Straterra Question

[humis77]

My doctor started me out on 40 mg/day of Straterra (102 bucks for a 1 month supply by the way!) and I was just wondering if he prescribed the right medicene for me. I am predominantly inattentive and on the leaflet with the medicene it says that it is used to treat ADHD. When I take the medicene I just feel more spaced out and dreamy than I normally do without meds and when I get home from classes I just crash and sleep for hours, then I can't sleep at night until around 7:30-10:00 in the morning, are these symptoms normal? Is Straterra meant as a treatment for people who are hyperactive as well as inattentive?




PS I have only been on Straterra for a week now and am scheduled to go see my doc in 2 weeks for a follow up.

[Gregster]

Strattera works primarily on noradrenaline and this mostly affects impulse control. It is good for hyperactivity and anxiety too. From what I've read it doesn't really help much with inattention - it does with some people, but not all. Drugs like Strattera start to work almost immediately - if it's going to help, it should start to do it in a week or two. The side effects you mention - sleep problems and "spaced out" feeling are fairly typicall (although I don't think it lists "spaced out" in the product monograph). They may go away or lessen as you get used to the drug. See how it goes in the next two weeks before you see the Dr, but unless the drug starts to help you, I'd say it's not for you. The Dr prob. didn't want to give you stimulants first due to the theoretical abuse potential.

[Vero]

Hi There,
I have been on Strattera for combined adhd for a month and 1/2 and like Greg said, I noticed a big difference in the first week. It is supposed to be one of the best long term treatment for all types of adhd. It does make me a little sleepy but as long as I eat enough protein - especially first thing in the morning, I am ok. Are you also taking vitamins? Are you eating well? Food and vitamins are crucial with adhd. I drink Ensure Protein in the morning with some cereal and a multivitamin. (I'm not a big morning eater.)

I was only on the 40mg dose for only 4 days then my dose was bumped to 60mg. In about 2 weeks I go to 80mg (can't wait...) which I've been told is the target dose for Straterra (depending on your age too). So, it might also be that you are just not at the right dose yet and your body is adjusting.

When you get home from class try eating some high protein foods (like fruit or veggies & dip or cheese and crackers) and go for a walk outside or excercise. Resist the urge to sleep in the afternoon so you can get on a regular sleeping pattern. And I would suggest you take at least a good multivitamin too in the morning everyday along with eating breakfast or drinking a protein shake. Don't worry if people tell you to you will gain weight with drinks like Ensure - the Strattera causes loss of appetite and weight loss so you won't have that problem. But EAT!!! Your brain needs it.

Is sleepiness & spaciness the only side-effects you've had? I've had almost all of them so if you have any more problems feel free to e-mail me. I have learned some tricks to aviod some of the unpleasant ones. And they do go away so hang in there. The first 3 weeks for me was a little rough but I have no problems now. Good luck!
vero

[Gregster]

I wouldn't necessarily call Strattera the best long term treatment although it certainly is the newest. The best is what works for you! Strattera works beautifully in some and not so well in others. It can also stop working - most reuptake inhibitors are suseptable to this - your brain gets used to it and it becomes less effective. When/If this happens your Dr may switch you to something else for a couple of months.
I have yet to try Strattera - it's not in Canada just yet - but I likely will. I hope it works as well for me as it does for you Vero!
Regards,
Greg

[humis77]

Thanks for the replies!

Greg, where did you read that it didn't worh that well with Inattentive? I'd be interested to find this article.

Correct the doctor was VERY reluctant to put me on Adderall even though that was what I wanted. He said it was very hard to prescribe it and that Straterra was just easier to get/write scripts for. He is a University Medical Center doctor so he would know about stimulant abuse, there are tons of people here who take it illegally to study better, which probably contributed to the fact that he wanted to try me out on this first.

Also the psych said I had mild depression so he wanted to prescribe me something that could work for ADD symptoms as well as depression. I told him though that I DO NOT have depression and that the psych was just wrong about it.

He also gave me blood tests which I was thinking was to check to see if I was taking any illicit drugs as I have heard Marijauna mimics symptoms of ADD. Luckily I am totally drug free.


I noticed that there was also a tingling of the head from taking Straterra as well as cotton mouth, besides that I have not had any good things to say about Straterra, like I said before I feel "more inattentive" then usually do while I'm on it. I had a night test and it was my first time taking it, my mind was all over the place (except the test) and I couldn't concentrate on the task for the life of me.

[Gregster]

Most of the information on what symptoms Strattera work on in anicdotal - they don't put info like that into a product monograph
and I don't think the drug's been out long enough for other researchers to qualify and quantify effectiveness. Check out the following web pages for info - remedy finder gives others ratings of the drug.
http://www.crazymeds.org/
http://www.remedyfind.com/rem.asp?id=5032
What brain chemicals the drug works on also gives you an indication what syptoms it works on. Noradrenaline is associated with anxiety and impulse control - frustration, impatience, etc. Researchers know this from studies and also from the behaviour of people taking Noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors - the one I take (Remeron) definately helps with these things. Dopamine is the chemical associated with attention - These are generalities, of course, nothing in the brain is THAT simple!
Stimulants mostly modify dopamine release and reuptake - Strattera works on noradrenaline. So they help with different symptoms to different degrees. Since everyone is different, the root cause of an ADDer's inattention problem will be different too - so Strattera will help some greatly and others not at all. Regards,
Greg

[Josh_N_Arkansas]

Originally Posted by Gregster

Strattera works primarily on noradrenaline and this mostly affects impulse control. It is good for hyperactivity and anxiety too. From what I've read it doesn't really help much with inattention - it does with some people, but not all. Drugs like Strattera start to work almost immediately - if it's going to help, it should start to do it in a week or two. The side effects you mention - sleep problems and "spaced out" feeling are fairly typicall (although I don't think it lists "spaced out" in the product monograph). They may go away or lessen as you get used to the drug. See how it goes in the next two weeks before you see the Dr, but unless the drug starts to help you, I'd say it's not for you. The Dr prob. didn't want to give you stimulants first due to the theoretical abuse potential.

