A lot of posts on the negatives of Strattera recently. :(

Please share with us your successes of taking Strattera.

- What dosage works for you?

- What was your titration (dosage path; i.e. 10mg to 18mg to 25mg)and how long to reach your target dosage?

- What was the single most benefit of taking Strattera?

* Please do not post anything negative. As moderator, I will edit the content or remove the post.

wow...where to start....so much good, so little bad...as far as I can tell.

Dosage wise: We're still figuring that one out. I'm part of a Strattera study (quickest way to get in to see the best ADD experts around, and a good way of getting free meds for 6 months :) ) It's working well so far. Right now, I'm at 40mg, starting at 25mg for one week, then 40, and I find out what we up it to tomorrow. Still haven't figured out target dosage, but we will.

There's so many benefits to Strattera for me. I can follow through on a single thought at a time. I get things done. I'm more organized, from my writing to using an agenda, something I simply couldn't do before the drug. I'm basically a different person. I can focus during workouts, I can take notes in lecture. To my parents, I sound like a happier, more focused, more content version of ME on the phone. I haven't changed who I am, just worked out the kinks that made "me" not work so well in many situations, mainly school.

Oh ya, since Strattera, I've lost at least 10 lbs, and I went from Academic Probation to "on my way to the ****ing Dean's List"...in one semester. 2 of my favourites. 2 more quick things: I drink less coffee, and I can kinda tell when girls hit on me.

Strattera makes me a better version of me, not a zombie, and that's why I choose to use it.

Thank God for this thread, thank you Tim!! I have started on Strattera almost 3 weeks ago and am up to 60mg, started at 25, then to 50. I am to stay on 60 throughout this month til I go back to the doc on Nov. 11. Then I find out what and when. To date, I haven't really noticed any change in myself.
When I first started I had some nasty side effects, but they have basically said ciao at this point. I just can't wait for something positive to happen in which i will feel better. I do know it may take awhile, but I am more than willing to give this a chance! I hope to reply back to this thread at some point with positive results.
Thanks again for this...it means a lot!
Donna

I started on Strattera June 16, 2005. 1st week - 25mg 2nd week 40 mg 3rd week 60 mg and ever since. I have a medication checkup Dec. 4. My doctor believes 60 mg is the optimum dosage.

My adjustment was smooth. The side affects were mild as listed. About the 3rd week I felt the medication was losing its affectiveness around late afternoon. I take it first thing in the morning. But the bottoming out effect only lasted for a little while, maybe a week or so and not every day. Since then I have had a steady sense of support with my concentration, and over- all sense of energy, and I have just felt good throughout the day. day.

Main benefits: concentration; better toleration with frustration; steady energy throughout the day instead of some ups and downs for no reason, especially when I have to give presentations; overall feeling better in my skin, instead of what some people thought was some feelings of depression in me, but I viewed as quite differently--more just not feeling well at times. That is gone. I haven't felt this good my whole life--51 years.

An interesting, couple surprising benefits: I used to endure going down waterslides, like I had to brace myself the whole way down; now I enjoy every turn it takes with no compulsion to control the experience. This serves as a metaphor for how life has changed for me in general. I also have had a lifelong fear of heights that seems to be much more moderate.

Tedd

I started out at 40 mg for a week and then 60 mg the second week. Then an insurance snafu caused me to switch to Ritalin for a week, then a week off meds, then a new doctor. After that I was on 40 mg in the morning for 6 weeks. I noticed a drop in effectiveness in the afternoon when it seemed to wear off. So just the other day I switched to 2, 25 mg pills. The single 25 mg morning pill gave noticeably less positive effects. So I'm moving towards taking the pills together.

Strattera definitely helps me focus. I was newly diagnosed with adult ADD at 32. So I did not have much of a meds history. The main benefit is staying on task. I listen much better to people. I can walk into another room and not forget why I went there. I complete tasks like organizing and cleaning, a little better. There is not so much chatter in my head. The change is amazing. Though I'm not perfect, and no medicine will ever make anyone perfect. I quit all caffiene also. Starterra gives me some energy for about 6 hours. Mixing it with coffee made me too jittery. I also noticed that the caffiene decreased some of the positive effects of Strattera.

One of the reasons I upped my dose was to try to get more of an effect. The 40 mg gave me definite positive effects within 3-4 days of taking it. 60 mg gave me unacceptable urinary side effects. Almost all of my side effects went away after 3 weeks on 40 mg. I think slowly bumping my dose up over a matter of months with prevent the side effects from coming back.

My life was a horror. After 23 years of being married, 2 kids in college, I got the news that it was over. I ststed therapy and was prescribed Strattera. It was a while ago, but I think it was 25 for a few days, 40 for a couple of weeks and now I have been on 60mg ever since.
I'm going to celebrate my 25th anniversary on March 15th, 1 kid out of college and working (YAY!) and one finishing her junior year in college.
I am at a new job after 10 years with another company, and I don't feel stupid, can concentrate better and things are all around much better.
I have never been good with spreadsheets, reading #'s and stuff like that. When I meet with the Executive team quarterly for 2 off-site full days, I double up to 120mg.
It really helps. As a matter of fact, I am going to go back to the Dr. and see if it is OK to up my mg.
I'm 52 and had a heart attack at 42. So when I was diagnosed I was put on Strattera because it was a non-stimulant.
So far it is great.

WOW!

Thank you all so VERY much for this positive postings about Strattera!
I had to wait a while but in 3 days now I will get my first Strattera.

I was very doubtfull because of all the bad news I read.
But after trying so many other meds, and nothing worked,
I wanted to try it anyway.
Thanks to your positive postings about Strattera it gives me hope again!

I can't wait to start!

Thanks again!!!:D

I started out on 40 mg about 3 1/2 months ago, and my dossage has not changed. My doctor told me not to expect any noticeble effects for a couple of weeks, possibly up to 6 weeks. After 5 days on the stuff, my work productivity increased by 25%-30%, and my work accuracy increased significantly. I have to keep track of what I work on, how long I spend on it, and such details. My job log for one day was typically 1 full page per day. It went to 1 1/4 to sometimes 2 pages per day, with much fewer revisions necessary.

I used to always feel anxious and confused about what I was doing unless I had a procedure memorized. Then I would go through the work mechanically without taking into account any exceptions for a paricular job, which always come up. I now feel like clockwork when I do my job. I always know what the next step is to be taken, and work through a job without a hundred small (or large) pauses to regain my bearings. I cant believe that the rest of the world has always felt like this. It blows my mind to think what I could have done with my life if I had ever done homework in school, or bothered to read a book all the way through.

I had some nauseousness in the begining, and I keep a jar of peanuts in my desk and eat a handfull whenever a wave hits me. My mouth was almost allways dry the first two months, so I sucked on cough drops frequently.

It has been a positive life changing event for me.

Thanks

As I understand it, it takes a little time for the full effects of this medication to kick in and the side effects to wear off?

Plan is 25mg for one week, 40 for week after that, 80 from that point forward.

Yesterday at dinner time, I took my first pill, and then one this morning. Here's what's happened so far:
1. Didn't sleep worth a cr*p! Took two 3 hour naps with a three hour wake period in between.
2. Mild to moderate nausea all night a good portion of today. (although I hear that fades with time?)
3. Definate decrease in sexual abilities
4. Somewhat dazed feeling during the day (but that might be attributed to the sleep)
5. Seemed to have good focus during the day, got a lot of work done at work, stuff I'd been dreading doing for a while because of the level of work.

So, at this time, I'd say, I'm mixed on what I think of it. I do seem to be able to concentrate a bit better. But I want to wait a few weeks to make up my mind on that.


Think I'll try to get some sleep when I get home from work.

I am wondering about the gender balance of the successful stories, I wish people had identified whether they were men or women...

Anyone?

So far the total is 6 males and one female. You can click on the member's name and choose View Public Profile.

The 6 males include myself.

Thanks for the tip re: the profile. Somewhere I read (on this forum? can't remember) that men seemed to do better with Strattera than women did.

Interesting!

I just started on Strattera yesterday. I noticed some of the same issues that wburgs (http://member.php?u=10082) was having.

1. I slept so bad last night. I kept waking up every hour or so.
2. Sexually I don't feel as interested.
3. I feel a bit calmer. Not so jittery. Last night when my girlfriend and I were watching tv I kept quite. Usually I start talking and she has to shut me up.
4. I feel better... I really hope this continues to get better.
5. Focus seems to be a bit better.

Hope this helps.

I was diagnosed last week with ADD after a series of IQ tests, Therapy sessions and a lengthy meeting with my General Practitioner. At 45, I have been experiencing all the symptoms mentioned on this forum:
Scattered thoughts, difficulty concentrating, edgy, impossible to stay on task and much more. It was almost as if my brain was a TV set and someone else had the remote control and just kept constantly switching channels. It was horrible.
I took my first dose of Strattera today, 40 mg. I thought it would take awhile (days) to get in my system but that has not been the case. Within 90 minutes I have experienced remarkable clarity.
My brain is on one channel and I am absolutely in control.
I haven't jumped out of my skin when my dog barks (noises have always driven me crazy).
Side effects are minimal, I extremely thirsty, no appetite and I hope I don't have trouble sleeping tonight.
It's remarkable. I never would have imagined being able to feel this way! I'm not rambling on when engaged in conversation, this is great :)

I will update in the next few days....

My twin sons, age 6.5, are both on Straterra. My doc told us that Straterra hardly ever works for kids but that she liked to try it first because it is a non-stimulant. We started low...can't remember exactly, but ended up with 25mg for each after about a month or so. The effect on them was amazing, they did better at school, they slept better, all was good.

