does strattera really work

[gtrshrdr21]

I've been on strattera now for 2 months. dr started me at 1 10mg pill a day for 7 days, then week 2, 2 pills a day for that week and so on, up to 4 weeks, which is 40mgs that last week a day. Went to him and told him i didn't see, or feel any change, nor did my family. So he jumped me high up to 80mg pills a day and I've been on those for almost 3 weeks. So total 7ish weeks of strattera. Still no good results, all negatives. Anyone help me find what's wrong with me, the dr, or the meds plz. Maybe i need diff meds, i don't know. Please help! Oh and I'm 23 if that helps. Thanks.

[lostsoul]

Hi,

Strattera is different as it's not a stimulant. Often changes occur and we don't even realize it. It's funny so many people say they don't notice a difference, but when they compare their work or surroundings from months ago to now they start to see the difference.

For me, I noticed when I saw my writing style & processing of information improved greatly. It was through my work that I noticed it.

It took longer for me to see the changes.

Everyone is different so you might need something else or it might just be a matter of time.

I urge to you talk to your doctor and ask him why he chose strattera over other types of medication. What symptoms is he basing this off/targeting. What should you expect from this medication as opposed to others.

If you aren't satisfied with is the doc's response, get a second opinion... it never hurts to.

I kept referring to my LD assessment to see what the psychologist wrote as my greatest areas of difficulty i.e. attention, executive function, working memory. I started to referring to those symptoms when communicating with my doc saying i.e. "While on vyvanse, I can concentrate/focus and reading becomes easier on paper while on my ability to process what I read and retain (or use it in working memory) that information isn't." How will Strattera be different? How much longer will Strattera take to see these results?

etc...

Work with symptoms rather than a specific diagnosis. Each person is different with their own specific needs.

[meridian]

Originally Posted by gtrshrdr21

Maybe i need diff meds, i don't know. Please help! Oh and I'm 23 if that helps. Thanks.

I started on Oct 27 2009. 25mg for 5 days, 40mg for 5 days, 60mg for 5 days and 80mg since then (about 4 weeks).

I am finding that *for me* my down periods are far shorter and far less intense (although still cycling at 2x a month) and my ups are not out of control.

So I'd say for me it is working. However, I am also on Pristiq 50mg, Prozac 10mg and take a 0.5 Klonopin at night to help me sleep.

Am ADHD diagnosis is like a diagnosis of "chest pain" -- it describes a generalized symptom set, not a specific condition. So yes, other meds may work better for you.

You didn't specify the negatives. It may help to tell us what is happening with you. (but feel free to keep that private if you want to.)

[gtrshrdr21]

Oh yeah thanks lostsoul and meridian. My negatives are unreal! Other than the obvious side effects, i also felt several times like having a heart attack. i get leg and hand cramps as well. Very hard to explain but i feel completely out of my body at times. Also, i have always had a BAD memory, will any meds help with this? Possibly adhd meds? Thanks again.

[meridian]

Originally Posted by gtrshrdr21

i also felt several times like having a heart attack. i get leg and hand cramps as well. Very hard to explain but i feel completely out of my body at times.

OK sounds like this might not be the drug for you.

For me it has been a marvelous tool. Hope you find what works for you.

BTW, that can take a while. Even the most intuitive psych is goint to have to make educated guesses as to what to try.

So don't be discouraged!

Over the years I've been prescribed:

1. a tricyclic (can't recall the name) made me jittery
2. Prozac (15 years now) sometimes makes me silly
3. Wellbutrin (awful awful awful for me)
4. a tetracyclic (decided not to take it and find a psych instead of GP)
5. Lamotrigine (allergic)
6. Pristiq (started binge eating)
7. Strattera (helped keep my appetite in check)
8. Klonopin (to sleep, originally prescribed by a gastroenterologist since I am an "air swallower" and this really helps)

and I'm currently on these 4 (Prozac, Pristiq, Klonopin and Starterra) which seems to be a working "cocktail". I take the Pristiq and Strattera in the AM and the Prozac and Klonopin an hour before bedtime.

[lostsoul]

Originally Posted by gtrshrdr21

Also, i have always had a BAD memory, will any meds help with this? Possibly adhd meds? Thanks again.

They say it should, but I've never had any memory improved because of medication, but instead what it did was made me more conscious of my actions so I stopped every so often (instead of continuing in a frenzy) and used my PDA or agenda book to see what's needed to be done.