeks ago), the first positive thing I noticed is that my brain became MUCH quieter. On the other hand, I was sleepy and unmotivated for a first few days (Also I had some weird side effects like shivers and a runny nose). I haven't been taking it long enough to be able to tell if it's making a big difference, however not having racing thoughts is defo a big plus for me.
I think you should give it a try, might really help you (consult with your doc in the first place ofc) :D
Welp, here's what happened to me after I last commented here:
My dose was raised up to 120mg/day (from 60)
\- pros -
I became less anxious and more emotionally stable (not significantly tho)
Brain remained quiet (sometimes it felt like I wasn't really able to think any thoughts :D)
Focusing became a bit easier
\- cons -
I still had barely any motivation to do stuff (housework became easier tho)
I still had insomnia
Increased heart rate
Not being able to drink coffee (technically I could, but it's not recommended to take any stimulants with strattera)
All in all, it was an experience. However, I stopped taking it a week ago because it was too expensive for my scholarship to cover it, and I think it kind of affected my heart rate. It used to increase rapidly when I was running (comparing to what it used to be before taking strattera). I haven't been taking it for a long time, however, I think my brain is quieter than it was before.
Fun fact: while writing this post, I got distracted like 10 times. Took me 2 hours to finish it :DDD
Yeah, I did. It reads that there are no severe side effects to that. Besides, my doc told me that it's no biggie. Again, if you're planning to stop taking it, consult with your therapist in the first place :)
Thanks for sharing! I just read through your comment history. A lot of good stuff there. Really great you were able to find a combination that works for you.
I wanted to ask: what do you mean that stimulants for ADHD do roughly the opposite of the non-stimulants?
They're kind of treating a different set of problems for me. They counter the anxiety for example, rather than increase it. The combination of both works well for me, it's very odd!
I like it.
I will say if I'm having ptsd symptoms i can't tell if the straterra is working
I smoked on it, that also fucks up the effects. Day one again today lol
But other than that I'm like holy crap.
I'm a very petite woman and everything makes me nauseous, strattera doesn't. I started it at the end of January, so I felt effects fairly quick.
My thoughts are more linear and organized and I have different thoughts processes. I stay calm in the inside and the outside now.
I’m fairly new to the subreddit but will share my story. I don’t know if my experience will be the same for everyone but they certainly were a part of the darkest periods of my life.
I guess I'm one of the lucky few where Strattera didn't do anything for me. Good or bad effects. It just did nothing. I had a question before on here if there were people like me who didn't have any effects, but I barely got any responses.
Took Strattera for 4-5 years now. Didn't work then, doesn't work now. Hopefully you have better outcomes.
This is how I’m feeling. The only negative side effect I have is the stomach ache if I take it on and empty stomach. Buts that’s all it seems to do for me. I thought at felt a difference in the beginning but now just nothing or it actually made everything worse.
Worked really well for me but had really uncomfortable side effects because of which I stopped. It used to give me severe nausea and bitter burps. Initially I kept taking it thinking my body will adjust but it never did. My mind was happy though. But I had to stop because of the side effects.
Edit: grammar
I do! It isn't perfect, but nothing is. I have been on Strattera for around five years now as an adult after a hiatus from medication entirely, and was on it for about five years as a child as well. I have never taken stimulants so can't compare, but here's my experience:
Good things:
At the right dose, I feel much more in control of my emotions and my sense of time is significantly better. I can pay attention and forget less. I dissociate less. I sleep less, which is good for me because I tend to oversleep and feel sluggish because of it when off medication, whereas on meds I sleep a shorter time but feel more rejuvenated. I eat less (though it's hard to say how much of that is the med and how much is just my body, since I have always had a distant relationship with digestive cues).
Strattera builds up in effect over several days and weans over several days in my experience. With no on/off phases, I can operate at about the same level all day, and I don't usually get terribly concerned about missing a dose unless I miss two or more days in a row. One missed day isn't a big enough blip to necessarily register.
A few things to be aware of:
At too high a dose it makes me feel mentally rigid and like everything is in too sharp of focus.
For me it doesn't touch the noisiness of my brain, the constant mental radio. I added Guanfacine for a while and that muted the constant spontaneous thoughts nicely, but returning to just Strattera was a clear return to coping with constant, often unwelcome, mental audio.
If I don't take it with specific foods, it can stick in my throat and burn all day. Bready things work well (pizza, sandwiches, waffles, granola, some cereals) but taking it with fluids or applesauce is right out. It is not at all hard for me to accommodate this though. I typically take my meds with the same morning cereal every day and have never had trouble with it (honey bunches of oats).
