Anybody wanting to share how Strattera is working?

[bhodges]

Just wondering if any Strattera users would feel like sharing their thoughts on how well it has worked for them (or not) by doing a rating at RemedyFind? Here is the Strattera page - http://remedyfind.com/rem.asp?ID=5032

We've only had a handful of ratings so far and I think everyone would be interested in seeing if it is as helpful as the marketing claims.
Many thanks, Brett Hodges

[tiggwin]

I just posted this at the remedyfind website:

Straterra is working for me. The side-effects, nausia and diziness, are starting to go away after a week. Labido and hunger are unaffected. However, I'm still not sleeping straight through the night as I usually did before.

On the bright side, my attention and focus is now crystal clear. I keep thinking the analogy of "putting blinders on" is pretty accurate. A few times I actually tried to let my brain free fall and see what random images/memories i picked up. That was kind of challenging actually where before it was natural. An example is where today, cutting the grass, a typcial boring task that is perfect for letting the mind wander, I found I was actually focusing on cutting the frickin' grass. Imagine that.

That brings me to a worry. I wonder if it will limit my ability to brainstorm on the fly, etc. I guess time will tell.

Overall, I'm getting MUCH better results with Stattera than with Wellbutrin (took for 7 years). I've never taken a prescribed stimulant so I can't make that comparison.

[why]

This very interesting to me. I've been on Wellbutrin for a few years now. I agree it does little for the ADD symptoms (it does work, but the effect may incidental). I find Wellbutrin keeps me out of the deep holes that result from not being to manage my ADD, I don't get to down on myself and am able to try again.

I would like to add a drug like Straterra on a "as needed" basis. I can manage to keep out of trouble, in most cases, on Wellbutrin alone - but it isn't enough for the times when I need to perform. It may be that I'd be happy using it daily along with Wellbutrin - I guess I'll find out. I am a bit concerned about giving up the "advantages" of ADD - that's why I say - "as needed".

If you don't mind I'd really like to read about your experience. Keep us posted on your progress. Cheers.

[bhodges]

Hi Tiggwin - thanks so much for your excellent review. I love the example of mowing the grass - such a visual example. If you do feel like also doing a rating of how Wellbutrin worked for your ADD - it sounds like it didn't - your thoughts on it would be great too. Here is its page - http://remedyfind.com/rem.asp?ID=5021

Cheers, Brett

[LindaMatteson34]

Tiggwin, Hi there my name is Linda and we have a son name Davey, who is on Wellbutrin, Zyprexia, Strattera and of course, he's has Allegra for allergies, but he now has to take 2.5 of the Zyprexia and has to take Strattera at night and Wellbutrin in the morning and one in the afternoon, so I thought I would let you know. my e-mail address is one of the two it's ( email addresses removed by admin) , I would appreciate the response on that if any. Thanks. Linda from Pa

[joanrdtobe]

Hi Linda: Just to let you know, ADD Forums is pretty much an open forum meaning private e-mails are discouraged -- so that everyone can have the opportunity to see everybody else's responses.....Also having your private e-mail address here is probably not the best idea as it does invite spammers.....You could always private message someone if you like

[tiggwin]

Originally posted by why
I am a bit concerned about giving up the "advantages" of ADD - that's why I say - "as needed".

That's exactly what I'm concerned about. That's also why I keep thinking a stimulant might be worth trying. You can come down every 24 hours to revisit your "old self" as your body metabolizes it. That my be good or bad depending on the tiiming, but at least you'd be aware of the concrete differences. I think I stayed on Wellbutrin a long time after it lost it's effect simply because I forgot what I felt like being off of it. (There was no difference obvious difference towards the end.)

[tiggwin]

Originally posted by LindaMatteson34
has to take Strattera at night and Wellbutrin in the morning and one in the afternoon

How is he sleeping? Right now I'm only taking 40mg of Straterra around 6:00 am, and I still notice slightly lower quality sleep 16 hours later. I feel the effects within an hour of taking it, too.

Wellbutrin caused my heart rate to increase some, and sleep quality suffered at first. If I forgot to take my noon pill, early on I'd just take it whenever I remembered--right before bed even. Bad move. Sleep quality and quantity suffered. Later on, I'd never take it past 3:00pm for that reason. I hope it works well for your son. These drugs work differently for everyone so I wish you well. Just know if he's cranky, it could be the timing not the medicine.

My sleep issues from Wellbutrin eventually became non-existant unless I took after dinner.

