Strattera & A Female Perspective

[polli2324]

I have been on Strattera for about 2 1/2 weeks. My doc gave me a prescription for 10mg Adderall XL & then gave me 40mg SAMPLES of the Strattera. My insurance won't pay for the Strattera until we have tried the other meds covered by them like Adderall. However, she wanted me to take the Strattera, not the Adderall. So I did.

I have been on 3 differant anti-depressants for 10 years and have never felt like they have really made a difference. Still felt depressed. Could never get that 'normal' feeling. I have a pretty perfect life - why should I be depressed? Just recently I discovered I am ADD. It's almost like a weight had been lifted. It ALL made sense - finally!!!

Well, after 2 1/2 weeks on the Strattera I have been more depressed, a little more on edge, and have eaten like a crazed woman who has never eaten before. I stopped the Strattera 2 days ago & have taken the Adderall these last 2 mornings. I feel so much better! Feel more upbeat, don't feel depressed, back to eating normal.

I am concerned because my doc is not a fan of Adderall. She says it is not been studied completely for Adult ADD whereas the Strattera is more geared towards ADULT ADD. I do have a doc's appt in 1 1/2 weeks to follow up w/ the meds. I know she is going to tell me that I didn't give the Strattera enough time - she said it could take up to 6 months to get the full effect. 6 months!!!! - I will be 500lbs by that time.

Has anyone else had these symptoms with Strattera? I have seen a couple of people mention that Strattera seems to work better for men than women. That is why I have posted here.

Needs a females perspective.
Many thanks!
Chris

[Titanica]

I have not taken Strattera. I see my doc for an evaluation next week but Strattera is high on my list because I am nursing and Adderall is a big no-no for nursing.

I am a big believer in do what works for you. Not only is the Adderall paid for by your insurance but you feel better on it! Dont' be ashamed of what is working. Tell your doc and if she doesn't agree with your choice, switch docs.

[greytgang]

Originally Posted by polli2324

I have been on Strattera for about 2 1/2 weeks. My doc gave me a prescription for 10mg Adderall XL & then gave me 40mg SAMPLES of the Strattera. My insurance won't pay for the Strattera until we have tried the other meds covered by them like Adderall. However, she wanted me to take the Strattera, not the Adderall. So I did.

I have been on 3 differant anti-depressants for 10 years and have never felt like they have really made a difference. Still felt depressed. Could never get that 'normal' feeling. I have a pretty perfect life - why should I be depressed? Just recently I discovered I am ADD. It's almost like a weight had been lifted. It ALL made sense - finally!!!

Well, after 2 1/2 weeks on the Strattera I have been more depressed, a little more on edge, and have eaten like a crazed woman who has never eaten before. I stopped the Strattera 2 days ago & have taken the Adderall these last 2 mornings. I feel so much better! Feel more upbeat, don't feel depressed, back to eating normal.

I am concerned because my doc is not a fan of Adderall. She says it is not been studied completely for Adult ADD whereas the Strattera is more geared towards ADULT ADD. I do have a doc's appt in 1 1/2 weeks to follow up w/ the meds. I know she is going to tell me that I didn't give the Strattera enough time - she said it could take up to 6 months to get the full effect. 6 months!!!! - I will be 500lbs by that time.

Has anyone else had these symptoms with Strattera? I have seen a couple of people mention that Strattera seems to work better for men than women. That is why I have posted here.

Needs a females perspective.
Many thanks!
Chris

I have been on Strattera for several months and never had a problem with eating more. Actually I lost appetite for a while because I drank a lot of water instead. With my weight - 100 pounds - loosing appetite could have become a problem but I did grow out of it and now I eat the same way I used to.

Regarding depression: I never really suffered from it, either before or while taking Strattera. With Strattera I don't feel any other symptoms besides dry mouth at this point. This medication has worked for me so far. And yes, it can take a few months for it to reach its full effects.

Alexandra

[luvmi3kids]

Originally Posted by Titanica

I have not taken Strattera. I see my doc for an evaluation next week but Strattera is high on my list because I am nursing and Adderall is a big no-no for nursing.