This lasted for about a year and then one of my sons, Adam, started having issues with hyper stuff at school. That was new, before it was inattentive at school and hyper at home. We told our new doc and she switched him to concerta. After a dosage change or two the hyper issue stopped, but so did his attention. We waited about 2 months and then I insisted on going back to Straterra. Things are nearly back to normal (as close as we get to it anyway) now.

I love Straterra!

That 80mg dose is a bugger!

Very queezy!

Well, each rise in the dosage had a similar affect that eventually disappaited so I'll try this for another week or two.

The effects at 40mg seemed to be just fine, side effects disappeared after a few days. In fact, it's kinda weird, it doesn't feel like the medication is doing anything at all, yet, I'm much more productive at work and I seem to be remembering things much better? Subtle, yet somewhat effective.

Hello. I'm 18, male, approx 130 -140 lbs. I took my first strattera pill today (a measley 18MG to match my age), and in about an hour or so, felt kind of almost high. I felt slower, and very tired, but when I went to play my guitar, I noticed that everything I played was in order. Usually, when I play, I play 1/2 of a song, and then change my mind and play 1/2 of another song :P This was a little strange, but good. I didn't suddenly want to do my homework or anything, but I feel as if I did, it might be easier to finnish. I'm supposed to up my dose for the next 3 weeks from 18 - 25 - 40 Mg and see how each affects me.

Side Effects: A little queezy, not nauseous, but just a weird feeling in my gut, other than that, my head feels a tad off, like a drugged sort of tired. It almost is like that feeling you sometimes get when you hear very bad news that you were anticipating and its like your soul is falling behind your body. Like when a camera zooms in and moves away at the same time. Hard to explain really, but not a bad thing. :confused::faint: I hope it goes away though, I could see myself getting sick of that feeling.

I'm usually very unorganized so I hope one day to finally be able to use an organizer and pry my but out of this computer chair. At the moment my thoughts are slow and unorganized but everything seems to be coming more naturally to me now.

Anyways, if anyone knows if the being tired and dizzy wears off, please let me know.

Thanks!

I put my 6 year old son on the lowest dose of Strattera 10mg. At first I thought I had made a terrible mistake! He was EXHAUSTED! He fell asleep waiting for the bus and then fell asleep going down the slide at school! Right in the middle of play! I started giving it to him at night for that first week and saw quite an improvement in his behavior. So I gradually changed the times until it was in the a.m. again. His Sunday school teacher searched for me this Sunday and told me that he was doing so much better this week...not all over the place and he listened! I am waiting to see if his teacher contacts me. I haven't told anyone. I want to see if they come to me. I see a change at home. He is much more on task. I hope that I don't have to up the dosage. I love it how it is. He is still himself completely, just more focused. He laughs and smiles a lot and he is so proud that he is so good now. (he thinks it is allergy meds). I had to "sneak" because of the stigma of meds in my family...They don't want a child in their family "drugged". Yet they seem to like the "new" him.
It is too early to swear loyalty to Strattera, but so far so good.

Jen,

Glad to hear your son is seeing positive results with Strattera. The side effects you describe are very normal. I remember when I started, I would start yawning non-stop around 11:00am. I also switched to an evening dose and the side effects disappeared.

Our son (8 years old) is taking Ritalin SR and has improved dramatically. He is aware of his actions when he takes and when he doesn't take his medication. We tell him the medication helps him concentrate and sit still when he is in school and at home. We call it his concentration medicine. Since I take medication, we usually take it at the same time.

Sorry you have to hide the cause of your son's improved behavior. :( Overall, it's your choice as to what's best for him. Even if it includes taking medication. If you ever decide to share this information and you get negative comments, explain that it's no different that someone taking blood pressure or cholesterol medication. If they say they are dangerous, then share with them that 1000's of children and adults die per year by taking aspirin. Being in tune with your son's behavior will make the treatment plan safe.

Thanks for posting your son's success story and welcome to the forums. :D

I am so relieved at the support I get here. I will be telling my husband at the end of the week...pray for me

Hmm, im on my last 25 MG pill as we speak, and I don't notice a HUGE difference other than being a bit more sedated. My motivation is what I wanted to change most, and that doesn't seem to have changed at all. Reading is a bit easier, and things are falling into place a little better, but I dont know what to think. I think these pills are making my balls hurt :eyebrow:. And they make my pupils as big as cheech and chong in an acid facrory. Uhm. hmm ... I'm moving up to 40 MG tomorrow and HOPE to god that it makes a difference, after all this fun side effect junk. :P ...

To be honest, I think I'm feeling happier these days, but I dont know if I'm happier, or I care less. I'm less nervous in public which is good. This is sort of the beginning of a tale of success I feel. Kind of an update :P

Thanks,
-Bob

Hello. I'm 18, male, approx 130 -140 lbs. I took my first strattera pill today (a measley 18MG to match my age)
Don't worry about the dosage/age thing. If anything I'd be more concerned about the Age thing by itself. Some of the things I've read from the way that Straterra affects your sex drive and ability is a bit concerning, especially for an 18 year old male! The other issue I'd be concerned with is the growth potential, if your still growing, you might want to read the fine print.

and in about an hour or so, felt kind of almost high. I felt slower, and very tired, but when I went to play my guitar, I noticed that everything I played was in order. Usually, when I play, I play 1/2 of a song, and then change my mind and play 1/2 of another song :P This was a little strange, but good. I didn't suddenly want to do my homework or anything, but I feel as if I did, it might be easier to finnish. It is hard to explain isn't it. Like I said, it doesn't really feel like it's doing anyhting (aside from the weird side effects) yet work seems to be easier to do. It deffinately doesn't motivate you, but it is a lot easier to stay on track. As for tired, can't say it did that to me. It does keep me up at night if I take my pill later, and on one night with the 80mg dose the queeziness overtook me and I lost my dinner. Needless to say, I choose to take it down to the 40mg mark. That seems to do the best with the least amount of side effects.

Hard to explain really, but not a bad thing. :confused::faint: I hope it goes away though, I could see myself getting sick of that feeling.

Anyways, if anyone knows if the being tired and dizzy wears off, please let me know.
Definately hard to explain. But one thing I've noticed is that the drug seems to have a break in period (probably why they start off with a low dosage and slowly increase it). The side effects do dissapait with time, each day they will affect you less and less. However, if you stop taking it for the weekend and then start back up... The side effects do too. Probably why I got overcome with the 80mg dosage.

I put my 6 year old son on the lowest dose of Strattera 10mg. I don't know about using Strattera for small kids, I'd seriously consider reading the fine print first. There are reports of the way it affects height and weight growth as well as sexual development. Not stuff I'd be messing with in a 6 year old! Keep a close eye on his growth and make sure it's not affecting him! <img>

the strateera is working i have became alot calmer but it does make me tired i almost fall asleep in school does any body have any sugesstions


ps i live in england:)

Well, I haven't posted for awhile so I can respond to this without sounding like a Strattera sales rep!

I've been taking 40 mg of Staterra <-- and yep, I still can't spell it correctly half the time :D -- for 3 years now. My recommended dosage is between 50 and 60 mg, but I have found that 40 mg works just fine for me. I tried to go higher, but the side effects were too much. I have minimal side effects on 40 mg -- only persistent thirst, which I quench with a constant supply of water and Gatorade. I started taking Strattera to help me get through the torture of graduate school, but I found that I needed it in my professional career as well.

My overall memory, daily functioning, adaptability, focusing, and critical thinking skills are remarkably better than before I started taking the med. I am also much calmer, less anxious, and less impulsive. I tend to think before acting and plan out tasks instead of just going with the flow and often going down the path of inefficiency. This has helped me reduce the amount of mistakes I tend to make unmedicated and be aware of potential pitfalls that I have to avoid or work through; thus, helping me work much faster and efficiently. My true intelligence and potential are finally showing through, whereas before I was known as the family airhead and perpetual failure.

However, and this a big "however", I have found over the years that Strattera works best for me if I get 8 to 9 hours of sleep a day, no more, no less. With good solid sleep, I'm on top of my game. After a couple of days of sleep deprivation, I might as well not even take the pill.

Now and then, probably because of lack of sleep, when the med is not as effective, I have to revert back to my supply of compensatory strategies to deal with those ADHD symptoms. Fortunately for me, I've used them my entire life so I know what to do on those "off" days. Therefore, it is important to also learn those compensatory strategies as a back-up plan.

Although, I highly recommend Strattera, it is not for everyone. It works for some and not for others as with all the other medications out there. You also have to figure out which dosage works best for you: Too high and you get awful side effects (as with all drugs) -- too low and you don't get the benefits. In the end, it is worth trying but with the knowledge that it may or may not work for you.

Good luck to you all! :)

Tim,

I had some bad side effects but ain't here to rain on your parade.

Good stuff: Strattera effectively helped stabilize my moods while adjusting to stimulant meds. I simply do not need it any longer.

Bob

just started taking strattera today...after all the stories, success and otherwise, I seem to be starting on a lower dose than everyone else..18mg once a day for 2 weeks followed by an increase to 40mg starting on the 15th day. Noticed 3 things today...very thirsty, dry mouth, and not hungry, which is abnormal for me since i also have a compulsive eating disorder along with ADD. This is going to be interesting. PS when i did eat...my food had a strange taste, almost earthy...like dirt. Not going to hurt me any for sure. Anyone had a change in their tastebuds?

Nothin' yet in terms of positive effects. Quite hairy in terms of side effects. In some ways my ADHD symptoms are actually exacerbated - squirming like billy-o and spacing-out like there was no tomorrow. Forget getting anything productive done. Although I accept that much of this could be down to the abrupt way I finished off taking Effexor (venlafaxine) 10 days ago in my rush to get on Strattera. Should I just hang in there?

Captain, we have a deep space message here:

If you went off Effexor quickly that is probably the problem-it is nasty stuff unless you wean yourself very, very, slowly. I cannot say that enough. Tell you doc you are having probs, there should be something to help. 10 days is way too fast-I sufferered miserably and took much longer than that.