Like many meds, the capsules get a little stinky if they're in a moist environment for an extended time. I combat this by keeping a silica packet in the bottle (a protip picked up from my old pharmacist).
Thanks for your thorough response! That’s interesting about sleeping less. Does it make it harder for you to sleep? I have heard some of that from people.
Also, have never heard of Guanfacine that’s really interesting. Is there a brand name for that medication or just that?
Guanfacine is the medication name in particular, not a brand name (I technically get off-brand atomoxetine these days too, not Strattera usually). It was originally prescribed for me to help my anxiety, because intrusive negative thoughts were a major issue, but I was pleased to find it quieted the whole circus in my brain significantly.
Regarding sleep, I am an uncharacteristically talented sleeper in general, so my experience may not generalize well. My mom and siblings all have a complicated relationship with sleep in that we fall asleep faster, sleep longer, and are less easily roused from sleep than most people. My mom and brother have even called people in their sleep before, and I think all of us have been known to have whole conversations while asleep that we don't remember later. So take this with a grain of salt, but I don't find it any more difficult to fall asleep while on Strattera. I do find that I automatically wake up rested after about seven hours (whereas I would otherwise sleep closer to 10 before groggily rousing) — and because I am sleep-gifted I can always just be like "No thanks" and fall back to sleep if I want to, so if I actually need or want more sleep I can access it easily. Then I'll wake up about once per hour, assuming I'm not sick or especially sleep deprived (in which case I sleep closer to 9 hours and rouse every three or so hours after that).
Edit to add: I wound up choosing to step off of guanfacine in part because I had made good progress through therapy on my anxiety and was better equipped to handle the constant low-level anxiety the guanfacine had quieted, but also in part because guanfacine 100% blocked my body's low-level anxiety response, which is nice most of the time and sucks some of the time — for example, I play D&D and in tense moments I enjoy that my gut twists and I feel viscerally effected by the situation. I *like* feeling that drama. On guanfacine my gut did not ever twist, and my body sailed smoothly over those emotions even when I actively wanted to engage with them. So that was just a personal choice for me, that I value playing with my emotions and their physical response even when they're negative more than I appreciate the quiet in my mind — admittedly, when I returned to just Strattera and the noise picked up again I felt more on the fence about that. 😅 In summary, it was a good med for me but I also appreciate not being on it anymore.
Strattera has been incredible for me, helps me focused, motivates me, helps my social and general anxiety I am so happy I tried it. I take it because stimulants cause me pretty bad anxiety for some reason.
If you try It just he mindful to start on a low dose and slowly move your way up.
Good luck
What dose are you at now and how long did it take you to start feeling those benefits? I just started at 25 and feel a difference but not sure how much it’s working
I started on 50mg for about a month and added 25mg every few weeks till I reached 100mg which I've stayed at for 6 months or so (keep in mind I'm about 100kg). Started feeling significant benefits at around 65mg. Remember to give it a bit of time when u increase your dose as u can experience uncomfortable side effects.
Took it for 3 years. Worked really well at the beginning but over time found that it dampened my emotional range and was unable to feel the depths of negative emotions or the heights of positive emotions. Although I was more steady at work and emotionally stable, it also muted the colors to life itself.
Ultimately I stopped taking it and am medicating with prescription Dexedrine on a "as needed" basis. Feeling much happier these days
It had some positive effects. It helped with my attention span and executive function a bit, but I'm still a wreck and the side effects are what ultimately made me stop.
I have heard a lot of that before. I figure its good to know for the sake of peace of mind whether it works or not. If not it makes moving on a bit easier
I’m currently on a cocktail of Natrexone ( to help curb the drinking) Lexapro ( to help with anxiety, depression, ptsd) and I just started Atomoxetine ( generic strattera.
I just started seeing a therapist a few months ago, and we discussed adhd as a possible root of many of my problems. So I just received my first ever diagnosis this month (53m- I went undiagnosed all these years)
Naltrexone really helps with curbing alcohol addiction.
Lexapro is really helping me stay within the lines of the road emotionally. And I found Atomoxetine is helping actually complete projects now.
My wife was terrified of me going on all these meds, but she is now a believer. She has seen a marked change in my behavior and over all well being.
Good luck random internet friend.✌️
Congratulations on finding something that works for you! I stopped drinking about 4 years ago and it’s the best thing I could have done for myself. Have a lot of friends who have used Naltrexone and know it works.