I had to stop nursing when I started Starttera. I couldn't get a straight answer as to whether or not it would tranfer into the milk. My Psychologist had no idea, and my pediatrician, herself not a big proponent of nursing, reccomended against it. So I stopped and cried and cried. I had nursed for 8 1/2 months, and my goal had been to nurse him until he was a year old. But I just didn't want to take a chance.

[Titanica]

luvmikids...I'm so sorry you didn't get the support you needed. I am fortunate that my daughter is going to be 2 in 10 days and I'm still nursing her. She's pretty attached to the boob right now so the idea of weaning her is really tearing at my heart. She won't take it well. My son nursed for 28 months and weaned very easily.

Anyway, this is some info I got from a website from a guy who studies medications in breastmilk. MOST drug companies will state you can't nurse on their meds to cover their butts. They haven't usually studied it at any great length to see if it enters the breastmilk or not...and most doctors are not knowledgeable about medications and breast milk.

There's been limited amounts of information about many medications but I'll refer you to this site.
http://neonatal.ttuhsc.edu/lact/

Here is what he says in the forums on Adderall and Ritalin....

Adderal is just dextroamphetamine. On page 205 of my book, I have a complete rundown on this drug.

As for an alternative, I'd suggest Ritalin. While we don't have any published data, we've studied milk levels in several women and they are modestly low. Doesn't seem to bother the infants.

Tom Hale, PH.D.

And on Strattera.....

Dr. Green:

First, as you suspect, we have no data on the transfer of Strattera(atomoxetine) into human milk. It belongs to the norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor family somewhat similar to venlafaxine(Effexor). Also, its half-life is relatively brief (about 5 hours in adults and children) which is beneficial as you would not expect it to build up in the plasma compartment of children.

In addition, it is cleared for children 6 and greater, which suggests its not overly toxic to children.

From its structure, I would guess that about 5% or less of the maternal dose will transfer to milk, but this is only a guess.

But you also suggest that this is a 16 month old infant. It is generally known that the older the infant(after 6 months), the less milk it takes daily. I would guess that this mom produces about 100cc/day or less (but this is highly variable). Adding this amount of milk into the equation, the overall dose transferred to the infant is likely quite low.

As for alternatives, there are few. I've studied several moms on Ritalin whose milk levels were not overly high, but I hesitate to quote this data as I've only studied two moms.

Until we know more about the absolute milk levels of Strattera, it is a big guess as to how much actually passes into milk. Should you decide to use it, just watch for abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, weight loss, and somnolence as markers that its being transferred in clinically relevant amounts to the infant.

Here's the link to these responses...

http://neonatal.ama.ttuhsc.edu/discu...tml?1076427105

Essentially, I'll see what my doc says when I see him next week. If he prescribes Adderall, I'll ask if he thinks Ritalin is a good alternative to try until my daughter weans.

[CAmom]

Hi polli2324,

I took Strattera for 1 week. During that week I suffered horrible headaches, and I lost my appetite, opposite of your experience. My doctor told me to give it at least 2 weeks. So, I went back on it. I just ended up suffering for 2 weeks more.

I did not suffer the depression you suffered on Strattera. However, the next drug I started to take, Ritalin, definitely made me depressed. The change was significant. I had never felt that way before. It was awful!

I have learned/heard that different ADHD drugs work at different dosages for different people. There does not seem to be any consistency.

Strangely enough, what has helped me is Zoloft, an anti-depressant. I do not have depression, but a year before I was diagnosed with ADHD I suffered from a period of anxiety. They prescribe Zoloft for anxiety too. I loved it immediately! It not only got me back to normal, it made me "better" somehow. At that point I knew nothing of AD/HD.

My doc told me that she might have to increase my dosage if I notice my anxiety returning. Well, my anxiety did not return. Instead, I realized my head started to get noisy...again. The Zoloft took away noise in my head that I never knew was there. That was around the time my son was diagnosed with ADHD. Not surprisingly, a few months later, I was diagnosed.

I'm sharing all this because there might be other things out there other than Strattera or Aderall that may help you also, depending on your type of AD/HD. Your experience will be different from others, guaranteed! Plus, (did you know?) that most of the drug in the market are tested on men in clinical trails. So, we women can expect different reactions to the med in the market than what is written on those info sheets.