Let us know how you are doing.
RADD-take care of yourself.

I didn't exactly cold-turkey the effexor - I had been at 150 mg and managed to take myself down to 37.5 where I had been for a week, stopped completely for a day and then started up on the Strattera at 40 mg. I realise now that I should have done that more gently. I think gallons of water and long walks with the dog are in order. I guess the Strattera wont take effect for another couple of weeks ? In the meanwhile I'll just have to live in this disruption in the space-time continuum ...

I've been on Strattera 80 mg for over 2 months now and I have noticed significant improvement, as has my family. It took awhile to get here, but I like what I'm seeing. I can concentrate for longer periods of time, I can actually finish something I start, my mood isn't as up and down as it was before. I even seem to have more patience. My husband and friends have seen a change, as well. It's definitely not the "miracle" drug I was expecting, I haven't experienced a surge in energy or all of my symptoms disappearing, but it definitely has helped me cope with day-to-day issues. :)

Bunny0271. Thanks. It was really hairy there for a while & the switchover from effexor was obviously too drastic - several blow-out rows with friends & family, a car accident, run-ins with police officers, a bar-room brawl (!) (I mean, i'm 38, not 19) and then a subsequent shut-down and hibernation...

However, I seem to have turned some corner (It'll be four weeks on Strattera at 40 mg tomorrow) and i'm beginning to see how it could have a positive effect on my concentration and follow-through, although no real results yet. One thing I've noticed is that when I take the drug at about 9 am, it seems to wear off about 2pm.

Should I be upping the dose (& by how much)? taking a second tablet in the afternoon or just a bigger one in the morning? is there a slow release form?

The sex thing... is the total loss of sexual function a temporary thing ? someone please tell me yes ! if not, can it be remedied with viagra or something ?

No one has posted here in quite a while, so I don't know if anyone will read this, but I just have to say, I finally see what I've been waiting for with Strattera.

It's been almost three weeks since I started, and yesterday I finished the first book I've read right through in months. I don't feel different all day long, but I get little clues that something IS different. Shortly after I started the full dose (80mg), I came home from work one afternoon, put down my keys, and for the first time I could remember, felt GOOD after a full day of work. Not frazzled, not exhausted, not frustrated and irritated. I felt like going back out and enjoying the world.

Two days ago I made a last-minute decision to fly out and visit my husband for a week (he works in a different city). I bought a next-day ticket, worked late to tie up all the loose ends there, came home and packed up, and made it out the door on time at 4:30AM to get to the airport. Instead of almost missing my flight (the usual routine), I got there so early I got an upgrade to business class! When I arrived, I was calm and composed, had a great day with my husband, and we even went out to the night market the same day. In the past, I would have been an overstimulated zombie for at least the rest of that day.

I don't want to be a dizzy cheerleader for this drug-- I know it doesn't work for everyone. But I'm happy to be part of the 60% my doc says it works for. The side effects I had at first (tiredness, headache, vertigo, heart palpitations, stomach upset, "brain tingling", waking up in a sweat)-- have all gone away. I take it all at night and I'm refreshed and perky by morning. BTW, it's the only medication I take.

Like other people have said here, Strattera won't make you a tornado of energy. You have to plan your day and set your goals to get things done. I still have to push myself. But it gives me the patience and focus to get things done when I sit down to do them. -- Without that feeling of cold dread I used to get when I had to do something I didn't like much, or that I knew was going to be difficult.

Best of luck and my encouragement to anyone else who gives this a shot!

Strattera won't make you a tornado of energy! Exactly! Beautifully put! :)

I'm pretty happy with Strattera as well!

For me Strattera is not 100% effective, but neither were the stimulants I took. Stimulant's feel like an ADD band-aid to me, and Strattera feels more like an ADD medicine. Both can help tremendously, but they help in very different ways.

Strattera's effect is nothing like the effect one gets with stimulants! Strattera's effect is more subtle, but the positive attributes it creates when it does what it is suppose to do is quite substantial. If you have taken stimulants in the past and are expecting a somewhat similar feeling that you got when taking the stimulants, you will likely be disappointed.

Strattera won't push you along (Or make you a tornado of energy! :) ) so that you get an enormous amount of things done like the stimulant's do. Strattera will simply make you feel "Normal"! Sort of like your best non-ADD day when everything came together and worked out well and you didn't get bogged down or side-tracked, and you finished everything on time! I could see how some people might think that Strattera isn't working for them, especially since it takes a while to reach a proper therapeutic dose, but work it does, if given enough time.

I'm going to come back and post in this thread later after I get over this terrible sinus infection that I have been suffering from for well over 6 months and share some of my experiences and the positive attributes I have noticed while on Strattera, but I need to get over this sinus problem before I can accurately gage Strattera's effectiveness!

So this is just a partial report from me for right now. I'll write more later on when I am feeling better! :D

Peace! :)

I was diagnosed with ADD about a month and a half ago, and started on strattera a little over a month ago. The first week was pretty rough: nausea, lethargy and tiredness, sleeplessness if I took it in the afternoon, and I would forget where I was going with a story often (i.e. would be talking about something, then forget what I was talking about right in the middle of a sentence). However, the first day I noticed an improvement in my symptoms. The second and third weeks were wonderful, and I felt the best I think I ever have in my life. For the first time I was able to concentrate on a lecture and finish a task without going off on twenty tangents-not to mention the fact that homework took half as long as it used to. However, the past week or so I have noticed that the drug doesn't seem to be working at all, even right after I take it. I still have some mild side effects, but it seems like my ADD symptoms are worse than they were before. I am very easily frustrated and can't concentrate on anything, just like old times. I am on 60mg, started the first week on 40. I see my doctor (PA, not psychologist) this week, and may ask to go up to 80 mg or maybe some combination of lower dose pills to see if I can get the good effects back. I am beginning to remember how hard college was; I went through 4 years of engineering school thinking I had a learning disability or something, and in a matter of weeks was doing 20+ points better than average on tests. I hope I can get this figured out, because school with ADD was hell!

However, the past week or so I have noticed that the drug doesn't seem to be working at all, even right after I take it. I have read on our ADD forums that medications that raise one neurotransmitter (i.e. Strattera and Norepinephrine) will often cause other neurotransmitters (i.e. Serotonin and Dopamine) to lower (Sort of a see-saw effect). I don't know for a fact that this neurotransmitter see-saw effect really does occur (Or not) with these medications since I've only seen it mentioned here on our forums and personally I haven't yet seen any documented case studies proving it really occurs.

However, it does make me wonder if this might be what you are experiencing.

It's only a coincidence that I just got done reading a different thread about this neurotransmitter see-saw effect and then read your recent post HiPower (In case you are wondering how I came up with this thought). :)

Peace! :)

I understand what you're saying now, HiPower. I just went through three days where I could swear someone took the Strattera out of my Strattera pills. I was taking my nighttime 80mg just like before and the other morning I was getting ready and my husband starting joking around and harassing me. I flipped out and threw him out of the room! Since the strattera started to work so well I never had such uncontrolled irritability. I spent the next couple of days losing things, getting overwhelmed by daily annoyances like traffic and crowds, and struggling to read the book that I had been coming along fine on.

It seems to be better. Not like my best days but good again. I'm racking my brain about what happened. I had started weight training again around that time. Could tiredness from exercise do it? Also, when I lift weights I take a protein supplement and a creatine supplement after to keep from getting sore. I researched the effects of the stuff and checked for funny ingredients, but I couldn't find anything that should cancel out strattera. I've quit lifting and the supplements, but maybe that wasn't the best idea to do so fast. I need to get back to exercising. It probably doesn't help to keep changing my habits when I'm trying to find out what causes what.

Hope you're on the upside again HiPower. Maybe there are just ups and downs after we start this stuff. I'm hoping for it to level out-- I really don't want to move on to stims!

Anyone have tips about things that cause strattera not to work so well?

Miriam: How long have you been taking Strattera for? I am curious as to how long it takes to start working (or not) with different people.

I've been taking Strattera for about a month. I started at 40mg for one week and moved up to 80mg after that. The side effects (tiredness, headache, waking up at night) hit me right away after each dosage increase, but then got better after a couple of days. Once I started taking the pills at night I didn't really notice side effects. I don't have any side effects anymore, no matter when I take the pills.

I started feeling SOMETHING positive after about a week-- hard to pin down, but I was a little calmer. I started feeling a useful decrease in ADD symptoms after a little more than two weeks (a couple of days after moving up to the higher dosage). I had a lot more tolerance for stress and daily annoyances, I could sit and read a book without having to reread every paragraph, and I felt a lot more confident and alert in crowds or traffic. That lasted for a little over a week, then I had the medication fade. Now I feel positive effects, but things aren't as good as they were then. Sometimes I can read, work or study, other times my mind wanders.

At my five-week checkup I'm going to talk to the doc about whether this is the right dose. I'm 5'6" and 130 lbs, so more than 80mg sounds like a lot, but I really think I metabolize the drug quickly and just burn through it. I base that off of how quickly I shook off the side effects. If my body adjusted to those, I wonder whether my brain adjusted back to where it used to be too. I like Strattera. I just hope I don't have to play games (rotating with other drugs or taking "medication breaks") to keep it working.

It worries me a little that there hasn't been any posts here since mid October. I read a lot of negatives about Strattera. This is my second time on Strattera. The first time I read the bottle instead of my Drs. instructions about dosage increase so I had a nasty reaction.

Now I have been on 25mg of Strattera. I take it once a day in the morning. Next week I am supposed to jump up to 40mg 1x per day. I really want this to work since the doc is hesitant to prescribe stimulants because I have siezures. If I have to I will talk to my neurologist, she may give the o.k. on another medication.

