I'm sure a lot of these questions and issues have already been answered but I need some help. For over 2 years i've been treated for depression. I'm currently taking Effexor and it is working very well for me. In doing some research my psychiatrist and I have come to the conclusion that the depression might be a result of my potential ADD. I do not have ADHD so it isn't something that I ever really thought about until I did more reading and realized that I think i'm a prime candidate for the inattentive type of ADD.

Needless to say my Dr. started me on Strattera 3 days ago. She felt it was better to start with a non-stimulant drug. I agreeded with her. Here I am in day 3 and I feel worse than I did before. I feel numb and detached from everything. I'm tired and incredibly unmotivated. Am I jumping to a conclusion to quickly that Strattera isn't the drug for me?? Has anyone else had these types of feelings?? I really hate how i'm feeling right now, and frankly I don't feel any additional focus, i feel lost.

Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

I don't know what dose you are taking. Perhaps you could try starting on a lower dose and gradually increase. Often doctors start to high or elevate the dose to quickly. Perhaps the side effects will subside, and benefits show if you give it a day or two longer. I would give strattera a fair shot, as the stimulants and other medications have their own set of issues.

Just a thought:)

i'm only taking 25mg one time in the morning. This entire day has been brutal, i feel like a space cadet and i'm cranky as all hell. I'm significantly worse today than I have been in the past. I'm trying to say i'll take it again tomorrow AM, but if i'm going to be like this I don't want to.

I've just been taking Strattera for a week now and I have also been very tired and a little bit spacey. My doc told me if it made me tired to take it at night, which I started doing on the second day because the first day I napped a lot. It really seems to help, the first few days I was still a little sleepy but that's getting a little bit better. I am still just a little sleepy but I am not so spacey. Tonight I go up to 40mg from 25mg, I hope I don't get sleepier and spacey again.
Maybe you could try taking it at night, it really seems to have helped me.

Andrea, I'm curious how it has helped? I decided to tough it out and take another dose today. I definately don't feel as spacey but I also don't feel like it is doing anything.

Andrea, I'm curious how it has helped? I decided to tough it out and take another dose today. I definately don't feel as spacey but I also don't feel like it is doing anything.
It hasn't helped at all yet, but I am going up to 40mg tonight, I didn't expect to feel a difference until at least after that. The doc said and I have also read that it can take several weeks to feel the full effects. So my suggestion would be to tough it out at least until you go to the next higher dose. If the spaciness is still with you after a few days at the higher dose maybe you should just ask the doc or the pharmasist about it.

I'm still wondering if the sleepiness will ever completely go away, no one has been able to answer that question for me.:(

not sure it gives you an answer and i'm essentially a weak person when it comes to side effects, but i've decided to scrap Strattera. Along with the side effects it did indeed seem to slow down my brain processing, but that isn't what i'm looking for. I'm an innattentive ADD and I like how my brain processes things quickly but i lose focus. The more research i've done I think i need to try a stimulant (i'm trying Adderall on Monday).

I too have had many sleep issues and recently started taking Lunesta at night. I was stronly opposed to taking yet ANOTHER drug but my Dr. told me to give it a shot. It has been great. The nights I take it I only wake up maybe once or twice and feel much more refreshed in the morning. I'm starting to become comfortable with the fact that if chemistry helps me live a more productive and happier life than so be it.