Starting Strattera... Ok to start at 40mg??

[Wz_]

I just found this site today and have been reading about several users' experiences with Strattera. I am of course most concerned with the side effects.
My general practioner gave me a sample pack of Strattera today... 40mg... and asked me to take one pill each morning. I've read posts here where others were started out on lesser dosages... and even then had problems with side effects. Now I'm concerned.
Should I take the 40mg? Or should I call the G.P. and ask him for a lower dosage? (Btw, I'm Male - 33years - 195 lbs - 5'11")

Thanks

[Gregster]

40mg sounds like a good starting point for your weight. You'll probably end up at 80mg to 100mg per day (target dosage is 1.2mg/kg/day).
good luck,
Greg

[Andrew]

But...don't hesitate to call the doctor to cut the dosage if the side effects bother you too much.

[kimo]

Now keep in mind I am a female that weighs 140 pounds . . . I found, for me, 40 mg was too high to start. Had terrible side effects including very high blood pressure. Got off the Strattera for 1 week, started with 20 mg for 4 days, 25 for 2 days and hardly any side effects at all and I definitely feel some benefits. Gonna start 40 mg tomorrow (Friday) and see how it goes.

I would say if you don't feel well on 40 mg, talk to your doc and maybe start at 25 for a few days before going up to 40. As always, your milage may vary.

[WACy]

age as you. I started at 25mg for 4 days and couldn't sleep for 3 days although I never got tired during the day. I then went to 40mg for 4 days and got constipated, dull headaches, some pee trouble, some sexual abnormalities (though not really bad things), cottonmouth, etc... I went to 60 and the urinary probs became too great and I went back to 25mg to better adjust. Short answer i guess is it varies from person to person and I needed the lesser dose and a longer adjustment time.

[DaveHawk]

wz, we are about the same size except I'm 50 years old. maybe a few pounds heaver but that goes up and down. I finily leveled off at 40 mg's in the morning and 40 in the afternoon if I chose to take it. I have been as high as 80 mgs and over the study I settled in at 40 mgs after about the 1st year and a half.

[ELLIMA01]

My son has been on Strattera 40mg for almost a year- he is now being jumped to 80mg (he is 8yrs old and 70 lbs), I don't know why (well I DO know why) his 40's weren't working- don't know why we skipped 60mg- I am scared he's going to OD or something- I mean most grownups don't take this much.... any thoughts ellima01

[exeter]

Wow, 80 mg for a 70-lb kid is a lot. Did you ask the doc why he didn't go to 60 mg instead of 80? 80 mg/day is more like a standard adult dose... actually most adults do take that much.

As far as OD'ing is concerned, Strattera is a very safe drug. Drugs.com actually says "Symptoms of a Strattera overdose are not known," which, I suspect, is because noone's ever OD'd on it. I wouldn't expect the 80 mg dose to do anything bad other than possibly exacerbate any side effects he's having/had before.