Starting Strattera - Group Journal

[redpanda]

Just took my first 10 mg dose of Strattera. This is the first medication I have tried, so I won't have much to compare it to, other than my natural state. I was not diagnosed as having ADHD (at least according to the one psychologist I went to), but the psychiatrist suggested Strattera anyway because it would help with anxiety and focus.

I will take 10mg/day for the first week, then 18mg/day for a week, then 25mg/day for a week, and finally 36mg/day until I meet again with the psychiatrist.

I came home around noon and decided to take my first dose then. I feel rather sleepy now. I don't know if that is a side effect or if it is because I got up early and could use a mid-afternoon nap.

Anyway, I will update if anything interesting happens in the next few weeks.

[TheDude722]

Redpanda,

I just started Strattera. I'm also staring with a smaller dose and working my way up, but I'm starting at 25mg, then 40, 60 and 80, unless I find that it's too much, then I'll drop back down to something lower.

This is my 3rd day on it. I have felt very tired a couple of hours after taking it, and just called my doctor to see if it was okay to take it at night instead. He said that was fine, I've noticed a lot of people actually take it night for that reason, or sometimes because of nausea problems.

Despite feeling tired during the day, I had trouble sleeping at night. (same thing happened when I tried Adderall, although Adderall was even worse) I can not take naps during the day b/c it just messes up my sleep schedule and I won't fall asleep at night, so I'm hoping the switch to taking it at night helps.

Everyone says Strattera takes a while to work, usually around 4-6 weeks. I've also heard many people say the side effects go away after a while too, so I'm hoping to give this at least a month to give it a fair chance. You might want to consider taking it at night (ask your doctor first) if you continue to feel tired during the day.

I will post more messages later on this thread to let you (and others) updated on my situation in hopes it will help people who have a similar reaction. Good luck, hope it works out for you.

[TheDude722]

I am on day 6 of Strattera and have not slept well at all. I spend all night waking up every 30 minutes and the feeling I have is similar to trying to sleep while having a fever. A lot of vivid dreams, crazy thoughts bouncing around my head.

I know it takes a while for Strattera to work (4 weeks or more sometimes) so I'm trying to give it a chance. I've already tried Adderall and had to stop that because I couldn't sleep. I was told by my doctor that if you can't sleep on Adderall (I tried it for 8 days) that it is not likely to ever work.

Anyone out there have a similar experience with Strattera? If so, how long did it take you before you could sleep?

I'm willing to keep going with it only because I don't have any other good options as far as medications go after Strattera. Any experiences people would like to share would be greatly appreciated.

[yepimonfire]

I'll jump in here too. Just started, doc gave me a pack that titrates you up. Have a pretty terrible hangover today so it's gonna be hard to tell if i'm having sides or just the booze from last night.

[yepimonfire]

So the strattera seems to have knocked the hangover out, and i feel like i took adderall without the cascade of dopamine. I feel better focused.