My doctor wants to put me on more traditional ADHD meds, but I'm still enjoying the effects of the Zoloft. It probably isn't as effective as some other meds I could take, but after years of not knowing any differently, I'm staying with this one for now.

I've also heard great stuff about DHA, a fish oil. That's what I'm trying next.

Good luck.

[Titanica]

FTR...I am on Concerta and have been for 2 weeks and still nursing and my daughter has not shown the slightest bit of effect at all. It's going beautifully.

[spacecookie]

I wondered about Strattera. I read it is not a stimulant, but a psychiatrist I went to said it is. He also said that if I took it, I would need to take an antidepressant.

Currently I take Wellbutrin (not the XR - made me whacky) and 0.5 mg of Elavil (to help me sleep but here is it 3:25 am and I also drank two cups of warm milk - still awake)

Anyway - any info on whether Strattera is a stimulant would be nice to find out.

[exeter]

Strattera is definitely not a stimulant. However, it can be stimulating in some people. In addition to the good effect of giving one more energy, it can also cause nervousness, tremor, and insomnia, just like a stimulant. It can also cause lethargy and sleepiness. Your mileage will definitely vary.

[Imnapl]

Originally Posted by spacecookie

I also drank two cups of warm milk - still awake)

O.M.G! Not warm MILK!

[ktucker]

I have been on Strattera for a month now and Zoloft (originally for post partum depression) for nearly a year. I decided to stop nursing because I didn't want to take the risk of problems.
I initially thought Strattera was working for me but now I feel more irritable, more depressed and more 'out of sorts' than ever. I have a Dr appt on Tuesday so we will see what he says. I do know he plans to take me off the Zoloft.
I am desperate to find a drug that works. I don't want my kids to think their Mom is 'nuts' when they grow up.

[Titanica]

From what I have seen, most Strattera is hit or miss with people. Have you tried traditional stimulant therapy like Concerta or Adderall? They may work much better for you!

[MafiaKiddo]

Think it was kind of dumb for your doctor to try straterra first especially since you have a history of no luck with antidepressants. Oh and if you do go with a stimulant Adderall, Ritalin etc they've all been around and been studied way longer then straterra so don't let this doctors misinformation scare or confuse you. Honestly if it's possible I'd find a different doctor. Sounds like this one either isn't very knowledgable or has another agenda.

[addithink]

I am on Straterra for 3 weeks , I am stil waiting for the effects to work. I had side effects too but they were loss of appetite,headaches,nausea and insomnia.

Straterra is not a stimulant, my doc says its an antidepressant.

[Zuleika]

I've been on Straterra for nearly a year. I also take Prozac for depression and there's an interaction which supposedly intensifies the action of the Straterra. My doc was hesitant to put me on a full dose of Straterra and it's only been just recently that I was able to convince him to up it. I'm still only at 75%.

Straterra has bunches of side effects which in my experience mostly go away as your body adapts. It does make me sleepy, so I can't take it during the day. But it's also a bit stimulating, so I take it at night and then have very restless sleep. Sigh.

My doc wouldn't put me on any of the Class B drugs until I'd had a formal diagnosis, and that's taken a while (I'm waiting for the results now, but the testing is done), so he went with Straterra. My insurance approved it, but we had to make a request and the co-pay is still $50.

Now that my dose is up I'm definitely feeling clearer and more sensible. I have a problem with hyper-focus and that seems to be receeding, which is good. I'm also becoming a bit more aware of time and organization, which have also been huge issues for me. I may eventually push to up the meds to the regular dose.

I also really like that it's more a long acting drug than the stimulants. It's good that it's already in my system and functioning when I wake up in the morning, and I don't have to remember to take it just to get going. If I forget a dose, it's not a huge deal. I think the ups and downs of the stimulants wearing off would drive me crazy. That's the last thing I need.

Anyway, I just wanted to chime in and say I've had good luck with Straterra, and I wouldn't want to discourage someone from trying it just because she's female. Everyone's different, and something else might end up working better for you, but don't rule out Straterra automatically.