Hi,
 My doc mentioned strattera to me last time I saw her. I have found my AD/HD is causing me bigger problems than my depression these days. I am taking a lot of good natural health care products, many which are known to help with AD/HD, but I have not seen much results yet. I thought back to when I was on Ritalin. I will not go back on that...but, I saw results. I painted my room and it took me only a few days to do all the painting, spunging etc...this time I sarted painting my room just after xmas...and it is still not totally finished! It has become such a pain in the a**. My room is always a disaster...as is my desk at work. I am doing NOTHING lately. I have so my unfinished projects etc. I don't go out. I just feel so lazy.
 I don't know. I worry about meds...what I was thinking was going off effexor, staying on wellbutrin, and adding strattera. Anyone have any experiance?
Misfit

Strattera


Strattera side effects

The 'Other Meds' forum usually will have some type of  information.

Here's some of the low down on it from crazymeds.org, which is not your usual conservative med site. But I like the way Jerod tells it like it is.    :;):  (sometimes)

:)  ~Lindsay, FA

Strattera is working for me so far.

Had to go off it...reacted terribly with my body :(
Well I tried...
Misfit

I am not easy with the level of understanding available about medications.  

I have had good luck with Zoloft 75.  However, I still suffered more than 60% of days with Funk.  Funk is what I call the anguish of morning without a reason or emotion.  I get severe funk for a while after taking extra zoloft.  I have taken extra 50mg of zoloft because it gives me erectile superpowers.  I have needed superpowers because Strattera causes disfunction.  I am optimistic.  However, because Strattera and Adderall cures funk.  It is maraculous.  

I still struggle with mental performance.  However, one of the most obvious signs of my struggles has diminished.  The irregular cadence of speach and reading.

I am keeping good notes because, my experience does not support the verbage from the medical professionals and the pill makers.  I hope that someday somebody can pin this down.

I don't understand ADD yet but I sure everyone who wants a disorder could have it and get medicine for it.

QUOTE

I don't understand ADD yet but I sure everyone who wants a disorder could have it and get medicine for it.

  ???

That's an interesting statement. Could you explain what you mean by that? I can't imagine anyone WANTING to have ADD ... I certainly don't. I guess if you just want drugs you could fake it, is that what you mean? I sure hope we're not endorsing that kind of idiocy ...

Works for my kid. He does wake up a lot at night and occasionally has problems with tics, but it's likely that isn't from the Straterra. It keeps him sane. I'm so grateful for it.

Im currently taking it and after a while it doesent work as well as it did the first time.

Me either.. man. ADD has made everything I do 10 times harder in life. When people find out you have ADD they think you are retarded, not realizing some of the most intelligent people in history show examples of having it.

Would I like to be less intelligent but have more focus on relationships, work etc? Absolutely. So.. to the person who said the original post.. get real.

I think that person's comment was a typical stereotypical media hype thought, that AD/HD isn't real. Yeah many people have the symptoms, but it's 100 times different when you REALLY have it. ANd yeah, I would LOVE to not have it...but it's reality for me too. I don't think they ever replied to Elfie anyway. I hear you, I wish I could just be me without the ADD.
Misfit

I agree misfit. Goofy's comment was very ignorant and insensitive. I have adhs and anxiety disorder. One of my teachers described me as like a nuclear reactor: constant energy. I would love to sit still and concentrate on 1 thing at a time. I can't. I have to do 2 or 3 things at the same time.

"I don't understand ADD yet but I sure everyone who wants a disorder could have it and get medicine for it."

Why on earth would you make such a comment?! No one chooses to have ADD. My son has ADD and believe me he would love to not have to take meds. However, they help him function in society.
Don't make such drastic comments about things you don't understand.

stratera made my heart race. it wore me out. it felt more like speed than add meds. If you ask me add meds only increase anxiety and depression. it is better to begin training your mind if it is at all possible, instead of using a crutch. But then, if a realy good med comes along that works for you, go for it!

been on strattera for about a year now, works alright for me. Doesn't seem to have enough kick though, not really sure if it's working all that well.

I was on Wellbutrin XL and Lexapro, then my Dr threw Strattera into the mix, and i freaked. brought out all kinds of aggression that i was controlling rather well. I want to try it without the other drugs.

This post has been edited by Wharpoley: Sep 6 2006, 02:49 PM

does anyone else have more to add about this drug? I am currently on wellbutrin which seems to be helping but not entirely , plus it has the added 'benefit' of increasing my anxiety which i dont need. I have read that strattera can actually decease anxiety ??

i spoke to my doc today and she said that strattera and welb are not a good mix. She increased my wellb does and decreased my ssri and wants to see me in a month or two. Not officially add but doc says int not out of the question as my symptoms of anxiety depression and add overlap. I think i have finally found what has been troubling me for so long ... i found the monkey;)

What are conditions are you trying to battle, and what meds have you taken, and what meds are you on now?