Side effects are lethargy, by 2pm I have a tough time staying awake. I have heachaches and nausea, and a general blah feeling in the latter part of the day (that could be the tiredness)

How long will it take for these side effects to wear away? Anyone?

I'm still happy with the benefits I'm getting with the Strattera! :)

100% happy? No, but then I have never been 100% happy with any medication I have taken for ADD!

Hang in there Swede63, most if not all of the side effects dissipate after you stay on a consistent dose level for more than a month!

I'm at 100 mg now for over two months. I had to work on the dose a little (shown in earlier post here), but I'm really happy with Strattera now. I guess a take a LOT for my size (5'6", 125lbs)-- but at lower doses I didn't get consistent benefits.

Now I concentrate better, can work longer without feeling burned out, feel great at the end of the day instead of all irritable and tired, and remember things better than ever in my life. I remember short-term things, like when someone introduces themself and I used to instantly forget their name-- now I remember. Also I remember things I used to forget after I did a bunch of other things in between-- like where I put my keys and when I have an appointment (BEFORE I miss the appointment).

I still work on getting myself fired up for things-- making myself go to the gym, staying motivated to keep up a routine. Strattera doesn't "push" me, it just focuses me and eliminates distractions and mental fatigue.

I hope all realize I'm sincere about this and not just cheerleading for a product. This has really helped me in my life. I always loved my job, but around the time I was diagnosed, I was exhausted and feeling discouraged. Three days ago I found out I was made regional employee of the quarter and was nominated for employee of the year! Most of all it is so great to feel this relaxed.

Thanks so much for all the posts....

They helped me out a lot to cope with the wait that I had to deal with for the wonderful magic of Strattera to begin. I am a 24 year old male and i have been ADHD since childhood. I have not been medicated due to my mothers disbelieve towards any medications to do good more than harm. Thus I have been coping with my ADHD by having my mother making me to get over my hyperactivity by behavior training. Even though i have been able to rid myself of he hyperactivity i have noticed that the ADD is still there; all that happened is that i have become more of a mentally hyperactive person than before. That said I am pleased that Strattera is not a stimulant due to my fear of stimulants negative effects on the long-term health. I have been on Strattera for a week and a half starting at 25mg first week and now going to 40mg the second yesterday was the only day i have not felt the side effect of tiredness and i actually got to experience the magic of the drug. Now the question is this.... Should i now start taking the pill in the morning or at night? I feel that yesterday night i had more effect from the drug than today in the morning. if anyone knows the answer please let me know.

Thanks so much.

Ralph.

Stratterra is working wonders for me as well. I am only on 40 mg, and have changed my behavioural patterns along with my medication. I am on the inattentive side majorly. When I first started taking it, I was extremely tired and worn out, but now its like I wake up ....like everyone else.....(don't want to say normal worried that would offend someone)

The only side effect I have is being apathetic. But in my case I was always too emotional, so this is a wonderful thing for me.

I have also noticed the negative replies about taking strattera, and I hope those it didn't go kosher with find the medication that suits them perfectly. =)

I have been on 40 mg for one month and just increased it to 80 mg. With 40 mg I didn't see any kind of results but the first three days on 80 mg, I am spacy, dizzy, headaches and others. I have heard these symptoms I may experience these symptoms for the first 90 days. Has anyone experienced any of these?

I am on Wellbutrin XR 300mg for my mood with wonderful results but it's doing nothing for my ADD.

My Dr wants to start me on Strattera. I also have been discouraged by the bad wrap given Strattera, but you guys have given me hope.

I'll be back to update on my progress.

bc:)

After a couple of weeks taking strattera and not liking the side effects, I went back to my doctor and got something else. After thinking long and hard (as well as can be expected anyway) and after reading some posts on here, I decided to stay with it a little while longer. I have not had any MAJOR improvments with concentration yet, however my general mood has shifted. I am no longer cranky and irratable all the time, road rage has become a memory, and I feel like when I try to relax I am really able to relax. My friends and family say that I am much more plesant to be around now, and a professor at my college noticed the "calmer" me as well. It was a rocky start, but even the side effects are starting to subside. Honestly, with how much this has changed my life, I can deal with the side effects. I love it!

I have not had any MAJOR improvments with concentration yet, however my general mood has shifted. I am no longer cranky and irratable all the time, road rage has become a memory, and I feel like when I try to relax I am really able to relax. My friends and family say that I am much more plesant to be around now, and a professor at my college noticed the "calmer" me as well. It was a rocky start, but even the side effects are starting to subside. Honestly, with how much this has changed my life, I can deal with the side effects. I love it!I bet you have seen some subtle improvements. A lot of people have reported the benefits really show up around 3 to 4 months. Once your body adjusts to the medication and you get to your target dosage, things will really start to run smooth. If the people around you are noticing, then it must be doing something. :D

I have been on Strattera for 3 years, along with Adderall XR and Lexapro. I don't make many careless mistakes anymore. When it comes to thinking, things just happen like they are supposed to. I don't second guess my thinking.

Thanks for posting your story and good luck. Post back once you hit 3 or 4 months.

So... 2 weeks ago I got diagnosed with add, and I wasnt really surprised because after researching about it for a year or so i was pretty positive I had it. Anyways my doctor started me on 40mg of strattera for the first week. I had no idea what this medicine was and then i found this GREAT forum! But from what i read about strattera i was really debating sticking with the medicine. My sideeffects were a dry mouth, decreased appetite, and also the big one SEXUAL SIDE EFFECTS. So i still decided to give it a shot. Im in week two and a half now at 60 mg... and i have been noticing great changes!!! There are no longer 50 million things in my head, i can think about one thing at a time.... I can definately shut out the rest of the world when i am trying to concentrate. Still lacking motivation but i hope that will come soon. When i wake in the morning i am awake with enery and i am not feeling sluggish and what not. Oh yea i also would get really tired when i started taking it and now i am good to go all day!..... I am definately a spendaholic/impulse buyer, and the other day i was at best buy looking at laptops and really wanted one but then in my head i asked myself do i really need this right now? WIERD huhh??? :) Ive always been really outgoing so this hasnt made me any more comfortable im my daily life because i already was!!! oh and btw the sexual side effects have almost gone away!! ;) ;) Oh its so wierd now i can tune into something so hardcore that if someone is talking right next to me i have no idea what they are saying (sometimes right now, cuz the old me comes out sometimes and wants to know :D ) But anyways im happy so far!

oh yea and im a 20 yr old MALE


GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE WITH THIS!!!

I have just came back from the docs, he has taken me off the concerta (54mg's) have been getting the worst head aches of my entire life. He has prescribed 25mg strattera for the 1st week then 40 then he recomends 80mg, so time will tell and i will keep you all posted.

Hi all,
It's nice to see that there are a bunch of people who benefit from strattera. Stimulants are so 90's. (Just kidding!! I know they are great for many people.) I've had a pretty good experience with strattera so far. It's been 2 1/2 months -- first 1 week of 40mg, followed by seven weeks of 60mg. Side effects: I get a little cottonmouth at times, most when dosage was increased, some mild sleepiness midday (curable with coffee), and mild stomach upset. But the benefits have been great: I feel calmer and more composed, especially in relating to other people. I'm less worried about not connecting to them and so I'm not feeling alienated all the time like I used to was. My concentration is also getting better and I feel a bit less impulsive. I even feel more verbally articulate, which is great since I suffer from pretty severe writer's block at times -- even writing letters and emails is easier than before. So far so good. :D


-g

i started at 20 mg i'm now at 40mg and feeling pretty good.. i did some things around the house today and didnt flip out when a problem arouse...i had some strange side effects but they seem to go away as quik as they come... A+ so far

I started Strattera 40 mg 1 week ago, after having been diagnosed with ADD at age 47. I'm supposed to go up to 80 mg later this week.

However, I've only had an average of 3 hours of sleep per night since beginning Strattera. I try and try, but can't go to sleep, and when I go, I wake up after 3 hours and cannot go back to sleep. Will this go away? 3 hours of sleep per night is just not a healthy thing.....

On the plus side, I no longer have restless leg syndrome and, though I don't feel a lot more productive, I have been able to complete "to do" list stuff much better than before.

My husband has been on Strattera since the 23rd of April and within 24 hours I noticed intense mood swings, anger and behavior I have never seen in him before. I have been so concerned about him I am a basket case. He actually told me he is thinking more clearly and now wants a divorce. He moved out this evening. I am just beside myself with grief. And to think we were so hopeful he'd get better. He was doing well on another med but had terrible headaches from it.

We took my 7 year old son to get evaluated a couple weeks ago. Bingo! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. :D

We talked about options and decided to try Strattera, because it works well for me.

All I can say is "amazing". We noticed improvements in a couple days. Before Strattera, he would get extremely angry and could fly off the handle in a moments notice. He didn't have much remorse or understand others' feelings. Bedtime was a nightmare. He would be up past 11pm.:faint: He is a very sweet and loving child deep down inside. I know that is hard to understand, based on what I just wrote. Now he is in control of his emotions and is even appologetic. The sweet and loving child is really coming out even more. He actually falls asleep after he gets in bed.

He is at his target dose, as of today (18mg AM/10mg PM). So we'll give it another month or two to smooth out, but we think this is the correct medication for our son.

I wish everyone else had it this easy. I guess my extended trial and error period helped shorten his.

Popping back in for an update.. I've been on 80 mg Strattera for a month now and it's been great so far :D Made me nauseous a couple times when I forgot a pill at night and had to take it when I woke up the next morning, but that's stopped. No other side effects, my head feels much more clear. I can focus but I haven't lost my ADD problem solving skills/creativity like I did when on stims. My next psych appointment is 3 months away, we're sticking with this dose for the summer, then we'll re-evaluate after school starts in the fall to see if I need a higher dose to function during my last year of college.

