Okay. Let me start this out by saying that I am absolutely not a patient person. Then again, how many of us ADHDers are?

I have been going through a long process of being diagnosed and started on treatment for ADHD, and my doctor has prescribed Strattera. I started taking it on Tuesday of this week, so today was day 5. I take 40 mg once a day, in the morning. I feel absolutely no helpful effects from this drug, and the side effects suck. I've been consistently nauseous, have no appetite until 8 pm every night, have the weird temp regulation problem and tingling that some others here have reported and have trouble falling asleep at night, probably partly due to the (very distracting!) tinnitus present.

The thing is, I'd be okay with these symptoms if it meant that I could focus better, or that my impulse control has improved. But those things have not happened. I know that I am supposed to give this medication some time to work, but what's the point if I feel so crappy all the time before even knowing if it'll work? I'd rather just be put on something that gives me instant gratification, then the side effects might feel a little more tolerable.

I don't know why I posted this, I guess more of a rant than anything else. But if anyone has any stories about how they hated the side effects but after week 2 or whatever the stuff started working and it was totally worth it, please tell me now so that I can feel better about this!

Yes that is common. The side effects will be rough for first few weeks, then it will get better.

perhaps your doctor should have started you on a lower dose.

if you really can't STAND your side effects, call your doctor.


if you can tolerate them longer, just try and 'suck it up' (i just mean, try and suffer through). i know that doesn't sound easy, but you're already further along than i am (day 3) and i've been moody all day because i don't want to wait this out. but i know i should.

we just gotta try. if nothing else, we should try to at least say we did. strattera really does work for some.

My doctor didn't seem to be very well informed about ADHD. He mumbled something about 40 mg or 80 mg and said he sent off the rx, and that was that. I will be starting to go to the campus health services next month (I'm starting graduate school), but I do still have a month of my previous insurance as well, so I do plan on going to see my current doctor one more time. However, I'll be out of town for the next 2 weeks, so basically I have until at least then before I can get this adjusted correctly if it's wrong. Kinda sucks. :(

I take 80 mg Strattera in the morning. By the time you get done with week 3 the side effects are very minimal (at least for me), I have been taking Strattera for 5 weeks and hardly even notice them now. The only thing that still bothers me is it does make me drowsy so I've considered taking it at night.

I wish I could tell you it works for me and it was totally worth it, but I have an appointment with a psychiatrist (regular doc was the one who tried me on the Strattera) to try something different. It doesn't help me focus at all. What it does help with are some of my hyperactive traits, I don't fidget very much and I used to be in constant motion and constantly fiddle with things that are near me. It has also helped with impatience greatly, I can tolerate waiting on others now with out feeling like I'm going to explode :)

So, at least it has been of some benefit to me, however, it doesn't help me in the area that is causing the biggest problems in my life right now, inattentiveness and concentration. My advice is to stick it out if you can, some people have claimed 4-6 weeks to reach the full benefit. Everyone is different and lots of people have benefited from this drug, you are already almost a week in and it could turn out to be the perfect medication for you.

Good luck!

From what I've read, it can actually take 6 to 8 weeks to reach optimal levels, although significant levels are reached within 3 weeks. I always suggest trying out Strattera for 2 months at the minimum. 90% of people who try Strattera don't give it a proper shot.

Just checking in. It's been a month, and the side effects have decreased, but it hasn't been affecting me in any other way at all now. My doctor told me to go off of it, and I'm seeing a psychiatrist tomorrow to discuss other treatment options.

sucks :(

why cant there just be a simple solution

I'll be honest. I like the decreased appetite (for food atleast, booze is another story) but I have yet to notice any benefits. Only been on it for a week though - was more anxious and distracted and unfocused this week (f-d up my finances) than I can remember. Today I bumped it up from 25 to 40 mgs and I still totally forgot to put my bike in the car so I could ride home from the service station. Looking around my apartment and not sure what to do first. I'll try to be patient but I might pop a ritalin (which in 10 minutes makes my muscles relax and a voice in my brain say "Oh, yes, I know exactly what I need to do first, and just how long that will take....") in a pinch.

Peace

Ritalin worked for me too and had barely any side effects. The side effects were a bit of dry mouth and sweating a little. Strattera makes me feel awful it's my 7th day and now I'm starting to feel depressed. I'm giving it one month as my dr. most likely will not prescribe me ritalin. I have no good benefits at all from taking it, that I almost feel guilty taking it because it could help someone else. The month supply I was given was free as I go to a sliding scale type dr since I'm uninsured. That's why I feel like maybe I should just give him back the pills. I'm going to call him today but I'm sure he'll tell me to keep taking it. I want to show him I am giving it a chance, I just hope if it doesn't end up working that he'll see ritalin is right for me. If not then I feel he isn't respecting the fact that I did try *crossing my fingers* that if he is not willing to prescribe ritalin that he'll at least give me a referrel.

It's great that he gave you samples. I haven't gotten any samples at all and I'm on my 3rd drug. If he tries something else, I guess I better ask for samples.

I don't have much experience with psychiatrists, but "regular doctors" seem to fall in 2 categories: they either give samples or they don't. And I don't understand that at all. I've seen the drug reps patiently waiting in the waiting rooms so they can give the stuff out. I even asked once if they had spares. lol

The side effects I had weren't tolerable at all. But I will say that so far Strattera is the only thing that I could see any effect from.

We even tried reducing the amount but it didn't help. And I don't recall what the dosage was. But everyone is different so it's irrelevant.