Trying Strattera

[UrbanCowboy]

Well,
Although Concerta has helped my ADHD I have started having HUGE side effects. I am going to a new psychiatrist and he has put me on Strattera.

I'm already taking Effexor, so he said I should feel "bumped up" alot quicker because the Norepinephrine and such will already be loaded when I take Strattera.

I'm on my second day, at 80mgs a day and feel absolutely fine, maybe a little tired, but that is all.

I thought that it was giving me blinding headaches and muscle soreness, but it turns out that it is withdrawl from the Concerta, because after two cups of STRONG coffee the headache vanishes along with the muscle soreness.

Wish me luck ya'll.

Joseph

[Andrew]

Much luck Joseph...hang in there

[UrbanCowboy]

Well, it has been a couple of weeks now, that I am on Strattera. Coming down off of the Concerta was painful and HARD for me. I'm only taking 80mgs right now, and not having any side effects (other than dry mouth and sore throat, but they are both gone). I haven't noticed anything in regards to my concentration/attention yet, HOWEVER there is a HUGE difference in my mood, I am so incredibly c a l m , and never felt that way on Concerta. In two weeks I"m going up to 100 mgs, and I hope things just keep improving as they have been.

Joseph

[UrbanCowboy]

Well, I've been on 120mg of Strattera for over a month and a half now. It actually has helped where the stims hadn't, but I still miss the "sharp" attention span that the stims helped me with.

Has anybody experience with using Strattera and Methylphenidate/Ritalin/Concerta??

Joseph

[Andrew]

Combined, or ever?

I used to be on Ritalin, then switched to Strattera.

I don't take both at the same time, thought I have heard of a few that have combined a stimulant with Strattera.

[wendy_w]

right now I am on Adderal and Strattera.. After the 30 days are up I am supposed to go off Adderal and just have the Strattera. Really I haven't noticed anything different with the addition of the Strattera, it's been about two weeks since I started it.

[Gregster]

I don't see a problem taking Strattera and a stimulant - they work on different brain chemicals. Strattera works on noradrenaline and stimulants on dopamine. I don't think strattera works on attention at all - it helps with other symptoms of ADD/ADHD. Strattera strikes me as a drug who's main selling feature is that it is not a stimulant - tailor made for parents who don't want to give kids Ritalin because of the bad press and other bull#### you hear in the media. So I don't think it's any kind of holly grail - more like a cash grab. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that the drug companies are developing drugs for ADD (or in this case, marketing a drug that failed trials as an anti-depressant) the more drugs there are, the greater the chance you'll find one that works. My only worry is that some doctor is going to tell me he won't give me Ritalin, etc. and insist that I try Strattera first!