I see so many negative posts on Strattera, just thought I'd add in my positive experience to balance things out a little... Concerta, Ritalin and Adderall were just wayyy too harsh for my brain/body. :)

Strattera is really great if you give it time to work. Most of the 'horror stories' I see are people that took it for two weeks and then quit because they thought it was supposed to be 'instantaneous' like a stimulant.

I started on 40mg and then went to 60mg and I got the sexual side effects for the first week or two but they went away.

The great thing for me about Strattera is that it works in the background and is 'subtle' - you don't even feel the medicine working - you just start to notice changes. Also, I really like how it's 'always working 24/7'. There aren't any ups and downs like there are with stimulants - and I usually wake up in the morning and am ready to go instead of feeling groggy.

A lot of other people have said it and I'll say it too - Strattera isn't supposed to make you feel super engergized like you're on speed or something - it just makes you feel...'normal'. Which is a REALLY good thing.

Hello!

I am 36 yr old and have been diagnosed bipolar 1 with psychotic feature since 1999, although my first bipolar episode dated back to 1986. I have taken Tegretol XR/Equetro since 2000.

In May, June and July I have been diagnosed with ADHD-C. In my childhood years what gave me more problems was hyperactivity. Nowadays it is still what bothers others the most but not what bothers me LOL I went to an ADHD specialist in June in the States (who put me on Adderall - illegal in Italy) and to one in Italy in July who put me on Strattera.

I've been put on Strattera 4 weeks ago. I started with 25 mg (I weight 110 lbs - 50 kg), then after a week I was put on 40 mg then after another week I was put on 40+25, grand total 65 mg a day.

I am not sure 65 is enough for me but I am sure works! So far, the only complaint as long as effectiveness is concerned is, it starts fading off at around 6-7pm. I usually go to bed at around 11pm so I drink 2-3 coffees to "stay clear" (I read somewhere 1 cup of coffee has 100 mg of caffeine which equals to 5 mg of Ritalin).

What can I say? I have NO side effects except my blood pressure is lower than usual (105/65 rather than 120/70) and, being summer in Italy, it makes me feel dizzy at times.

Good effects:
1) it doesn't take 3 hours to transition between sleeping and being awake, but just 5-10 minutes (provided I don't oversleep - like I did last night - in which case it still takes 1 hour and that's why I'm posting here rather than working LOL);
2) my tolerance to frustration is higher than "normal" people: I rarely rage, don't break stuff anymore, rarely yell, rarely obsess over something wrong;
3) my hyperactivity is ALL THERE, and I like it. Adderal was calming me so much that I didn't really care about moving (or not) any more;
4) I accomplish much more things... I start a slighlty lower number but accomplish most of them;
5) it's easier for me to get organized, I can used daily planners, agendas, etc;
6) I'm on top of my bills *grin*;
7) I've restarted studying for college.

The thing I like the most is that, differently from stimulants, one is "always there", and without having to land in stormy weather so to speak.

I've been taking Stattera since Oct 30th. I've never felt better.

I can concentrate for hours instead of minutes, I get lots of things done, I procrastinate much less, I can focus & pay attention, I fidget much less, my legs no longer shake constantly, I can read people's body language & their reactions to my words and actions for pretty much the first time in my life, I'm much less random in conversation, etc, etc.

But I'm wondering, what is the honeymoon period that people talk about? Does it happen to a few? To some?

Also, if a person has had success with Strattera for months or years, would their story make it to this thread? I mean, if they have their ADD under control, would they still be on this message board?

I've been taking Stattera since Oct 30th. I've never felt better. That's wonderful to hear smoothoperator! I am very happy for you. :)





But I'm wondering, what is the honeymoon period that people talk about? Does it happen to a few? To some? Good questions. I have never taken Strattera, so I would not know.




Also, if a person has had success with Strattera for months or years, would their story make it to this thread? I don't see why not.




I mean, if they have their ADD under control, would they still be on this message board? I have been taking medication for this condition since Feb of 1992 when I was about a month away from my 22nd birthday. I've felt like I have had my ADD under control for years. I suspect that there are many here who could say the same thing.

Speaking just for myself, I still come here to share with others the experience that brought me to a point where I felt that I had gained control of my condition, and also to continue to learn more about this condition from others like yourself. Just because a person is able to get this condition under control does not mean that they have learned everything there is to know about this condition. I learn new things about it here all the time.

Speaking just for myself, I still come here to share with others the experience that brought me to a point where I felt that I had gained control of my condition, and also to continue to learn more about this condition from others like yourself. Just because a person is able to get this condition under control does not mean that they have learned everything there is to know about this condition. I learn knew things about it here all the time.This is cool. I'm glad you're here to help and thanks because I never thought about things this way before.

My pleasure, and thank you for being here too. ;)

A lot of posts on the negatives of Strattera recently. :(

Please share with us your successes of taking Strattera.


* Please do not post anything negative. As moderator, I will edit the content or remove the post.
- What dosage works for you?
60mg in the AM and 40 mg around 2 to 3 pm every day all year and in the late fall and winter right up to when DST kicks in I also need 150 mg wellbutrin in the am and another 150mg around 2 to 3 pm until the days start to get longer. I was diagnosed with ADD 3 years ago. I'm a male in the mid 40's.

- What was your titration (dosage path; i.e. 10mg to 18mg to 25mg)and how long to reach your target dosage?
At first I tried wellbutrin and it worked then Strattera came out so I stopped the Wellbutrin and went to 18mg in am and 18mg in pm, then 60mg in am and 60mg in pm it was to high and my head tingled, then 40/40, and finally 60 mg in the am and 40 mg in the pm. I did have one meltdown in the winter 2 years ago and thats when my psychiatrist said you could use the Wellbutrin up to 300mg per day with it. So thats how I got to where the doses are today.

- What was the single most benefit of taking Strattera?

It got rid of my impulsivness, impulsive anger, and Anxiety.
As a result, everyone including my wife have said I'm alot calmer and pleasant to be around not. Work has gotten alot better too as a result.

I started out on 40 mg about 3 1/2 months ago, and my dossage has not changed. My doctor told me not to expect any noticeble effects for a couple of weeks, possibly up to 6 weeks. After 5 days on the stuff, my work productivity increased by 25%-30%, and my work accuracy increased significantly. I have to keep track of what I work on, how long I spend on it, and such details. My job log for one day was typically 1 full page per day. It went to 1 1/4 to sometimes 2 pages per day, with much fewer revisions necessary.

I used to always feel anxious and confused about what I was doing unless I had a procedure memorized. Then I would go through the work mechanically without taking into account any exceptions for a paricular job, which always come up. I now feel like clockwork when I do my job. I always know what the next step is to be taken, and work through a job without a hundred small (or large) pauses to regain my bearings. I cant believe that the rest of the world has always felt like this. It blows my mind to think what I could have done with my life if I had ever done homework in school, or bothered to read a book all the way through.

I had some nauseousness in the begining, and I keep a jar of peanuts in my desk and eat a handfull whenever a wave hits me. My mouth was almost allways dry the first two months, so I sucked on cough drops frequently.

It has been a positive life changing event for me.

Thanks
I always have to take a full glass of water with the Stratterra to avoid a heartburn like effect but after that no problem.

I have a week of the 18 mg and then up to 25 next week, then a follow up visit with my doctor. I'm really anxious to know whether I should continue taking this or ask about Adderall.

I was told that I have "many ADD symptoms" but not a "classic case," whatever that means. My doctor recommended Stratters.

I just took my first dose of Strattera last night before bed, it was 18 mg. My psychiatrist told me to take it before bed to avoid the side effects... but wow, that was the worst night of sleep I've EVER had. I woke up about every 30 minutes and had to change positions, roll over, etc, to get comfortable. I usually have trouble sleeping but never that bad. I had really strange dreams that actually frightened be a bit. I felt a little nauseous even though I'd eaten beforehand.

I have a week of the 18 mg and then up to 25 next week, then a follow up visit with my doctor. I'm really anxious to know whether I should continue taking this or ask about Adderall. I would like to take Adderall just so that I can take one AS NEEDED. I have a lot of trouble on days when I have a science lab or a math lab, and it varies day to day. Some days I just CANNOT make myself pay attention or sit still - it's these days that I'd like to just take one pill to help even me out through the day. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with taking Strattera every day to feel the extended effects. Does anyone else feel the same way?

Just wondering if you guys could give me some advice, seeing as I've JUST been diagnosed and I have no idea about any kinds of medications at all.

Hi there, I've started on Strattera (my first med of any kind) 19 days ago - 40mg for the first two weeks and now 60mg for the last 5 days. the side effects became noticeably weaker every day - but they were never strong enough to be worrying. I take my med at about 7:30am and by mid morning I am concentrating better then before. It seems to be establishing my moods (which was not a big issue anyway). But has not had much effect on my memory, which for me was my most noticeable symptom. I cant say I've felt the 24/7 effect yet but its still early, I do have trouble getting started at work until the mid morning point when I can feel the med kick in (I can feel a bit of a buzz). Overall, I would say my experience has been so far so good.

Strattera was a complete and total drag for me, as I was on it for 4 or 5 years, and it did only about 50% of what ritalin does for me. Strattera I thought was a godsend, but I did not realize the problems I had until I got off it.

The real problem for me, was thinking that under strattera I was leading a normal ADD life. Far from it. Under Ritalin I am far from completely sane, but now I know I am nuts.

Oh, I started out at 10mg, then 20, then 40, then 60mg for my max dose.

Ive been on strattera for about a week and I'm experiencing sexual side effects (orgasm and ejaculation out of sync, painful orgasm, etc). I really want to continue with strattera because I hate the side effects of stimulants, but I'm wondering if its worth it with the sexual side effects. Any of you guys have this same experience? Does it go away?

