I am going to have to go off of this stuff. I am a wreck and I *think* it's the Strattera that's doing it.

Suicidal thoughts -- anger outbursts -- crying for no reason -- hormones all screwed up -- hair falling out and acne -- I'm done with it -- and, on top of that, it's really not helping my ADD -- it helped for like two weeks and then poof, nothing -- the only positive effect I've had is a couple of pounds of weight loss, but that won't really matter if I end up throwing myself off a bridge!

I'm really disappointed but I just can't do it anymore. I'm kind of upset because I went through all those stupid side effects for nothing. I hope I don't have those awful withdrawal effects I've heard about. I am going to reschedule my appt. with my pdoc for this week because I won't go off of it without her approval.

Back to Wellbutrin for me! My pdoc is not even mentioning Ritalin which worked so well for me before. I don't understand why . . . maybe the ADD is just something I'll have to work around.

Anyone else start out OK on Strattera and then have a downhill slide? It's only been 6 weeks and I'm only on 40 mgs.

I went downhill on Strattera too. It made me very agitated and irritable. I was yelling at everyone for no reason. Mom had told me it was changing my whole personality. It didn't help with the attention either. I was only able to take it for a week and had to stop it. The pdoc I use to see (he moved to a different department) doesn't like to prescribe Strattera because of how bad it can be for some people.

If the Strattera is making you go downhill I'd say immediately stop the medication and tell the doctor right away what is going on. For me, I couldn't continue Strattera because it was messing me up big time. This was all before my Bipolar 1 diagnosis so my reaction may have related to bipolar...

Best of Luck,
Andy...

Hi there i was the same on strattera, at first i was on 40mg, suicidal thoughts angry and stuff then i upped my dose to 80mg and the suicidal thoughts went, where i don't know and touch wood they haven't come back, still a bit angry, nothing like i was though.

I can't add anything from experience with Strattera, but I do know how you feel. I am sorry you are suffering. Treating this is delicate, difficult and driven by companies that frankly don't give too much of a damn about us...only our money.

Feel better.

Well, I stopped taking the Strattera. I called my pdoc and let her know and hopefully she will call me back. I started feeling better pretty much immediately and besides some withdrawal effects (shakiness, lightheadedness, just feeling "yucky,') I'm not having much of a problem. I'm disappointed because it worked well for a short time, and I don't think my doc wants to prescribe a stimulant. We'll see, I'm just glad the suffering on it is over.

Glad to hear you are feeling better. I hope your pdoc will get back to you with some good news...

I'm sorry to hear of your bad experience with Strattera. I really can't understand why ever they start people at 40 mg. It seems way too high to me.

I am 1.5 weeks on 18 mg, without serious side effects - and last night and this morning, I am finally feeling the benefit :). I woke up feeling like a runner waiting at the starting blocks, excited to get going and yet not anxious or rushed. I just lay there for a few minutes taking it in. I don't think I have ever felt like that in my life before! I usually delayed as long as possible and then dragged myself out of bed to start the day.

So you could consider a drastic reduction in dose. Less can be more, and some people find it more effective at a lower dose.
Good luck, anyway.

I am going to have to go off of this stuff. I am a wreck and I *think* it's the Strattera that's doing it.

Back to Wellbutrin for me! My pdoc is not even mentioning Ritalin which worked so well for me before. I don't understand why . . . maybe the ADD is just something I'll have to work around.

Anyone else start out OK on Strattera and then have a downhill slide? It's only been 6 weeks and I'm only on 40 mgs.

In general, most pdocs need to treat the BP first. Additionally, sometimes the ADD symptoms are really BP symptoms and will improve with treatment. That is probably why there is no mention of Ritalin.

Is hair falling out a side effect of Strattera?

I know it is a sign of thyroid porblems (have you noticed thining of your outer eyebrows too?), and since you say you are having hormone problems why not go to a (good) endocrinologist? Ask around or google for reviews on good ones...

Good luck!

I totally agree i can't understand how they start you off on 40mg, it definatley should be lowered i had a hard time starting at 40mg, but i stuck with it, thank god and i'm buzzing at life at the momment on my strattera, i'm now on 80mg.

Iv'e never wrote so mamy posts either so something is working with focus and attention. :) :) :)





I'm sorry to hear of your bad experience with Strattera. I really can't understand why ever they start people at 40 mg. It seems way too high to me.

I am 1.5 weeks on 18 mg, without serious side effects - and last night and this morning, I am finally feeling the benefit :). I woke up feeling like a runner waiting at the starting blocks, excited to get going and yet not anxious or rushed. I just lay there for a few minutes taking it in. I don't think I have ever felt like that in my life before! I usually delayed as long as possible and then dragged myself out of bed to start the day.

So you could consider a drastic reduction in dose. Less can be more, and some people find it more effective at a lower dose.
Good luck, anyway.

Hi Amie,

I'm so sorry that the Strattera didn't work for you although I'm not surprised as there is a warning to "tell your doctor" if you are bipolar or have a mood disorder on the prescribing info. for it. I was okayish- just "witch" attacks on 10 mgs. for a month but 20 mg. instantly made me homicidal. Thank goodness I only took it for two days, had I continued, I know I would be in jail, the mental hospital or dead right now. It was the worst medication experience I've ever had.

It certainly seems as if a lot of BPs have a horrible reaction to Strattera. I was discussing it once with my psychiatrist and he says he thinks it's an awful medication and that he very rarely prescribes it for this reason.

Medication problems suck and I hope something to help your ADD works out soon. Despite the adderall, I'm still an ADD disaster, but I'd be a lot worse without it. Fortunately Depakote is helping a lot with my symptoms although I still can't find anything in my newly organized (thanks to Abilify) apt. and I still do 6 tasks at once!

Hang in there & hopefully your doctor will consider Ritalin. Keep us posted.

good news about your success on the stratera. May I ask if you are on a mood stabilizer as well? thank you:)

I am 1.5 weeks on 18 mg, without serious side effects - and last night and this morning, I am finally feeling the benefit :). I woke up feeling like a runner waiting at the starting blocks, excited to get going and yet not anxious or rushed. I just lay there for a few minutes taking it in. I don't think I have ever felt like that in my life before! I usually delayed as long as possible and then dragged myself out of bed to start the day.

So you could consider a drastic reduction in dose. Less can be more, and some people find it more effective at a lower dose.
Good luck, anyway.[/quote]