[why]

How long were you on Wellbutrin? I used it consistently for over two years and then took a break. Let me tell you I noticed the difference! Oh sure life didn't change overnight, but in a few months I really noticed my mood slinking; I was more self-concious and generaly less productive. I returned to it last week at half my usual dosage and currently I'm probably experiencing the placebo effect - that is - I do feel better even though the drug hasn't likely became effective yet.

I never did feel that the earth moved for me by using Wellbutrin - it was just there making the "jaggies" of my life a little less "pointy".

As for a stimulant, we know when we have things that need to get done - I'd use it then. So instead of keeping a huge project on the shelf until the night before and completing it in a few feverishly brilliant (not my ego talking, I just seem to perform very well under pressure - I just can't do it for sustained times)hours, I'd start taking the stimulants a couple of weeks beforehand and get more completed earlier. So whatever "smarts" in my brain can get used for achieving uncommon results rather than simply - acheiving.

[tiggwin]

Originally posted by why
How long were you on Wellbutrin? ... I never did feel that the earth moved for me by using Wellbutrin - it was just there making the "jaggies" of my life a little less "pointy".

Actually, I just took my last 100mg today after 2 weeks of weening. I was on WB for Seven years. That's long enough to start taking it for granted and forget what my pre-WB brain was like. I'll admit it may have helped more than I realize. I never had even slight problems with depression so the main effect was a feeling of energy and a vague feeling of not getting overwhelmed when I may have otherwise (vague enough to never have completely ruled out a placebo effect).

Overall, I'd say it did help, but was it my best option? For anti-depressants at the time, probably. But I keep coming back to the idea of stiimulants.

As for a stimulant, we know when we have things that need to get done - I'd use it then.

That makes sense. I'll ask my doctor about either using them as needed or replacing Strattera with stims if the side-effects don't completely subside.

[LostandFound]

Hello alll - i'll share!

I am on my 12th day of Straterra - 60mgs.

The first few days I felt like I was on Cold/Sinus Medicine. Tingly head - you know when you rub your fingers over your head and can still feel the sensation. Kind of Zombie like. Cold chills and very tired. No appetite. A little nausea - nothing severe. Major sleep disturbance though, very relaxed when I went to bed,but just couldn't fall asleep and then I would wake up in the middle of the night wide awake and couldn't go back to sleep. However, I have always had really disturbed sleep - it has just intensified.


Day 12 - no tingly head, not zombie like, no cold chills, a little nausea - passed in a few minutes. Still having the disturbed sleep. I have not experienced any "positive" effects so I am still waiting for it to kick in. I still have trouble focusing at work, leaving my desk, etc. However, I have lost 4 lbs - which is a positive effect for me since I could stand to lose about 5 more, okay 10 more!


My 6 year old daughter has now been on Straterra for 4 weeks. Aside from being tired the first week, she has not complained about any side effects. This week has been a major improvement. I took her to daycare today and she went right in without clinging and throwing a fit AND she sat down at a table with other little girls and they looked happy to see her - I almost started crying. She has not really had any friends and is basically disagreeable most of the time. I have asked her to not do something and she has stopped doing it without arguing. PLUS - she at her whole dinner tonight without stopping, fussing, sliding under the table, looking out the window, whining, dropping her fork, sitting on the edge of her seat, complaining, and chasing the cat. She weighs the same as she did the first day she started Straterra - but I was worried about her losing weight as she is petite, so I have really been monitoring her food, etc.

I will do a update in a few days!

Lost and Found

[shamroc5]

Originally Posted by bhodges

Hi Tiggwin - thanks so much for your excellent review. I love the example of mowing the grass - such a visual example. If you do feel like also doing a rating of how Wellbutrin worked for your ADD - it sounds like it didn't - your thoughts on it would be great too. Here is its page - http://remedyfind.com/rem.asp?ID=5021

Cheers, Brett

I know this topic is a few years old, but I wanted to comment on this: I also love the example of cutting the grass: I am like that about almost everything. I feel guilty when I am supposed to be paying attention, like to my kids, paying attention to the moment if I am spending time with them - because I often find myself listening to the constant thoughts in my head and forgetting what we are doing exactly in the moment. I would like to really be in the moment like the above scenario of actually just focusing on the grass cutting, boring as it would be.... maybe my experiences would be better because I could be paying attention fully to them! I am soon to be trying Strattera, just waiting on insurance. I really hope it works for me....!