Ive been on strattera for about a week and I'm experiencing sexual side effects (orgasm and ejaculation out of sync, painful orgasm, etc). I really want to continue with strattera because I hate the side effects of stimulants, but I'm wondering if its worth it with the sexual side effects. Any of you guys have this same experience? Does it go away?

I had painful ejaculation during my first week, but that has gone away. Only significant side-effect now is slow urination. Takes me forever to empty my bladder.

I was pretty sleepy the first couple of days I took it, then sleepy again for a day with each dose increase. I started at 10mg for a week, then 20mg for a week, now I've been on 30mg for a few days (I think) . . . my target dose is 40mg. I started to see a benefit towards the end of the first week, lost it for a few days with the first dose increase, got it back, then lost it again with the most recent dose increase. Feeling better today though. For me, the "beneficial" effects I'm describing are less procrastination, more "mental energy," and I have an easier time reading. I'm also in a better mood in general.

I was put on Strattera in junior high but went off it in high school and through college, so when I got married last year and started an office job and decided I needed help focusing, my new doctor just gave me an Rx for the dosage I was on before, 60mg. The first six weeks were sketchy, I didn't see a lot of difference (though my husband did) and I was super tired; but it got better and I felt a lot more grounded. BUT last month (I've been on it for about six months) we upped the dose to 80mg and the difference is AMAZING. I actually ran out of meds for three days, which is when I realized the extent to which Strattera helps me.

First of all, I was reminded what it's like to think of something and forget it instantly - ALL THE TIME. With Strattera, that rarely happens!! Which is ridiculous, as that used to just be my norm. I can actually remember something at night that I told myself to do that morning. I find that I can still multi-task up a storm but I don't forget the different things that I'm working on nearly so badly, and definitely can carry a task or thought through to completion (which was nearly impossible before). During the days that I was off it, my poor brain was jumping all over the place, just like it used to... it was awful!! Wierd how fast you forget what used to be. ;) I couldn't hardly finish a thought and my speech was choppy because I was again trying to spit out thoughts as fast as they came so they wouldn't disappear.

I find that Strattera doesn't necessarily eliminate the thousands of thoughts from my brain - it slows them down and makes them sit nicely so I can work with them. :D It doesn't feel like my head is full of bratty little kids all clamoring for my immediate attention anymore! I could sing Strattera's praises from the rooftops. ;) I can't believe what I used to live like!

I have a week of the 18 mg and then up to 25 next week, then a follow up visit with my doctor. I'm really anxious to know whether I should continue taking this or ask about Adderall.

I read your longer question in Jayssm's post, and while I'm not in the same boat with you I do have a small piece of advice from my experience for you: try taking it in the morning instead of at night. Even though I had the sleepy side effect during the day, when I tried taking it at night it was just like you - the crappiest night I've ever spent trying to sleep. When I told my doctor that I tried taking it at night she was like, "Oh nononono! That will never work!" Now, I know that's not a completely true statement because there are some people on here who take it at night and are fine. But if you can't sleep, it's probably not going to get better. If you stick with Strattera, you might have better results if you take it in the morning.

I haven't posted in a long time, so I decided to provide an update. I have been taking Strattera for about 4 years straight. Along with Lexapro and a light dose of Adderall XR. I decided to take medication vacation. I slowly stopped taking the Adderall over one week and then the Strattera over 2 weeks. I have been off both for about 2 weeks now and notice I have have more trouble:

typing on a keyboard
formulating setences
collecting my thoughts
staying on tasik
getting started

I guess this means the medication was useful. Now I need to decide if I want to start back in the near future.

The key is to be mindful and aware of your actions duing this time.

- Tim

Right i thought i better do a success story so far......

I started on Strattera again after my baby in May 2008 at 40mg and 10mg of Equasym, everything was fantastic for about 3 or 4 weeks then i felt like it was wearing off.

I asked my psych to up my dose to 80mg which we had previously discussed and have took 80mg for a week now and wow again the improvements in my life are great.

I have had certain side effects but i have put up with to give the medication a chance regardless of how i have felt and finally it has paid off.

I take my 2 40mg at night at 10pm fall asleep fine now didn't in the beginning though.
I take my 10mg of Equasym in the morning.

I really would tell people give this medication a chance try putting up with some of the horrible side effects it might be well worth it like it is in my case.

I just don't know

20 y.o male.

I've been taking Strattera for a little over two weeks now, but my case is somewhat unique. I'm bipolar-II-cyclothymic, OCD as well as ADHD. So maybe my opinion isn't quite as heavily weighted since there are so many factors involved.

Where to begin?

I kicked off on 40mg. I am now on 100mg daily (60mg morning, 40mg afternoon) after two weeks.

Improvements:
-Increased IQ score within first week, in fact I couldn't believe how much I'd been missing on previous attempts.
-Mental clarity is improving, slowly.
-Motor co-ordination improving but still very far from good.
-Ability to read a book for an extended period improved marginally.
-Ability to manipulate small mechanical objects improved (I had to re-attach some keys to my laptop's keyboard after my 2y.o. brother ripped them off; I normally wouldn't have had a clue)
-Parents reported less vocal outbursts in general.
-Better judgement.
-Actually stopping to think about things and re-consider my habits.
-Shopping centers are tolerable now.
-Decreased fatigue.
-Greatly reduced impulse to smoke (dec. fr. 10-15/day --> 3-6/day)
-Blah blah blah, ad nauseum.

Side-effects, physical:
-Nausea during the first few weeks, has now subsided.
-Pain in the chest when agitated, sometimes severe
-Noticeably increased HR
-Sexual dysfunction, premature ejaculation, increased libido (although as always this was temporary, and was followed by a period of nil libido), a general dissatisfaction with sex as a result of these effects is now becoming noticeable.
-Increased thirst.

Side-effects, psychological:
-Not as easily agitated by small things, but when angered I become REALLY angered, this has gone to the point of psychosis a few times now and I've had to increase my dose of Lamotrigine (which I take for bipolar) twofold. However this may have been an effect of Zoloft withdrawal, as it was removed from my treatment regime to make way for Strattera. Either way, I attempted killing birds for the first time in my life - specifically tame seagulls and aggressive plovers nesting in my yard - and I normally love birds.

-SLEEP DISTURBANCE - sleep is generally shallow unless I am heavily fatigued, strange and frequent dreams often accompanied by actual physical activity during sleep, desire to sleep is greatly reduced,[insufficient sleep does not result in fatigue, which I feel may be aggravating my problems with agitation]


In addition to all of the above, being cyclothymic-bipolar, I experience periods of satisfaction with Strattera and then periods of extreme dissatisfaction. The positive effects are sometimes heightened and sometimes absent. If you are also a bipolar person, I would reconsider this drug.

Overall, I'd say it's too soon to tell for sure whether this is a viable long-term ADHD treatment for me. I still talk to myself, my thoughts still periodically race, my temper is probably worse than before, though my moods do not last as long (hard to tell what this is an effect of). Mental clarity and focus have improved to an extent, though it's nothing huge to me, more an effect from which others seem to benefit.

blah blah blah
will be back later

I was put on Strattera in junior high but went off it in high school and through college, so when I got married last year and started an office job and decided I needed help focusing, my new doctor just gave me an Rx for the dosage I was on before, 60mg. The first six weeks were sketchy, I didn't see a lot of difference (though my husband did) and I was super tired; but it got better and I felt a lot more grounded. BUT last month (I've been on it for about six months) we upped the dose to 80mg and the difference is AMAZING. I actually ran out of meds for three days, which is when I realized the extent to which Strattera helps me.

First of all, I was reminded what it's like to think of something and forget it instantly - ALL THE TIME. With Strattera, that rarely happens!! Which is ridiculous, as that used to just be my norm. I can actually remember something at night that I told myself to do that morning. I find that I can still multi-task up a storm but I don't forget the different things that I'm working on nearly so badly, and definitely can carry a task or thought through to completion (which was nearly impossible before). During the days that I was off it, my poor brain was jumping all over the place, just like it used to... it was awful!! Wierd how fast you forget what used to be. ;) I couldn't hardly finish a thought and my speech was choppy because I was again trying to spit out thoughts as fast as they came so they wouldn't disappear.

I find that Strattera doesn't necessarily eliminate the thousands of thoughts from my brain - it slows them down and makes them sit nicely so I can work with them. :D It doesn't feel like my head is full of bratty little kids all clamoring for my immediate attention anymore! I could sing Strattera's praises from the rooftops. ;) I can't believe what I used to live like!


You have just sumed up exactly how i feel :)

Greetings.

I just started Strattera two day ago-- starting of with 25 milligrams and will be doubling to 50 this coming Wendesday.

A bit of background:

I was diagnosed with ADD originally about 16 years ago when I was 16. It was the early 90s and I felt that EVERYONE was being diagnosed with ADD so, being the angry young punk rocker I was, I refused my medication and thought I was fine.

Fast forward 16 years and I'm beginning to realize that the things I thought were "normal" in my life weren't actually normal. Very sped up clock in my head, can't get through a page of reading without skimming, etc. I also started doing film editing for documentaries and realized how hard it was to do, despite the fact that I love it, with my certain unfocused head.

So, I saw a shrink and got put on Strattera because I also have some anxiety issues.

I realize that this is a drug with a cumulative effect, so I don't know if what I'm feeling thus far is just psychosomatic or not but, so far:

-The ticking time bomb of a clock in my head has been slowed down. I'm talking more time and not worrying nearly as much about getting everyday things done right this second. I love that.

- I can watch a movie all the way through with out spending a whole bunch of time during it on the internet and checking the scores of various sporting events. In other words I don't need to have multiple things going on at once

- My sex drive is still very much intact, but I did see a post earlier in this thread tht talked about ejaculating slightly before an orgasm (sorry to get so graphic). This is happening to me. It's strange.

- My appetite is reduced for sure. I ate very little yesterday and only once today.

