changing to Strattera

[sirlan]

Well, my doctor and I decided to try something different from the Wellbutrin since there seemed to be more side effects than benefits. He gave me an 18 day trial supply of Strattera just to see how it affected me. The first 4 days, I take 18mg and then 14 days at 25 mg. That isn't as much as everyone else it taking but it's probably best to ease into a new medication.
After reading some of the possible side effects of this drug, I'm not sure I want to be taking it but I'm going to wait and see how it affects me. Hopefully, it'll help with the insomnia that was aggravated by the Wellbutrin. As for the Wellbutrin, I didn't take it for about 4 days because I was off from work. On the 4th day, I was so dizzy I wondered if I had gotten drunk and forgot doing it. Every time I moved the room spun. Between that, the insomnia, and frequent headaches (used to be every day), I started to think that it wasn't for me. Time will tell. I hope I have better luck with Strattera.

[Margreet]

Hey, Greg,

How's it going with the Strattera?

[sirlan]

Actually, I like it a lot better than Wellbutrin. I don't have headaches every day now. I have noticed a couple of other side effects but they aren't bad (loss of appetite and a mild sexual side effect). My dr. just increased the dosage to 40mg/day so we'll see how that does. Strattera definitely works better than Wellbutrin did.

[Andrew]

Greg,

That's great to hear that Strattera is working well for you. Let us know how the increase in dosage works out.

[jayblaze2]

I was taking strattera and hated it!! Made me tired and and out of the norm. My dr told me everyone is trying to push this strattera drug like its the cure for ADD. Its actually an antidepressant. Well I hopeit helps some people. It was hell for me.

[TomFNP]

I have noticed that those stopping anti-depressants will experience several symptoms over the next two or three weeks associated with withdrawal from the anti-depressant.

These include dizziness, hearing sounds, increased irritability, perception of room spinning, etc.

I will be weaning my patients off the anti-depressant over a 1-2 month period to minimize these effects.

One should be careful not to associate these withdrawal effects with Strattera.

It would be a shame to stop using a potentially better medications due to withdrawal side-effects.

And, it may be, that Strattera might provide both a benefit for ADD and depression and/or anxiety.

[TomFNP]

Be careful to differentiate between feelings of fatigue and lethargy and the lack of or decreased stimulation effects of Concerta, etc. especially in the afternoon.

It seems that many children that have been on stimulants for some time complain of feelings of fatigue but are actually experiencing a "let down" from their stimulant experience while at the same time being observed to have increased concentration and effort, etc. which is also contributing to their feelings of fatigue and lethargy due to their increase sustained effort.

[Andrew]

Originally posted by TomFNP
It seems that many children that have been on stimulants for some time complain of feelings of fatigue but are actually experiencing a "let down" from their stimulant experience while at the same time being observed to have increased concentration and effort, etc. which is also contributing to their feelings of fatigue and lethargy due to their increase sustained effort.

The same can be said for adults on stimulants as well. I experienced this very same thing, when the Ritalin I was on started to wear off in the afternoon/evening.

[ilangocal]

Hi
I was wondering what the side effects are from taking Strattera, besides, the sexual side effect. Is there an increase in Blood Pressure?

thanks
ilango