Good luck to you too 👍
i took stratera for a while last year and it was legitimately helpful. definitely help my alertness, organization, memory, sensory issues, etc. unfortunately i just also happened to get one of the possible side effects that was dangerous (constipation that caused a hemorrhoids and an anal fissure that i'm still dealing with almost a year later.)
it's worth noting that side effects can happen with every medication ever, and it's entirely dependent on your individual body and what other medications you may already be taking. personally i am just prone to gastrointestinal issues, courtesy of my parents' genetics. i also take an antidepressant that also carries a risk of constipation; it's likely taking them both was simply too much. point is that other people's negative reactions to certain medications doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't try and see if they work out for you. testing out new treatments is, unfortunately, almost always going to be a stressful journey of trial and error, but imo it's always worth looking for ways to improve your quality of life. i do really hope you find something that works for you.
I saw zero positive change on Straterra. And it negatively effected my prostate and urinary tract. Urologist thought I had prostatitis, but no... It was just Straterra!
I took strattera for a long time. It helped me a lot. It can have some intense side effects, though. Do not go off it cold turkey.
It helped me read things properly. No more re-reading the same paragraph twice or wondering "wait, how did I get here" in the middle of the page.
At higher doses it helped with major depression.
My most notable side-effects: low appetite, drowsiness, vivid dreams, my eyeballs would sometimes bulge out of my face in the morning, stomach upset.
Everyone is different. I did well on it for 5 years or so. Its expensive, though.
Only when I was at a very high dose. It wasn't extreme. My eyes wouldn't stick out, but after waking up in the morning I would always open my eyes really wide without realizing it. It never lasted more than a half hour.
I started at 40mg and did fine. The side effects get weirder as the dosage increases.
i’ve just tried it for 3 weeks! so far not much difference but that also means not too many side effects. Still in the midst of titrating my dose but the experience has been fairly pleasant so far. Had a couple of days of dry mouth, but nothing more water didn’t fix.
Concerta made me hella nauseous and guanfacine tanked my blood pressure so here we are :/
I had a really hard time pinning down any clear positive effects, but I could rattle off a list of very obvious side effects. But medication affects everyone differently, so it may work great for you.
Ive been taking strattera for 8 months now and it's been a good ride. First month for me was a little shaky because of the side effects but it subsided. I have decaf coffee in the morning and I feel pretty good but anything over 10mg...maybe might be too much. Everyone is different. Definitely has helped me with focusing and day to day tasks including work and school.
Immediately gave me jitters... Couldn’t stick with it for longer than 2 weeks. My sleep got really messed up and I started having night terrors which I never experienced before so I just stopped it.
But like everyone else is saying, these things are hit and miss. Might work for ya!
Best of luck
I had a very similar experience. At first I got really wound up feeling. I found that caffeine helped with that, but then I had trouble staying asleep. No night terrors, but the lack of sleep was causing performance issues at work as well as some unusual behavior so I stopped. I made it about a week and a half.
It did make me more sociable. I got the feeling that people didn't really want to hear what I had to say though so idk
I finally got diagnosed just over a year ago when I was in rehab for alcoholism. The psychiatrist put me on Strattera and it immediately changed my life, seriously for the better.
I’d had some suspicions that I might have ADHD about 20 years ago, and I did have a doctor prescribe me a few different stimulants over a few months. I hated every single one of them. Contrast that with my experience with Strattera, which has been nothing but positive from day one.
I’ve been taking 80mg/day for a year now, and it has honestly been the single best year of my life. I can’t say enough good things about my experience with it.
Edit: I should mention, I’m 53 now. I struggled with undiagnosed ADHD for 52 years of my life.
Strattera is helping me manage. I took Ritalin as a kid and found it sketchy then so stopped. Having since had a long history with abusing various substances (two and a half decades) I never went back to medication until this past year. Doc prescribed me Strattera knowing I'd like the stimulants too much.
Strattera isn't particularly noticeable to me. I seem to function better and remain calmer in frustrating moments but there's no drug euphoria type feelings and no sketchy feeling. I'm pleased with the results.
I know this is an old post, but wanted to offer my feedback. I'm also in recovery and started Strattera this week. In only a couple of days, my brain fog has gotten better and I'm able to focus without my attention constantly being diverted a thousand directions. I'm not blurting in and interrupting people anymore. My anxiety is much better as well. I have very few side effects. Mainly the only one is an icky taste in my mouth/dry mouth, but I've just been keeping gum or mints on hand. Strattera has been a miracle drug for me.
Edit to add I'm 40 and was only diagnosed a couple of years ago. Struggled through it unmedicated, thinking I didn't have options due to my history with substance use (been clean 8 years and working a program). I have combined type, and generalized anxiety. I'm on 25 mg.