Hi,

I've been on Strattera for about a month now. I started off on 40 mg, went to 60 and tomorrow I start 100. The side effects did not wear off until about a week or so ago and it wasn't until this past week that I really started noticing Strattera's benefits. A lot of people on here seemed to not like Strattera because of the side effects but I really wished that more people waited it out because it's going really well for me. I was on ritalin for a month and I hated it. It made me feel like a zombie and It seemed to wear off after a few hours. I like strattera because I have energy and I finally feel like myself again. I definitely notice a difference in my concentration. I can sit down and focus on a specific task without getting up or having my mind wander. My doctor says that the 100 will help more with motivation. Anyway, I hope it works for you.

Take care.

Funny, because I stopped smoking due to strattera as well.

I've been taking Strattera for about a month. I started at 40mg for one week and moved up to 80mg after that. The side effects (tiredness, headache, waking up at night) hit me right away after each dosage increase, but then got better after a couple of days. Once I started taking the pills at night I didn't really notice side effects. I don't have any side effects anymore, no matter when I take the pills.

I started feeling SOMETHING positive after about a week-- hard to pin down, but I was a little calmer. I started feeling a useful decrease in ADD symptoms after a little more than two weeks (a couple of days after moving up to the higher dosage). I had a lot more tolerance for stress and daily annoyances, I could sit and read a book without having to reread every paragraph, and I felt a lot more confident and alert in crowds or traffic. That lasted for a little over a week, then I had the medication fade. Now I feel positive effects, but things aren't as good as they were then. Sometimes I can read, work or study, other times my mind wanders.

At my five-week checkup I'm going to talk to the doc about whether this is the right dose. I'm 5'6" and 130 lbs, so more than 80mg sounds like a lot, but I really think I metabolize the drug quickly and just burn through it. I base that off of how quickly I shook off the side effects. If my body adjusted to those, I wonder whether my brain adjusted back to where it used to be too. I like Strattera. I just hope I don't have to play games (rotating with other drugs or taking "medication breaks") to keep it working.

What type of ADHD do you have?

My 12 year old son was diagnosed with ADHD at age 9. We tried a few Stimulants with awful side effects. He was then put on Strattera which had great results! However, he seems to outgrow his dosage very fast and is now on 118mg a day. We just went to the Doctor and I shared my concerns about the prolong effects and the high dosage he is on. He assured me that it is safe. I would really like him to take a break from it for awhile. The doctor highly disscouraged it...Any comments or suggestions?

timh,

any info on your child. we are getting ready to start daughter on Strattera, and glad to see some positive post. But how is you son, is he still on med. and how is that going. Thanks for info., I am new to all add stuff as well as posting/forums.

I am on week 1.5 with STraterra. My Psychiatrist does not prefer to prescribe stimulants so we are starting on Straterra. Started with 36mg/ day dose and uped to 50 after three days. After week one she suggested going to 80 mg/ day and try to get up to 100-120 mg/ day in a week or so. She does not seem to be that helpful in doseage and side effects. I have been experiencing the following:

-Tingling sensation
-Temp control issues, mainly on the hot scale
-Difficulty with urination, mostly difficulty getting started and then do not feel like I have completely voided my bladder. Have to sometimes make a return trip as soon as I get back to desk and when I return stand at urinal for half a minute before small amount of liquid comes out.
-Also, mid morning have one session at the urinal where small amount of milky white "goo" comes out. Take the dosage around 8am and this occurs ususally after first void of bladder after taken meds. I have no history of STDs or have never been at risk and no urinary tract infection. This never happened before Straterra.
- No increased feeling of organization or "clear headedness"

I am committed to sticking it out, but the side effects with the urinary tract are VERY ANNOYING. Will they improve? Anyone else had experience with the UT issues?

Have tried Adderall from a friend. I know it was illegal and wrong, but I did notice an immediate result from the stimulant on the self confidence and organization skills. Also, can get task completed that I previously put off. No indication of these effect from Straterra so far.

Any comments/ suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Want to stay on Straterra, but also want instant gratification that I know will come from stimulants.

I am the mom of a 16 y.o. boy with ADHD, diagnosed in May 2008. He immediately was put on Strattera, starting at... 40mg, I think? Then 60 and 80mg. We noticed the changes during the 3rd week. His teachers did too.

The usual problems were loss of appetite, cotton mouth, sleeping problems (so he takes it in the morning) and the usual ones named in this thread.

Anyway, to me he has reached a plateau (perhaps I am used to his behavior now?). He still forgets daily stuff, things are sometimes half done etc. In school he is way better than he was last year. Plus his teachers understand and cooperate. But I feel (his doc feels too) that it could be better.

We have been asked to keep a log of things "forgotten, left unfinished, left behind" so she can figure out the next step. I have read that the makers of this drug recommend never taking more than 100mg per day....

What is your experience?

My son is 6'-2" and he weights about 160 lbs (I am not sure if this info has anything to do with the dosage!!)

Thank you!

Maria

I'm on Day 2 and so far so good, which is a real relief...I'm one of the tiny percentage of people that had the 'call your doctor NOW' side effects from the stims...

Anyway, only thing I'm noticing is a really strange metallic taste in my mouth and some stomach upset. Hoping it goes away, since so far I'm feeling, well, motivated. It's really odd...most folks report having to wait a while to feel anything at all, I know...didn't have the sleeplessness issue, last night at least, which is a relief.

Will update folks, particularly when I get into the 18 mg that most people start with...I'm at less, due to my extreme med sensitivity...

Hi I don't post here much anymore because strattera is working for me.

it's hard to explain. it's like I'm just more 'together' now. I feel like myself, only better. when there's something I want to, or should, do, I don't try to talk myself out of it so much anymore by coming up with lame excuses or rationalizing some lame reason to not do something.

I actually enjoy working now because I can focus on goals and feel like I can achieve them.

I used to get so bogged down by the obstacles that I wouldn't notice the way around the obstacles basically.

I'm 175 pounds & on 100 mg a day for a few months now. I might drop down to 80 mg a day... sometimes 100 a day is kinda hard on the system.

I am in week two of my 80mg Strattera. I was on vacation the first week but I guess I was one of the few that had immediate results. I seem to tolerate others better. I am not going to say that my organazational skills have improved just yet but my over all feeling is great. I am run down due to the trouble getting to sleep but It is not a deal breaker. I have been told that I do not talk as much and I find myself thinking something but for once in my life I do not immediately say it. So over all I say that it has been positive
Like another member said that mettalic taste in my mouth is something fierce. I think that I am going to like the new me.:rolleyes:

My doctor told me to drink OJuice when taking the medicine. I have been & the metal taste is gone. The doctor said that he has never heard of someone having that reaction to Strattera. maybe another drug but not that one. Just drink OJ and it should go away. I just upped my dosage today from 40 to 80 and just feel whipped out. Other than that nothing usual, oh maybe a litttle dry mouth. I also have noticed Ive been thinking before speaking.

110sad Thanks for the tip. It does work so my gum bill has went down and my OJ bill has gone up.I have had the most VIVID dreams of my life. I have had a few nightmares but I actually remember what I dream in the mornings.It has been a great change of life overall though.

My 6yo son has been on Strattera for 3 days at 25mg. He has ADD/IA. WOW - I didn't expect to notice a difference for a few weeks.

Positives: Less chatter, more focused, better mood, more energy (was always tired and grumpy before).

Negatives: "Bursts" of TOO much energy (never had that before - and I mean TOOO much energy!) but strangely he can seemingly turn this off at will (???) and be absolutely fine and calm again, stomachache and nausea first day for about 20 minutes, chest pain for 10 minutes today (new).

I'm watching him like a hawk for side effects and the chest pain concerns me, so we'll see. The positives are pretty good though! He seems happy and content overall since starting it. My dh with ADD may soon try this drug too.

OH yes, by the way - I read somewhere that saw palmetto reversed the unpleasant urinary / prostate symptoms from Strattera side effects for someone. Worth a try maybe? (Not for my 6yo but for some of you male adults with those issues).
Debbie

cool... thanks for keeping us updated

I love this medication!Strattera is finally working.Iv been taking it for almost three weeks now and am on 60milgs.I cant believe how focused I am .I am also very organized.
I wonder why people say they cant feel this medication working.I feel it...I feel a real calmingness{if thats a word}thats steady and it doesnt go away.It lasts 24 hours now that its finally starting to work.I think this medication blows stimulants out of the water!
Iv had no side effects eccept for no appetite whatsoever.This med rocks!

32 year old male. 175lbs. just re-diagnosed with adhd. I took dexedrine when I was a junior in high school but didn't like the side effects. I hadn't taken anything since then and for the most part have had a fairly successful and productive life. Recently at work I was having a lot of difficulty staying on task, finishing projects and so forth.

My doc suggested I try Strattera, so today I started with 40mg and I'm not even sure how to describe it. There were a couple of times during the day that I felt more focused than normal, and I was able to accomplish a lot more. Not sure if this was because of the medicine or because I was conscious about trying to get more done.

Anyway, I did feel a little loopy and found myself yawning more than normal during the day. There were times when I thought...this is great, must be the medicine working, then a couple times I thougt...I feel really wierd...must be the medicine.

I'll stick with it and see how it works for me. Hopefully I can remember to post again. :)

32-year-old male, 210 lbs and fit.

I switched from Adderall to Strattera and was surprised by the results. The side effects were insane. I felt on edge the first week, semi-paranoid, easily hurt, weepy, and had sleep problems and super dry mouth. Also, a strange Charlie horse orgasm where ejaculation precedes the actual orgasm. All symptoms went away after a week and it kicks in like a small dose of Adderall. Main points:

-80mg works for me

-40mg for the first four days, then to 80mg. My Dr. said there was no need to prolong the titration period. He also said side effects were not really complaints with his patients; it either worked or it didn't.

