Dex and I aren't playing well together and I need advice on Strattera

[Crazygirl79]

Ok I've been on dex since October last year and it's not going so well apart from the fact I can focus a little better.

1: I'm having more headaches
2: I'm more depressed
3: I'm more aggressive (coming out of an abusive relationship doent's help)
4: Some of the tics are flaring up at times

I was originally on 4 tablets day which was dropped to 3 per day and now has dropped to 2 per day, I want to get off these little white pills and switch to Strattera but I cannot afford the $130AUD for 28 or 30 tablets per months until June next year (I'm currently on disability until my vet nursing traineeship starts)

What I want to know is what are people's views on Strattera and what affects has it caused good and bad???

Selena

[Yarrgh]

I haven't taken strattera before, but I've heard both good and bad things about it, like you will for essentially all medicines. I asked my psychiatrist about strattera, and it was immediately dismissed and I was instead put on stimulants, which I thought was kind of funny, although currently according to the american psychiatric association it is considered a second line treatment, whereas stimulants are first line.

I'm fairly sure that if you fail or have a poor response to two stimulants, then it's recommended that strattera is tried next.

However, I've heard some people augment strattera with a stimulant, and it works well for them.

There should be a strattera success story sticky in the strattera forum under medication.

Anyways, I suppose you ultimately you can't gauge efficacy until you've actually tried the drug, good luck! It definitely helps some people, or else it wouldn't be approved solely for ADHD, that's my thoughts.



Oh yeah, did you notice these symptoms initially with the dex? I was just wondering because I've recently started it, and I haven't had them yet. So I'm really hoping it's not something some people can develop throughout the course of their treatment.

[Driver]

Whilst having never tried it, I'm not convinced it's an effective treatment for ADHD as it does not work on dopamine.

For me, it's not worth the time and effort to make an appointment with my psych, and then pay the $130 for a month's supply.

[Crazygirl79]

I'm honestly beginning to wonder if going back on medication was worth it at all?...after all I only went back on it to please my ex truth be told.

To be honest in some ways things have gone from bad to worse since getting back on it...

I may look into something else perhaps??

Selena

[Driver]

Our options in Australia are, to politely put it, f*cked.

Our options are Dexamphetamine, Ritalin IR & XR, Concerta and Strattera. Only Ritalin IR & Dex are available on the PBS to adults, otherwise we pay full price.

For the record, I'm med-free partly by choice and partly due to that Dex & Ritalin IR have gluten in them. As I'm already paying $30+ p/m for Lexapro, I'm not paying another $130 pm for ADD meds.

[Crazygirl79]

Tell me something I don't Driver (options in Australia being f**ked) I'm painfully aware of that!!

I totally understand your refusal to pay $130AUD per month for ADD meds...I don't like that idea much either.

If I may ask what is Lexapro and what is it used for??

Oh and there's no f**king way I'm going back on Ritalin!!

Selena

[Driver]

Lexapro is an SSRI anti-depressant that also treats anxiety & OCD et al.

[Crazygirl79]

Cool...I probably need an antidepressant for the depression more than anything but am having trouble looking for a suitable one.

Selena

[Driver]

Choosing an anti-depressant is a lesson in deciding the lessor of two evils.

[Crazygirl79]

Yes I know that too...I've been on a variety of antidepressants since the age of 14...

Selena