Bipolar Mania and Strattera

[speedo]

My pdoc wants to try me on strattera. One of our concerns is that I might be slightly bipolar and the strattera may trigger a mixed/manic episode. Because of this the doc will want to monitor me closely.

Has anyone here had such an experience with Strattera ?

Thanks

ME

[Andrew]

I have personal experience with it. Strattera had a slight anti-depressant affect for me...and I (and perhaps others with BP) don't do very well at all on anti-depressants. It helped for a while with my ADD, but I became aggitated, anxious and crashed.

[speedo]

Thanks andrew.! That is the kind of info I am looking for. I'll keep an eye out for those symptoms in myself if/when I try it. It will be in a month or so befopre we make the change to Strattera.
I'm hoping all will go well, but way too many of my faily are bipolar... I don't seem to be, but it is so hard to tell mild bipolar from ADHD.

Based on what I have been told, it is possible to be mildly bipolar and mistaken for ADHD... I am hoping this will sort it out for me, since too many of my relatives are bipolar....

ME

[Matt S.]

I have a "bipolar" dx that goes with my adhd and I tried Strattera and it caused mania and the only time i was ever manic before was when I went on SSRI's and i reacted to effexor yet I have been on 144 mgs of Concerta and 120 mgs of Adderall and now take 90 mgs of dexedrine and not a hint of mania

[EYEFORGOT]

I'm seeing my p-doc for my latest manic episode this week. I'm on lamictal and straterra. I'm curious what will come of it and will ask about this.

[Adamant1988]

Originally Posted by speedo

My pdoc wants to try me on strattera. One of our concerns is that I might be slightly bipolar and the strattera may trigger a mixed/manic episode. Because of this the doc will want to monitor me closely.

Has anyone here had such an experience with Strattera ?

Thanks

ME

I have (apparently since childhood) been dealing with Bipolar disorder, and I can tell you Strattera made me feel really bad. Bear in mind that I did not take Strattera long enough to achieve any beneficial effects from it, but during the week that I took it I suffered from the lethargic feelings, anger, irritability, extremely disturbed sleep patterns, etc

My experience on Adderall was a lot more positive, but it affected my depression in permanent ways...

If you're doctor suspects bipolar disorder why are you not being put on mood stabilizers first, and then the ADD meds second?

[Matt S.]

a lot of doctors are now considering stimulants "safer" than straterra or effexor or wellbutrin when it comes to not causing a "destabilizing effect" in stable bipolars i have learned that to be true with me... amphetamines do not make me manic but boy give me the slightest dose of the "nonstimulant" variety and i am awake 24/7 and it is either time for me to rule the world or stay away or else i get violent

[speedo]

I am on day 2 of strattera. I feel pretty good, but It seems to act as a stimulant for an hour or two after I take it, then I get very drowsy. Later when it wears off, I become very alert and "up" , and I feel pretty good. I am focused and feel fine. My sleeping patterns are already messed up.

I am hoping that if I am bipolar, that it will turn up while I am on strattera.

I know you probably think that anticipating a manic phase is crazy, but I am really sick and tired of waiting for it to happen to me. So if it is going to happen , I hope it happens now, under controlled circumstances, rather than later, when I am not expecting it.

[mrsvoorhees26]

i take strattera (40mgs) and adderall (10mg qid) and havent noticed a manic state yet. i have BP II, AD/HD, and panic d/o. the only thing that i think sent me into a manic state was prozac as well as cymbalta. i recently quit taking the prozac because i felt like there was a motor inside that wouldnt shut off..i think the strattera is calming me down, maybe a bit too much, but i have only been on it for three weeks. i was on it during the summer, but was taken off of it due to a manic cycle that was thought to be caused by it. i do not think that was the case, there was other crazy stuff going on in my life at the time...just give the strattera time, it is a good medication, it just takes a long time to kick in.
-heather