I have depression and anxiety but after a bit bit of time and may ssri failures I dont think that serotonin is the problem. I think all this may have been casue by undetected add and discussed it with my doc who said it a possibility. So we are going to pursue that treatment and see how i feel. I am on 300 mg of wellb sr and 25 mg of zoloft for a month and then i will drop it... was on 50 mgs but never felt very good at all. Made me brain dead and numb.

-S

Lol I love the low down on the drug, its hilarious!

I did not care for Straterra. I felt nervous...not productive.

My daughter first started with Ritalin, but last only a couple of weeks due to weight loss. I also didn't like her taking it for the fact that its sold on the streets. I know many drugs are sold like that, but my daughter taking one.... I felt very uncomfortable. Anyway, they put her on Strattera. It worked mircacles for her. She didn't have the "hyper" disorder but the concentrating was awful. She was doing very poorly in reading and writing. She could read very well but couldn't remember anything she read. Everything distracted her. And then, I think, she got to the point (because of doing so poorly in school) that she concentrated so hard on the words that she didn't remember what she was reading. The Strattera helped her immeidatly. Her grades went up and she was able to get over that hurdle. She hasn't taken it in years now. For her, Strattera was a miracle drug!!!

And, just to add to other comments above, ADD is a horrible disease! It is no laughing matter and I wouldn't wish it on anyone! It is awful what children and adults go through before being treated for this disease! Thinking back to when I was a child, I suffered the same problems as my daughter, but ADD wasn't a well known disease back then. I struggled through school and because of that, did not even think about going to college.

Best wishes,
Lost in the Past

Just my 2 cents.

I had very scary side effect w/ Strattera. One night (after being on a very low dose for 1-2 weeks and then being on a little higher dose for about a week - sorry I don't remember the doses), just sitting on the couch talking to my boyfriend, I just all of a sudden felt like my throat was all tight and I finally had to tell my boyfriend I didn't feel right and had to lay down and when I did I was so so scared (as was my boyfriend) b/c I turned really white, was all sweaty, then turned greenish (my boyfriend said), was all shaky. I was just fighting and fighting not to pass out completely b/c I thought I would die if I did; I just felt like my blood pressure/heart were all out of whack; like I felt my neck all tight as though I had high blood pressure, but obviously it was low if I was all faint and barely able to keep from passing out. I felt like my heart was beating fast, but very weakly.

My boyfriend was right about to scoop me up and bring me to the emergency room when I was finally able to take a deep enough breath to start to recover. It was a really, really scary experience. He said I was like that, all green and shaky and not breathing hardly and sweating all over for about 25 minutes. Mind you, I wasn't even DOING anything (like exercising or suddenly standing up or whatever) to change my blood pressure/heart rate -- this episode just came out of the blue.

I did have a nicotine patch on at the time, so maybe had to do w/ that, but when I called my psychiatrist and told him about it, he took me off the med immediately b/c it was not even worth it to risk that kind of reaction.

I guess for people taking this, or if their kids are on it, make sure they know to tell you/doc if they have anything like this happen.

I've tried strattera. I was on it for 5 or so weeks. I went off because of side effects, specifically horrible headaches. My symptoms seem to be more on the atypical side, though. It has worked well for several people that I know.

Hi all, I am a new user and I need some advice -if anyone has the time to help!

I am a 31yr old male, for years I have been attending doctors with concentration related problems, I feared everything from MS to my grandads dementia!!! It sounds funny now, but I spent a lot of years worrying about my "cloudy" mind. I have been to several neurologists who have ruled out organic brain illness by MRI and other tests. I went to a Neuropsychologist who said my memory was fine, the info was there, it just took me a little longer than others to access it.
Anyway, my neurologist told me that concentration is my problem, not really my memory. He hasn't said yet that I have ADD but reading the symptom list was like reading my life story. He put me on amytriptyline- a very low dose- to focus my mind, but it caused hair loss (which is a highlighted side effect noted by the amercian hair loss association). Anyway, it wasn't helping after two months, so i discontinued. I need to know a few things from those who already have an ADD diagnosis before I go to my neurologist and talk about more fitting medication.
So, before my questions, here are some facts, and I am wondering if they are familiar to any of you:

I find it impossible to concentrate on any one task- it takes me five attempts to finish washing the dishes simply because as i think of something new to do, I just go and do it- then get upset with myself for not finishing task "A".
Since school days, I have found it hard to read as my eyes keep skipping from one line to the next.
I was always in dreamland at school. I was never troublesome, or hyperactive. Quite the opposite. I did ok in my exams, but I was never switched on in class and easily distracted, like within seconds. That has continued to this day.
I am very creative musically, an ideas person, but I have had three jobs in five years and I always start off well and then become inconsistent and forget taks-much to the frustration of my colleagues.
If I had a task to fulfil involving 5 steps, I would occasionally omit steps 2 or 3 or 4...interchangeably.
If I am writing on my computer and someone speaks to me, I often write the words they are saying or perhaps words that I hear on the tv in the background rather than the word(s) I intended.
When someone is speaking to me, i am totally conscious that I am not listening to them, my mind is drifting away and i have to intensely concentrate to take in what they say- but this usually doesn't work.
My writing is appalling. It wasn't always, but when I was about 18 it started to decline.
My biggest problem is my short term memory. Recalling anything from names to plans, to personal info about friends to plots of movies I have already seen.
I don't have many close friends, but loads of acquaintances, usually the people I work with and a few from childhood who I rarely see. I find it hard to develop close friendships as I never quite relax in my own skin or surroundings and I often choose just to stay in. I don't like change or things being sprung on me.
I don't have confidence but many would perceive me as being very confident, its like playing a role to me or something.
That said I can be impulsive and sometimes I feel free, liberated and secure, but this might only last hours and come crashing to an end when I embarrassingly forget someone's name in front of them or forget general knowledge or screw up a basic math problem-like really basic.
ARE THESE INDICITIVE OF AAD???

There are probably loads more things I could write, but I don't want you to stop reading, switch off or move onto your next task, so I'll stop, ha ha ha.

Anyway, my question is, I have some things that I haven't seen written as part of the ADD symptom list, do any of you empathise with these?
I have noticed INCREASING problems with speech, like word finding problems and sloppy pronunciation, poor layed out sentences. Now I haven't always been like this. This has only been apparent for a few years, it's like I am becoming less articulate.
I am starting to spell written words phonetically, I mean I usually notice it and correct it, but its annoying and makes me look thick.
Sometimes I throw the wrong word into a sentence, like a word phonetically similar to the one I want or I read the wrong word in a sentence and laugh thinking its wrong not me, until I re-read.

Does any of this make sense to you? Sorry for the long mail, I am really trying to learn as much about myself as possible as in the absence of organic brain signs I don't think a doctor will take me too seriously. So, I need to know from all you good people if my symptoms are similar to what you've experienced??

Thank you so much for reading..

Irish Guy
x

my doc tried me on straterra before adderall, and it did NOTHING. it didn't give me side effects, or good effects, just plain nothing. i could have been taking a sugar pill for all it mattered.

adderall xr has been my wonder drug. the fact that it is abused by some people doesn't deter me, because i take such a low dose compared to people who use it to get high that there's no way possible i'd have that happen. i am aware of physical dependency, and do believe i have it to an extent, but since i'm going to be on it for the rest of my life, who cares?

I've been on Strattera for less than a month. I have the usual side effects: dry mouth, lucid dreams, decreased appetite. I solve the dry mouth by drinking water more frequently and I chew sugar-free gum. I love the fact that I have decreased appetite. And I enjoy the lucid dreams. I usually have problems retrieving correct words but now it has gone worst. As of now, I'm just enjoying the calmer and less impulsive side of me. I'm wondering though if this is all the benefit I get, is Strattera still worth the taking, I mean, considering the hefty price tag? I was hoping my brain could be more reliable and not be so lost most of the time.

Irish guy said:
"I have noticed INCREASING problems with speech, like word finding problems and sloppy pronunciation, poor layed out sentences. Now I haven't always been like this. This has only been apparent for a few years, it's like I am becoming less articulate.
I am starting to spell written words phonetically, I mean I usually notice it and correct it, but its annoying and makes me look thick.
Sometimes I throw the wrong word into a sentence, like a word phonetically similar to the one I want or I read the wrong word in a sentence and laugh thinking its wrong not me, until I re-read."

I think Strattera is making you less impulsive so now you're noticing every action you're doing like: how you compose a sentence, or how you spell a word. Maybe, before you were in Strattera you were making all these usual mistakes in grammar, pronunciation etc. but you just didn't notice them because you were impulsive and so fast paced. I'm in my fourth week on Strattera and I notice the same problem you mentioned and this has been my theory. Too bad, I have lots of paper works from school right now and I can't afford this problem. Anyway, since I'm still in the early stages, it will be too early to quit on Strattera. I want this drug to work so I'm giving it a chance for at least four months.

Is there anyone here that was previously taking a med just for ADD, but was able to discontinue taking that med because they started taking a straight antidepressant (Wellbutrin)?