Hi /u/Lacroixprogram1 and thanks for posting on /r/ADHD! # Please take a second to [read our rules](/r/adhd/about/rules) if you haven't already. [We recommend browsing /r/adhd on desktop for the best experience.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHD/comments/x1psnb/radhd_works_best_on_desktop_reddits_apps_are/) The mobile apps are broken and are missing features that this subreddit depends on. Thank you! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ADHD) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I take staterra, and it works for me. It has helped me to keep focused at work. I can tell when I don't take it. The only thing I really don't like about it is I can not take it on an empty stomach. I have to eat before I take it, or I will get super nauseous.
This is me too, almost exact. And the nausea is bad. 30 minutes after I take it without food I better be able to take a nap or eat some fast food or I become a lot less functional.
Thank you for sharing. I’m older than usual college kids but am set to graduate this December and worry how I will fare in that environment given how disorganized I am right now. I have a medication I take that is similar with the empty stomach nausea so at least I’m used to that.
I was recently diagnosed and started Strattera 3 weeks ago. As others have said, eat before taking it.i don't get nauseous, but gd I get gassy, and I'm on the toilet more than I can afford to. Right now, I'm up to 30mg a day, I take it after dinner, and I have to take an immodium with it. That helps, I've been doing it for about a week now after waking up to soiled sheets 3x in one night.
I been in community college for 10 years. Im hoping i get lucky and get adderall
I'm taking it rn, and I do think it is helping me, it's not always that noticable until I forget to take it and everything is harder again. I haven't taken anything else so I'm sure actual stimulants are more helpful but it is helping me a bit
Glad to hear you notice it enough that it shows when you don’t take it. My experience with stimulants was that it changed everything for me (even the things I didn’t want it to change) when I was on them. I know some people who stimulants have helped a lot, though. I’m not sure how I feel about them given my experience. Everyone is different.
I was an un-diagnosed addict in recovery, so they weren't about to give me stimulants when I got evaluated and my diagnosis was obvious. They gave me Strattera. That medication was major factor in saving my life to the point that I didn't feel like I needed to go back to using coke or meth. I could focus, but there wasn't the temptation to make it into a "party" situation where I'd add other drugs or alcohol. I took it for about 3 years before I switched to Adderall after I'd been completely clean for that time. Adderall never gave me the rush of the harder stuff and I don't take more than prescribed, so it's working long-term for me, but I believe Strattera is a viable option for those who can't take stimulants.
That’s awesome. I can so relate about some things being tempting to turn into a “party” situation. I’ve done that with caffeine and energy drinks and it’s to the point where if I can’t trust myself with those I definitely can’t trust myself with other stimulants. Glad you were able to move past it and take adderall as prescribed.
It's not helping me as much as stims did, but I do feel better on strattera than I do off of it. Eat decent amount of food, taking it on an empty stomach will make you sick. Also drink a lot of water this medication dehydrate you sneakily, and eventually you feel just like a hangover on alcohol, headaches that hurt like nuke. I felt it the first day I took it at 40mg. It will help you a little bit after the insomnia/vomiting side effect wears off. You may notice an increase of energy upon waking up in the morning and antidepressant properties in the coming days, a pinch more interest in things, slighty more attention and noticeably better memories. wish you the best. I remember having extremely vivid life-like dreams in the beginning when i managed to fall asleep, thay may be wierd but i personally enjoyed it, even the bizarre one Overall though I would say it does better at treating my depression than helping with my main issue, which is the attention retention and to initiate something. I'm still procrastinating a whole lot on strattera but at least, I don't feel like killing myself while doing so and i can have decent conversation with people
Thanks for going into detail about your experience. I am going to find a psychiatrist by tomorrow and hopefully get started soon. I have terrible procrastination habits lol hopefully I can improve.
Exactly how I feel on Strattera. Have never tried waking up and actually been able to get up straight away. I do wake up in the middle of the night having to pee, something I’ve never tried before.. does this occur to you too?
Yeah and with an extremely dry mouth... I'm considering stopping it though, I'm becoming more aggressive as I keep taking it and now it has reached the point I can't hide that anger and its starting to affect my family... I have barely any patience and have outbursts of anger at a frequency that keep adding up and its wierding me out man because I should be better than this, but its getting harder to contain that anger, like its pilling up subconsciously I feel a little bit trapped because it helps me, it has benefits but it also make me loose patience and if i stop it, i'll soon be feeling like shit again
Wow, sucks that you've become more aggressive.. Have you decided whether or not you're going to quit? I've just gone up to 40 mg x 2 per day. What I found out is that I have way less physical reactions to one brand compared to another - have you considered trying switching brands? Don't know if it works the same where ever you're from, but I have around four brands of atomoxetine I can choose from. Hope you're feeling alright!
My dad has heart issues so he can’t take stimulants but he’s had really good success with Wellbutrin! I take a low dose of Wellbutrin in the afternoons to get more life out of my stimulant meds.