Thank you - Theoretical abuse potential - and theory shouldint be compared to an individual because , it is as unique as the person that walks in for a consultaion:

[Josh_N_Arkansas]

Originally Posted by humis77

Thanks for the replies!

Greg, where did you read that it didn't worh that well with Inattentive? I'd be interested to find this article.

Correct the doctor was VERY reluctant to put me on Adderall even though that was what I wanted. He said it was very hard to prescribe it and that Straterra was just easier to get/write scripts for. He is a University Medical Center doctor so he would know about stimulant abuse, there are tons of people here who take it illegally to study better, which probably contributed to the fact that he wanted to try me out on this first.

Also the psych said I had mild depression so he wanted to prescribe me something that could work for ADD symptoms as well as depression. I told him though that I DO NOT have depression and that the psych was just wrong about it.

He also gave me blood tests which I was thinking was to check to see if I was taking any illicit drugs as I have heard Marijauna mimics symptoms of ADD. Luckily I am totally drug free.


I noticed that there was also a tingling of the head from taking Straterra as well as cotton mouth, besides that I have not had any good things to say about Straterra, like I said before I feel "more inattentive" then usually do while I'm on it. I had a night test and it was my first time taking it, my mind was all over the place (except the test) and I couldn't concentrate on the task for the life of me.

Yes Straterra seems to be the new Rx for ADD , Ive heard it has all the benefits , and its stimulant free - Not Sure if it works or not -

and BTW The Dr probably issued a Blood Test to see Blood count, and other testing (when they CONSIDER) depression as a factor - I highly doubht , that it was to see if you were using illicit drugs- Just thought i'd throw that in- thanks

[Malcolm]

Hi: I am a 40-year old man living in Washington, DC. I have one of the worst cases of ADD ever!! I can't comprehend most of what I read and have a very difficult time paying attention in staff meetings at work. Not to mention problems remembering things. It seems like the simplist of tasks are confusing and take me 10 hours to do what my colleagues can do in 5.



It's affected my career success, as people around me have always perceived me as being a bit dim. What they can't understand is that I can't help it!

The thing is that I'm actually quite a good writer, and that's a skill that not many people (including supposedly "smarter" people) have. So I know that I'm not stupid. I just feel stupid most of the time.

Needless to say, it's very embarassing!

My question is on Strattera: I had to stop it after about a week because I had major difficulty urinating. So much so, that my doc was concerned about the health risks associated with not being able to pass fluid.

I've been on the Strattera.com website, and even called Lilly (the company that makes it); they weren't much help at all: they claim that there haven't been any studies on this particular side effect. But I can't be the only one who has had this reaction.

I just wonder whether if the rep was telling me the truth.

Getting to my question: Is there anyone who has had a similar experience with Strattera? Does this particular side effect diminish with time? How effective is it compared to Ritalin and Concerta (I'm on Ritalin right now, and all it does is make me wired).

Responses from anyone out there would be greatly appreciated! My doc didn't have any experience with Strattera, so he couldn't provide any help.

BTW, I was on 40 mg/day and then 60mg/day. I am 5'9" and weigh 194#. Malcolm

[Gourmet]

My son, age 21, is on strattera for inattentive ADD and does beautifully on it. He greatly improved his grades and I could tell a huge difference in his focus and abilities to get things accomplished.

I have the adhd and take Strattera...for a good month now. And I have seriously improved, and more alert..I turn off the coffee pot and do ordinary tasks more thoroughly and ef.

I take 60 mg and will soon take the 80. I take it at bedtime and have no problem with sleep....wake up refreshed. But...about 4pm I crash and have to have a nap. The 60 mg is not quite getting me through the day. Hopefully the 80 will get me through.

I also agree that it is more pleasant to take with food......and that you need to make yourself eat as it takes away your appetite. That's good in my case because I lost 10 pounds I needed to get rid of.

I mostly wanted to say that we really are happy with the drug, it is working for us and we have both impulsive and inattentative.

[TMI]

Malcom,

Side effects from strattera generally diminish with time. Since side effects are also dose-dependent, you might be able to acclimate on a lower dose and work up slowly. I did.

I react very strongly to strattera, it "spaces me out" for about a week after each dose increase. If I had started on 40mg, I'd have quickly given it up.

I started on 25mg, however my doctor has gone lower when necessary. I spent at least three weeks on each dose. The progression used was 25, 40, 50, 60, 80. It took 14 weeks to make it to 80mg which I started today.

Strattera works very well for all my ADD manifestations, and is also a wonderful mood brightener, sleep regulator, and appetite moderator.

See if your doctor will let you try again with a much smaller dose - 25, 18 and 10mg are available.

This is just my opinion based on personal experience.