-What really makes it great is how it allows for deeper thought. I didn't get that so much as with Adderall. With Strattera, I can sit and think some things through without getting flustered, especially when being put on the spot. I can do homework in the kitchen with the TV on in the next room and not be distracted. I feel more in control than I ever did with Adderall.

I just started taking strattera. 25 for 1 week, 40 for another week, then 60mg

right as I left the office i popped one in.

I definitely notice the drugs effects. sorta a high feeling... a strange mental stimulation. Reminds me of a low low dose of Psilocybin or LSD :)...
I currently have some sorta Flu, but I think Strattera contributed more to my fatigue and I think I'm going to have a lot of trouble sleeping tonight

No significant changes understandably, but this thread has given me some optimism. I'll keep you posted.

I'm not sure that I ever shared my success with Strattera.
Here is my story!

I went from Adderall to Strattera. Nuts, eh?! Especially since I was successful with Adderall, but my anxiety was getting pretty bad (not due to Adderall, but that wasn't helping). After about 9 years on Adderall IR my psychiatrist said I needed to stop and start Strattera. I was really concerned about it and not very enthusiastic! Actually, it took me about 1 month of holding on to my prescription to decide that I should give it a try.

I was really fatigued for the first month (at 25 mgs), and my P-doc said to continue to try it and told me to take it at night. The switch worked great; the fatigue stopped. Every month to month and a half my dose was upped (25, 40, 60, 80) until I hit 80mgs, which is my optimal dose.

The only side effect I have is indigestion (but it's manageable with acid reducers). I don't have any crashes, it's very smooth. I didn't notice it was working until I hit 40mgs, and the effect was slight, then 60 it was pretty good and 80mgs is great.

I think I first noticed that I was more awake during the day (once I started 40mgs and took it in the evening), then that I could follow conversations easier, I could remember a bit better, and so on.

I never thought I crashed much with Adderall, but once I noticed the smoothness of Strattera, I realize that I did have crashes from Adderall. Brain chatter, antsy, etc.

I never thought Strattera would work. I thought it was an inferior med, I had read so many negative reactions on ADDF. I was wrong. It works really well for me. I think a big part of it was patience - the slow titration, taking it at night and me hanging in there for it to work.
I have been on the med for about 9 months now (probably longer, closer to a year. I don't remember exactly when I started it) and am happy with it.

The most important thing that happened to me once I started taking Strattera was I could think one thought at a time. I started on 18mg, once a day, then to twice a day and then graduated to 40's....I did take 80 mg for a time, but I didn't see any more improvement and I was really intense (and my blood pressure went up).

When I started taking Strattera, I weighed about 197 pounds, a year later I weighed about 125. My friends were really worried about this, but other than having to buy new clothes every month, I felt okay.

Now the down side: I didn't get much sleep....I mean 4 hours a night was plenty. Sometimes I would forget to eat (because I was never hungry) and then my blood sugar would drop and I would get all shaky and weak. I didn't have much of an appetite and beer was an absolute no-no. It would make me instantly sick and I would vomit.

I called it the "all American, Type A drug" because, you have enough energy to work two jobs (at least) and you get skinny.

I did have "sexual" side effects. I could get excited, but not excited enough, if you know what I mean....so I started taking bupropiion and that helped that problem a lot.

I stopped taking it in the Spring of the year, because I guess I have seasonal affective disorder and once the days become longer I don't need it so much and I was worried about my blood pressure. So I am starting again on the 18 mg (if I can find them...I know they are around her somewhere...lol)

I belonged to this forum some time ago, under another name and I just rejoined to see what was going on in the adhd world. Nice to be back with my own "herd" so to speak. Cheers!

7-week update:

Wow! I never thought I would get here. Calm, focused, awake and in the room. It's like taking stimulants that don't pick you up and shake you, plus no crashes or jitters. I used to be really susceptible to self-medicating, even while taking stimulants. This is no longer the case. I'm much more deliberate; I often think before opening my mouth. Don't get me wrong, the first weeks were hell at times, but the patience has paid off. I have energy and more direction and real motivation than I ever did on Adderall.

Some other important points:

I became sleepy for a week while taking it, and broke my doses into 40mg in the am and pm. It helped immensely. I also supplement in the morning with L-Tyrosine to maintain dopamine/norepinephrine levels. As long as the supplementation is moderate in quantity, it seems to help the overall effectiveness and avoid the infamous fatigue/doped sensation that drives patients away.

What is L-Tyrosine and at 40mg in 2 doses, why would you need this to maintain levels? Can you explain? Why wouldn't 80 mg in the morning for all day work the same?

Hmmm... Finally toned down my 8 years of impulse partying. I was a WRECK. Lucky I'm at uni doing a non-intensive course because full time work or study would have been thrown out the window. I mean one time I went out on a Wednesday for "a beer". Four days later, after ridiculous amounts of alcohol and drugs, over $1000 blown, and hardly any sleep, I crawled into bed. That's how impulsive and pleasure-seeking I am without Strattera. Been working on the house, much more organised. Not sure about the focus/concentration, maybe a little improvement, but hard to judge. Sex drive greatly improved! Odd for a vasorestricting drug! I've recently opted for a mild dose of Concerta for concentration/focus because Strattera didn't seem to help greatly there.

What is L-Tyrosine and at 40mg in 2 doses, why would you need this to maintain levels? Can you explain? Why wouldn't 80 mg in the morning for all day work the same?

Sorry for the late reply. 80mg once should work fine, but some people react a little better to dividing the dose. I take L-Tyrosine, an amino acid which when taken alone, is synthesized into dopamine and norepinephrine, two neurotransmitters connected with attention. Strattera inhibits the re-uptake of Norepinephrine. Sometimes people get tired and dopey on Strattera. Many think it is because Strattera might actually cause your body to deplete its natural supply of norepinephrine. Taking L-Tyrosine would keep a ready supply and avoid the dopey symptoms. Of course, if this is happening, chances are the Strattera dosage might be a little too high. I've discovered this since my last post and cut back down to 40mg, where I hope to stay. Hope this helps.

Hey, new member. My 10 year-old-son has ADHD and has been put on Stattera 10mg for the last 10 days, today we upped it to 18mg. In just this short time his grades are much better, up to 80 from constant 60's. He has better focus on projects like building sets and his homework, which took 2-3 hours, he is now doing in about 45 minutes. Only noticed one thing and that is a dry cough and almost flu-like symptoms the first days. I do not know if this was related to the Stattera. he is sleeping well and lately when I check on him near bedtime he is already asleep, a first. I was hesitant to give him cough syrup for the disruptive cough in the mornings, but a low dose of children's cough syrup has worked OK. I will watch him closely over the next 2 weeks when we return to the doctor. The cough is still there after 10 days, has anyone seen this. It almost seems tik related and I am watching for that. He would lick his lips or chew his cuffs when he was younger. I am also wondering if anyone has had problems with allergy medicines like Zyrtek taken with Stattera. I know it has been a short time but I am hopefull, his ADHD is mild so I do not forsee using a high dose of anything. I will keep updating as treatment progresses, so far, so good. The doctor recommended Stattera as a place to start on meds.

.I have had the most VIVID dreams of my life. I have had a few nightmares but I actually remember what I dream in the mornings.

Having same experience now, only in my second week and having ALOT of bad side effects, but strangely the dry mouth from Adderall is GONE and most vivid dreams ever, if I could DVR my brain I would have some Hollywood Blockbuster Action sequences for sure, consistent theme of being involved with some kind of group of elite badasses who are being pursued and outnumbered but some other elite badasses but we still kick *** and win, I'm talking "The Matrix" type action and shooting sequences, it's actually fun and entertaining.
So far this drug is definetly not a success story, but I'm trying my hardest to stick it out until I adjust, I've had some feelings of helplessness and worthlessness creep in, but I know they aren't me so I force them out and try to keep going.

Hello!
Hoping to get advice on how to overcome my procrastination. I put off EVERYTHING -- even fun stuff. My house is a mess (I'll do housework tomorrow!), my weight has skyrocketed (I'll start the diet tomorrow), and my love life is non-existent (shouldn't date until I lose the weight). As I write this, the excuses look really bad!

I got focused when on Concerta (loved it!), but it did not agree with my heart; it made my heart race. I can do without the extra focus, I guess, but certainly would like to overcome my put-it-off-forever approach. I have heard that Strattera helps with procrastination. Is it -- like stimulants -- a worry for those of us who have heart concerns?

Seeing the doc tomorrow, but would like to be armed with info beforehand.
Thanks!
pmhlb

It's been over a month that my 10 yo son has been on strattera. he started on 10mg and is at 18mg now. He is doing great, better at school and very sweet and loving. I was concerned about the initial side effects, he had a dry cough and diminished appetite, those have subsided. His main problem seemed to stem from hyperactivity. He was diagnosed ADHD but I am starting to realize he is hyperactive with possible child depression. This is new to me but it is starting to make sense, depression can take on strange forms in a kid. Anyway he is now taking 5mg of Adderall in the am to help the hyperactivity in school. He takes 18mg of strattera at bedtime and this is seems to work. We were taking L-tryosine 100mg at night also but have stopped because of a post I saw here. He doesn't have juice anymore in the morning but we eat gummy vitamins and vitamin E and probiotics. So far so good, grades, homework and conduct improving. I think the low dosages are working and will go a month like this before making changes. I realize every case is unique and there is no magic bullet, an umbrella encompassing therapy, meds, diet and loads of patience seems to be moving us forward. he is involved in the process and is present when I speak to therapists and doctors (most of the time) I tell him it is similar to having to wear glasses, there is a something we are born with that requires us to visit an eye doctor who can make us something that allows us to function, see, better. I have to take meds for high blood pressure and I take supplements along with him, this helps ease the feeling of him being on meds.