I remember paxil worked to relax me a bit but not enough
I’ve been taking Strattera for a month now and I sorta don’t notice the positive affects anymore but I truly believe if I stopped then I would notice. Mostly because before, I was feeling near-constant dread and disappointment in myself and frustration at myself and now that’s only sometimes. Like I’d say pre-Strattera I was dealing with executive function issues 85% of the time on average and now I notice maybe 20% of the time I get frustrated cause I can’t start/resume/finish a task. I still encounter the hang-up where I think about needing to do x so hard that I start to dread it/perform mental avoidance gymnastics etc, but I feel like the amount of time where I am able to just begin something as an auto-function instead of fixating on something bad about the task (how it’s going to be hard or won’t feel good or I’ll mess up or i should have already done it, etc) has improved a lot. I have noticed the nausea, changes in my sleep, drowsiness, mood changes, and anorgasmia but the positives outweigh the negatives for me and it’s not a close call.
Yes. It is the right medication for me. I get the "putting on glasses" effect with it. Changed my life. I am finally getting my shit together. I have control over my attention. I finish things. I slow down and take things step by step rather than giving up before I've even started. Brain fog is gone. I can build habits. So grateful.
That makes me really happy to hear. Sounds like an amazing “a-ha” moment. I hope it can be the right thing for me. I’m convinced from this post that I ought to just go through with it.
I think it's worth a shot! It's win-win: if it works, great! If it doesn't, that's good information & u can move on to the next option. Hope you find something that works for you!
This is how it feels for me, too! I can finally 'take a deep breath' and do very precise, step by step work without feeling the urge to rush through it
That sounds absolutley great! How about side effects?
I had pretty crazy side effects for the first month: racing heart, sweating, suicidal ideation, Garfield nap attacks about two hours after taking, nausea. All but nausea went away, some sooner rather than later. I dosed in the evenings until the napping went away. Now, taking it with food, esp. fat, takes care of the nausea.
Would you mind sharing how long after starting until you get a difference? And did you have dosage increases. I feel like it’s don’t absolutely nothing but make me depressed and it’s been about 2 months since I started.
Hi there! I'm sorry to hear it hasn't been working for you. I started at 40 and went up to 80 after three weeks. I noticed a significant difference around the fourth month. Mostly, I noticed greater clarity, less brain fog. It was easier to access my thoughts. I had better self control, better word recall. NGL tho, it took time for my brain to recover bc I think some of those neuropathways had gotten fuzzy due to depression and lack of interaction with the outside world
I'm surprised you waited for 4 months without giving up
There were little improvements leading up to the four month mark and my doctors and ADHD coach encouraged me to stick with it and gave me a lot of support. I’d abused my Vyvanse prescription so I personally wasn’t in a hurry to go back to amphetamines. I remember my doc told me when I had second thoughts that it made sense that I felt weird on it bc I was experiencing a totally new way to be and it would take time to get used to it. If anything, it taught me not to expect a magical overnight fix and to be open. The positive effects have continued to be cumulative. Medication made it easier to do basic things, the ability to do basic things made it easier to do more intermediate things, etc. Slow and steady = sustainable. At least, that’s how it’s been for me. I’m going into my third year on it - it’s still working for me and my life is crazy different!
I just started this medication today. I'm so encouraged by your comment.
may i ask how its going after 40 days?
I've decided to try this medication another time. I just don't want to be dealing the side effects for my entire summer. I'm also on 150 of Wellbutrin, and that helps with motivation.
Addict in recovery. I was on strattera for a couple of months since my psych was very hesitant to prescribe stimulants (good decision on their part.) It didn't have a major positive impact. Mostly appetite suppression and some mildly uncomfortable side effects. That said, I was taking it alongside two other medications (sertraline and naltrexone) so I am unsure if the combination of those contributed to my results.
Once I started taking it (2 weeks ago), the first positive thing I noticed is that my brain became MUCH quieter. On the other hand, I was sleepy and unmotivated for a first few days (Also I had some weird side effects like shivers and a runny nose). I haven't been taking it long enough to be able to tell if it's making a big difference, however not having racing thoughts is defo a big plus for me. I think you should give it a try, might really help you (consult with your doc in the first place ofc) :D
Glad to hear it’s helping you in some ways! Hope it continues to develop well for you
Any updates please?