Let me be honest and say there is a HUGE stigma in my family about 1) depression and 2) taking medication for it, and so I have avoided considering taking any med strictly for depression up until now. I was on Adderall XR for about a year. When I first started taking it I felt instant euphoria. After about 8 months the drug only made me feel anxious and unable to sleep at night. So I stopped.

I'm starting a new job and terrified by it and I want SOMETHING to help me deal with the depression and lack of motivation... any ideas? Please reply.

The wellbuturin i heard works well for most. You will do great at your new job just rember to breathe take an half hour to yourself if you get breaks do some deep breathing or drink tea whstever relaxeses ya..

Don't know if 'Irish Guy' is still around.
Here's my story for anyone that's interested: I apologize in advance if this seems very disjointed but I am suffering from a total lack of concentration and focus and thoughts and ideas are coming out of my head in bursts!

Grew up being told I was stupid and ugly by my dear dad (bless him). My concentration was awful and I was a real underachiever at school. I didn't get to university like I'd hoped and so flitted around jobs and found the only thing I could do and do well which was singing. A different venue each night kept my interest up. Although remembering lyrics was terrible so I always carried (and still do) a song book.

Pain and depression became a constant unwelcome companion back home in England and eventually at the age of 30 I approached my family doctor with something I'd read about called Fibromyalgia and was told that it was the 'yuppy flu' and all in my mind. I moved to America in 2000 and the pain came back big time. I saw a doctor here and was instantly diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Great, now what!?? I was put on Wellbutrin and apart from the occasional FM flare up seemed okay, but the concentration, word fog, and inability to do a good job at work persevered. In 2008 the 'new' family doctor told me I should get off the Wellbutrin as it was addictive and not doing me any good.

About a month ago I decided to put some ghosts to rest and see a counsellor about the damage dear old daddy did to me (low self esteem, looking on the black side all the time). This guy (why are psychoanalysts/psychiatrists all so stereotypical?) sent me somewhere else to check for ADD or bipolar disorder. It would appear that I'm ADD (certainly a lot of the symptoms are very familiar to me but then they're also similar to Fibromyalgia symptoms).

I was put on Straterra a week ago at a low dosage to start (25g). I have noticed a runny nose, lack of appetite and very spaced out feeling from the get go. I'm supposed to increase the dosage tomorrow to 40g before going back to give an update on what's going on in a week's time. Saw the GP last night because I have a frozen shoulder we are investigating and he said Straterra was not good to be on, that it was addictive and wouldn't help my depression and advised Cymbalta instead. What on earth??!?!?!?!? I feel like I don't know my arse from my elbow now!

All I want is to be able to concentrate and focus on my job. To be able to read a book without the words all jumbling up on the page. With unemployment as high as it is I don't want to lose my job and I'm feeling because I'm not putting in 100% that could very much be the case if I'm not careful.

I've managed to get through my life with a lot of B.S. and a wicked sense of humor. I'm not thick by any means but this ADD/Fibromyalgia or whatever it is certainly makes me look as dumb as a rock! I just felt it was time to get to the bottom of this and realize some potential!

... oh well, just needed to vent.

Thanks for listening/reading...

I know what you mean about wanting to do well at work. I've been having a terrible time getting motivated. My doctor is going to give me a prescription for Strattera today (for my depression), which I'll take along with the 60mgs of Cymbalta that I'm on (which doesn't appear to be doing anything!) I'll let you all know if it helps at all.

I was really constipated all the time and drank that Miralax stuff almost every morning so I could poop. Miralax works really well and feels completely natural.

I just got off Staterra b/c we're thinking about starting a family and it was HELL. It really was the worst thing I've ever had to withdrawl from. I am now getting on Pristiq which is a sister droug of Effexor and is supposed to work better on ADHD than Effexor. After six weeks of being completely off Straterra, I was so depressed that I locked myself in the bathroom a few times and couldn't stop crying. This Pritiq is supposed to help me be able to be happy and focus again so I can go back and finally get my graduate degree.

My self esteem is really suffering and I have always had a huge complex about my academic ability. I have learned how to control my impulse to get overwhelmed and listen carefully for key concepts and make notes of those and not get wrapped up in minute details all the time.

I AM going to reach my goal of becoming a general practitioner no matter what though. I don't care if I have to work twice as hard as others D***it. I have to write everything down and put post it notes all over the house and record some lectures and rewrite my notes a lot and highlight the hell out of what I read. It will probably make me a great doctor and great with relating to people once the hard work is done....and I'll have great business ideas since I'm really creative!

I tried it when it was first introduced, and it only made me feel "weird". Adderall is the only thing that has ever helped me.