BIG,

Could you give us some more details about the Strattera / Decongestant interaction? What exactly did the pharmacist say?

I'm guessing anything that contains Pseudo-ephedrine would pose a potential problem, am I correct?

Re: http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=2248

The Pharmacist stated that any decongestant (which I believe would contain Pseudoephedrine, shrinks the blood vessels in the nose, permitting easier air flow. However, he said, that also restricts blood flow and increases blood pressure.

That, in and of itself, is not dangerous, unless you have high blood pressure, or you are on certain medications, of which Strattera is now apparently one of them.

Strattera apparently increases blood pressure, but again, not significantly on its own. However, combined with the decongestant, can lead to very high blood pressure.

Basically the decongestant is amplifying the effects that Strattera has on Neurotransmitter levels.

I have a feeling a lot of Medicines are going to start having warnings about use along side a Reuptake Inhibitor just like they warn now about MAOs Inhibitors.

I would have to agree with you on that. What I would like to do, and I'll try and get to it soon, is create a post that starts tracking reported side effects of meds, expecially newer ones, like Strattera.

There is a known negative interraction to Paxil by Strattera. Apparently it increases Strattera serum levels by 5-10X. I am dealing with this now. There doesn't seem to be any formulas out yet as to what dosage adjustments to make.

Man, I wish I had known that, I am on Strattera because I have high blood pressure, and I've been taking pseudoephedrine! I guess I'll ask my psych to renew my zertec or whatever won't interact to the meds

In doing some research for a fellow chatter I found these synonyms for pseudoephedrine which is the ingrediant that big listed that his friend said to stay away from. (takes breath)

Synonyms: isoephedrine, psi-ephedrine, d-psi-2-methylamino-1-phenyl-1-propanol, (1s,2s)-pseudoephedrine
Molecular formula: C10H15NO

Hope that helps.

From what my Dr told me, some antidepressants increase Strattera to an undesirable level--apparently Paxil is one. I take Lexapro and it does not do that. I do not know the full list of which ones which have that undesirable effect--a Google search might yield the info. The safest thing is to ask your dr or pharmacist.


As to blood pressure, my Dr asked me to stop my Strattera until such time as propanolol reduced it to a normal level--even though he did not believe the strattera was the cause of my elevated bp.
Also, I had been off the strattera for at least a couple of weeks--i don't know if one can safely "cold turkey' it--again, please ask your Dr.

hope this helps,

yes .. dbr .. I also was told the Welbutrin does the same thing to Straterra, which increases the side effects.

Jon