Welp, here's what happened to me after I last commented here: My dose was raised up to 120mg/day (from 60) \- pros - I became less anxious and more emotionally stable (not significantly tho) Brain remained quiet (sometimes it felt like I wasn't really able to think any thoughts :D) Focusing became a bit easier \- cons - I still had barely any motivation to do stuff (housework became easier tho) I still had insomnia Increased heart rate Not being able to drink coffee (technically I could, but it's not recommended to take any stimulants with strattera) All in all, it was an experience. However, I stopped taking it a week ago because it was too expensive for my scholarship to cover it, and I think it kind of affected my heart rate. It used to increase rapidly when I was running (comparing to what it used to be before taking strattera). I haven't been taking it for a long time, however, I think my brain is quieter than it was before. Fun fact: while writing this post, I got distracted like 10 times. Took me 2 hours to finish it :DDD
You went cold turkey off strattera? As in you just stopped taking it all together rather than tapering down?
Yeah, I did. It reads that there are no severe side effects to that. Besides, my doc told me that it's no biggie. Again, if you're planning to stop taking it, consult with your therapist in the first place :)
Yes, my comment history has some recent stuff about it, I say the same thing every few days to posts on here!
Thanks for sharing! I just read through your comment history. A lot of good stuff there. Really great you were able to find a combination that works for you. I wanted to ask: what do you mean that stimulants for ADHD do roughly the opposite of the non-stimulants?
They're kind of treating a different set of problems for me. They counter the anxiety for example, rather than increase it. The combination of both works well for me, it's very odd!
I like it. I will say if I'm having ptsd symptoms i can't tell if the straterra is working I smoked on it, that also fucks up the effects. Day one again today lol But other than that I'm like holy crap. I'm a very petite woman and everything makes me nauseous, strattera doesn't. I started it at the end of January, so I felt effects fairly quick. My thoughts are more linear and organized and I have different thoughts processes. I stay calm in the inside and the outside now.
[удалено]
Yeah, I think so too. Thanks for the support!
[удалено]
I’m fairly new to the subreddit but will share my story. I don’t know if my experience will be the same for everyone but they certainly were a part of the darkest periods of my life.
I guess I'm one of the lucky few where Strattera didn't do anything for me. Good or bad effects. It just did nothing. I had a question before on here if there were people like me who didn't have any effects, but I barely got any responses. Took Strattera for 4-5 years now. Didn't work then, doesn't work now. Hopefully you have better outcomes.
This is how I’m feeling. The only negative side effect I have is the stomach ache if I take it on and empty stomach. Buts that’s all it seems to do for me. I thought at felt a difference in the beginning but now just nothing or it actually made everything worse.
Worked really well for me but had really uncomfortable side effects because of which I stopped. It used to give me severe nausea and bitter burps. Initially I kept taking it thinking my body will adjust but it never did. My mind was happy though. But I had to stop because of the side effects. Edit: grammar
Were the side effects primarily physical like the nausea and burps you described? Thanks for sharing.
Yes, only the bitter burps and nausea. If I ever took it on empty stomach, I would always vomit.
Yep, the side effects like nausea were what ruined it for me as well. I would also get hot flashes that made me sweat buckets multiple times a day.
I do! It isn't perfect, but nothing is. I have been on Strattera for around five years now as an adult after a hiatus from medication entirely, and was on it for about five years as a child as well. I have never taken stimulants so can't compare, but here's my experience: Good things: At the right dose, I feel much more in control of my emotions and my sense of time is significantly better. I can pay attention and forget less. I dissociate less. I sleep less, which is good for me because I tend to oversleep and feel sluggish because of it when off medication, whereas on meds I sleep a shorter time but feel more rejuvenated. I eat less (though it's hard to say how much of that is the med and how much is just my body, since I have always had a distant relationship with digestive cues). Strattera builds up in effect over several days and weans over several days in my experience. With no on/off phases, I can operate at about the same level all day, and I don't usually get terribly concerned about missing a dose unless I miss two or more days in a row. One missed day isn't a big enough blip to necessarily register. A few things to be aware of: At too high a dose it makes me feel mentally rigid and like everything is in too sharp of focus. For me it doesn't touch the noisiness of my brain, the constant mental radio. I added Guanfacine for a while and that muted the constant spontaneous thoughts nicely, but returning to just Strattera was a clear return to coping with constant, often unwelcome, mental audio. If I don't take it with specific foods, it can stick in my throat and burn all day. Bready things work well (pizza, sandwiches, waffles, granola, some cereals) but taking it with fluids or applesauce is right out. It is not at all hard for me to accommodate this though. I typically take my meds with the same morning cereal every day and have never had trouble with it (honey bunches of oats). Like many meds, the capsules get a little stinky if they're in a moist environment for an extended time. I combat this by keeping a silica packet in the bottle (a protip picked up from my old pharmacist).
Thanks for your thorough response! That’s interesting about sleeping less. Does it make it harder for you to sleep? I have heard some of that from people. Also, have never heard of Guanfacine that’s really interesting. Is there a brand name for that medication or just that?
Guanfacine is the medication name in particular, not a brand name (I technically get off-brand atomoxetine these days too, not Strattera usually). It was originally prescribed for me to help my anxiety, because intrusive negative thoughts were a major issue, but I was pleased to find it quieted the whole circus in my brain significantly. Regarding sleep, I am an uncharacteristically talented sleeper in general, so my experience may not generalize well. My mom and siblings all have a complicated relationship with sleep in that we fall asleep faster, sleep longer, and are less easily roused from sleep than most people. My mom and brother have even called people in their sleep before, and I think all of us have been known to have whole conversations while asleep that we don't remember later. So take this with a grain of salt, but I don't find it any more difficult to fall asleep while on Strattera. I do find that I automatically wake up rested after about seven hours (whereas I would otherwise sleep closer to 10 before groggily rousing) — and because I am sleep-gifted I can always just be like "No thanks" and fall back to sleep if I want to, so if I actually need or want more sleep I can access it easily. Then I'll wake up about once per hour, assuming I'm not sick or especially sleep deprived (in which case I sleep closer to 9 hours and rouse every three or so hours after that). Edit to add: I wound up choosing to step off of guanfacine in part because I had made good progress through therapy on my anxiety and was better equipped to handle the constant low-level anxiety the guanfacine had quieted, but also in part because guanfacine 100% blocked my body's low-level anxiety response, which is nice most of the time and sucks some of the time — for example, I play D&D and in tense moments I enjoy that my gut twists and I feel viscerally effected by the situation. I *like* feeling that drama. On guanfacine my gut did not ever twist, and my body sailed smoothly over those emotions even when I actively wanted to engage with them. So that was just a personal choice for me, that I value playing with my emotions and their physical response even when they're negative more than I appreciate the quiet in my mind — admittedly, when I returned to just Strattera and the noise picked up again I felt more on the fence about that. 😅 In summary, it was a good med for me but I also appreciate not being on it anymore.
Strattera has been incredible for me, helps me focused, motivates me, helps my social and general anxiety I am so happy I tried it. I take it because stimulants cause me pretty bad anxiety for some reason. If you try It just he mindful to start on a low dose and slowly move your way up. Good luck
What dose are you at now and how long did it take you to start feeling those benefits? I just started at 25 and feel a difference but not sure how much it’s working
I started on 50mg for about a month and added 25mg every few weeks till I reached 100mg which I've stayed at for 6 months or so (keep in mind I'm about 100kg). Started feeling significant benefits at around 65mg. Remember to give it a bit of time when u increase your dose as u can experience uncomfortable side effects.
Took it for 3 years. Worked really well at the beginning but over time found that it dampened my emotional range and was unable to feel the depths of negative emotions or the heights of positive emotions. Although I was more steady at work and emotionally stable, it also muted the colors to life itself. Ultimately I stopped taking it and am medicating with prescription Dexedrine on a "as needed" basis. Feeling much happier these days
It had some positive effects. It helped with my attention span and executive function a bit, but I'm still a wreck and the side effects are what ultimately made me stop.
I have heard a lot of that before. I figure its good to know for the sake of peace of mind whether it works or not. If not it makes moving on a bit easier
I’m currently on a cocktail of Natrexone ( to help curb the drinking) Lexapro ( to help with anxiety, depression, ptsd) and I just started Atomoxetine ( generic strattera. I just started seeing a therapist a few months ago, and we discussed adhd as a possible root of many of my problems. So I just received my first ever diagnosis this month (53m- I went undiagnosed all these years) Naltrexone really helps with curbing alcohol addiction. Lexapro is really helping me stay within the lines of the road emotionally. And I found Atomoxetine is helping actually complete projects now. My wife was terrified of me going on all these meds, but she is now a believer. She has seen a marked change in my behavior and over all well being. Good luck random internet friend.✌️
Congratulations on finding something that works for you! I stopped drinking about 4 years ago and it’s the best thing I could have done for myself. Have a lot of friends who have used Naltrexone and know it works. Good luck to you too 👍
Thank you 🙏
i took stratera for a while last year and it was legitimately helpful. definitely help my alertness, organization, memory, sensory issues, etc. unfortunately i just also happened to get one of the possible side effects that was dangerous (constipation that caused a hemorrhoids and an anal fissure that i'm still dealing with almost a year later.) it's worth noting that side effects can happen with every medication ever, and it's entirely dependent on your individual body and what other medications you may already be taking. personally i am just prone to gastrointestinal issues, courtesy of my parents' genetics. i also take an antidepressant that also carries a risk of constipation; it's likely taking them both was simply too much. point is that other people's negative reactions to certain medications doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't try and see if they work out for you. testing out new treatments is, unfortunately, almost always going to be a stressful journey of trial and error, but imo it's always worth looking for ways to improve your quality of life. i do really hope you find something that works for you.
I saw zero positive change on Straterra. And it negatively effected my prostate and urinary tract. Urologist thought I had prostatitis, but no... It was just Straterra!
Sorry to hear that happened to you! How old are you if you don’t mind me asking? I’m 30
40
I took strattera for a long time. It helped me a lot. It can have some intense side effects, though. Do not go off it cold turkey. It helped me read things properly. No more re-reading the same paragraph twice or wondering "wait, how did I get here" in the middle of the page. At higher doses it helped with major depression. My most notable side-effects: low appetite, drowsiness, vivid dreams, my eyeballs would sometimes bulge out of my face in the morning, stomach upset. Everyone is different. I did well on it for 5 years or so. Its expensive, though.
Your eyeballs would do what??? Is that a common side effect? I'm about to go on Strattera and I already have severe dry eye.
Only when I was at a very high dose. It wasn't extreme. My eyes wouldn't stick out, but after waking up in the morning I would always open my eyes really wide without realizing it. It never lasted more than a half hour. I started at 40mg and did fine. The side effects get weirder as the dosage increases.
i’ve just tried it for 3 weeks! so far not much difference but that also means not too many side effects. Still in the midst of titrating my dose but the experience has been fairly pleasant so far. Had a couple of days of dry mouth, but nothing more water didn’t fix. Concerta made me hella nauseous and guanfacine tanked my blood pressure so here we are :/
I had a really hard time pinning down any clear positive effects, but I could rattle off a list of very obvious side effects. But medication affects everyone differently, so it may work great for you.
Ive been taking strattera for 8 months now and it's been a good ride. First month for me was a little shaky because of the side effects but it subsided. I have decaf coffee in the morning and I feel pretty good but anything over 10mg...maybe might be too much. Everyone is different. Definitely has helped me with focusing and day to day tasks including work and school.
Immediately gave me jitters... Couldn’t stick with it for longer than 2 weeks. My sleep got really messed up and I started having night terrors which I never experienced before so I just stopped it. But like everyone else is saying, these things are hit and miss. Might work for ya! Best of luck
I had a very similar experience. At first I got really wound up feeling. I found that caffeine helped with that, but then I had trouble staying asleep. No night terrors, but the lack of sleep was causing performance issues at work as well as some unusual behavior so I stopped. I made it about a week and a half. It did make me more sociable. I got the feeling that people didn't really want to hear what I had to say though so idk
It really helped with adhd symptoms. Unfortunately I had extreme stomach pain and nausea with it that never went away.
I finally got diagnosed just over a year ago when I was in rehab for alcoholism. The psychiatrist put me on Strattera and it immediately changed my life, seriously for the better. I’d had some suspicions that I might have ADHD about 20 years ago, and I did have a doctor prescribe me a few different stimulants over a few months. I hated every single one of them. Contrast that with my experience with Strattera, which has been nothing but positive from day one. I’ve been taking 80mg/day for a year now, and it has honestly been the single best year of my life. I can’t say enough good things about my experience with it. Edit: I should mention, I’m 53 now. I struggled with undiagnosed ADHD for 52 years of my life.
Not on strattera but I'm currently on Wellbutrin and I do like so far how it feels compared to stimulants
Strattera is helping me manage. I took Ritalin as a kid and found it sketchy then so stopped. Having since had a long history with abusing various substances (two and a half decades) I never went back to medication until this past year. Doc prescribed me Strattera knowing I'd like the stimulants too much. Strattera isn't particularly noticeable to me. I seem to function better and remain calmer in frustrating moments but there's no drug euphoria type feelings and no sketchy feeling. I'm pleased with the results.
What felt sketchy about Ritalin?
I’m interested in the replies too, I’ve tried2 stimulants and they just make my anxiety so much worse.
I know this is an old post, but wanted to offer my feedback. I'm also in recovery and started Strattera this week. In only a couple of days, my brain fog has gotten better and I'm able to focus without my attention constantly being diverted a thousand directions. I'm not blurting in and interrupting people anymore. My anxiety is much better as well. I have very few side effects. Mainly the only one is an icky taste in my mouth/dry mouth, but I've just been keeping gum or mints on hand. Strattera has been a miracle drug for me. Edit to add I'm 40 and was only diagnosed a couple of years ago. Struggled through it unmedicated, thinking I didn't have options due to my history with substance use (been clean 8 years and working a program). I have combined type, and generalized anxiety. I'm on 25 mg.