How much Strattera works? | ADHD Information

Im hoping to switch to Adderall or Ritalin/Concerta soon. Strattera is not
helping me at all. It just makes me overly sleepy and sometimes I even
think it makes me more depressed. My focus is a little bit better but Im
still kind of unproductive because it seems that my energy level is in the
dumps.

That seems to be the number one complaint mutton - that it leaves us feeling focused but so dragged out that we don't have the energy to do anything with it.  I felt that too - I would be holding my head off the table and the focust would drift from being great to moments where I'd zone out on a pattern on the wall - whatever.

I would think the people strattera works with would be the ones with the capital-H hyper ADHD that need to get a slowdown.  But me as an inattentive ADHD - it was just way too much for me.

Hello everyone.  I am glad I have found this board and have a question.  I take 80mg of Strattera daily.  I have been on the drug for around five weeks.  I have noticed that I feel more relaxed and I don't have all of the racing thoughts I use to.  It does not seem to help me focus and concentrate any better.  If I ask my doctor to change my dose to 100mg does this make a big difference?  I don't want to change medications because I like the reduced anxiety.  I do not need to take kalonapin like I did in the past.  Do you think it would be wise to ask for a change in medication or just an increase in my dose? 

 

 Sparco,

    Did you do your homework on Strattera ?

    At the top of the "Message Boards" guide, there is  a "FDA warning about Strattera"  in the "Important Topics" section.

    Please read all the posts in it.

Reality,

The FDA warning is for children and adolescents.  You didn't ask Sparco his/her age.  I'm guessing with that high a dose he/she is not a child or adolescent.

 

 

   I just suggested that Sparco  read the posts in that FDA warning topic. Now there's a new warning about liver damage with using it.

   Also, the FDA, Canada Health and MHRA (Britain) warnings on antidepressants all started off with a "kids only" theme. Now they've been adjusted to include adults. This will happen with Strattera.

   I'm fully convinced that this is the way our "health care" agencies try to avoid public panic.

   You should have heard 9 of the 12 FDA reps at the antidepressant hearings. They wanted an immediate ban on the drugs. That would have been a panic situation.

Thank you for the replies.  So even at increased dosage Strattera does not help you focus or concentrate better?  Isn't that what ADHD drugs are suppose to do?  So there probably will not be much difference between 80 and 100mg?

willc73, you found that switching to a different drug was better?  I am worried about the stimulants making me anxious.  I have been reading that the stimulants actually make you less anxious?

chjones, antidepressants seem to make be feel really weird.  I know Strattera is suppose to have antidepressant properties but they make be feel "weird"...or just down right yucky.    I don't deal with depression and have a pretty happy life.  I'm lucky!  I guess that is why I am reluctant to take antidepressants.  I like my happiness level and don't want to mess with that.  It makes me nervous.

Reality, yes, I understand that Strattera does have a warning for liver problems.  Aren't the chances something like one in a million...or more?  Of course, I wouldn't want to be that one in a million!  But all drugs seem to have this risk.  It seems I have a higher chance of death with alchohol.  My doctor discussed this with me and I did do some research on the internet.  It looks like I have a higher chance of dying in an asteroid impact!

I am an anxious person by nature.  Not to a degree that it poses a problem with life.  Just general anxiety.  I think it is caused by ADHD.  If I remove the symptoms of ADHD I am hoping anxiety will take care of it self.  I'm just back to the question of trying 100mg or trying a different drug.  Am I expecting to much from the drug?  I do feel clearer in my head.  I really want help with focus and completing or starting projects.  That is my hurdle.

Well

 I went to adderall sparco.

 this may work, and it may not.

 it is all trial and error right now for you.

  AS far as focus, and more mg's. I don't know offhand.

 I can't find any info on if more does this, or less does that.

 And I don't know as I was 100 mg and stopped.
bugzappers38669.4774884259

For once I have to agree with reality... ummm please don't throw tomatoes!!

( only about reading the FDA warning listed on this message board.)

My Dr. will not perscribe Strattera because of the possible liver problems. I think he might as a last resort treatment, but I think it is well worth your time to check the warnings and discuss them with your Doctor..

I am not one to induce fear or panic... I take medications for my ADD, but I think it is important to be an informed patient and wiegh all benefits vs. risks.

For me, the benefit outweighs the risk for the medication I am on.

If strattera is right for you despite risks, then go for it,, but just be aware they are there, and sufficient to give at least some Dr.s pause when perscribing.

As far as increasing dose, well, cant help you there. BUT, discussing it with your Dr. is the best idea... Hopefully there will be others here on the strattera that can help you out with that one. But, as always, your Dr. knows you best, and he will be the best person to ask if there might be a better benefit for you.

SHerry

kibbles00238669.3995023148I started treatment on Strattera and eventually went up to 100mg. I didn't
see much difference between 75mg and 100mg. I then recently switched
to Adderall, much better focusing with Adderall. I think that is the one
thing Strattera lacks. Strattera does work on some depression also if you
have that. Lets get back to the question.

 Sparco, you obviously are of age, and I would ask my dr. about the effects the next chance I got.
 He/she may increase or maybe decrease.
 I was taking straterra, but I had muscle spasms with it.

 It seemed to work to a degree, like you stated, but I was concerned with the muscle spasms getting into other areas of my body.

 I never had any spasms in my heart, and looking back, I may have over-reacted. I do use a steth and a sphyg to keep track of myself, as we all should.
 I could have been adjusting to the med, and it go away, but my dr. didn't want to find out until he had more data on it, so I was switched off it.

I do keep straterra in the back of my mind if I need to make a switch again. And I know more data is available. I would rather try strat again, then go back to the way it was.

bugzappers38669.4739236111 I forgot to add,

 WELCOME and feel free to post your questions, and share YOUR EXPERIENCE.

 you will have to sift through the posts, but you will find something that pertains to an answer. I hope

 Best of luck


bugzappers38669.4174074074well bugz --- and so????

are you gonna let sparco know what you swapped to, whether it was better for you and if so why - or just keep the suspense hanging here????

i know you wanna just 'keep to the facts of the question' but you are being a bit miserly with your information - don't you think?

did you have anxiety - did whatever you swapped to help with that?  only joking bugz



sparcs.  i am not medicated but there are various people i have read about on this forum who had anxiety and ADD and who have posted that they went on ADDERALL and LEXAPRO  -- the lexapro dealing with the anxiety part and found the combination very successful.  so you could ask your dr. about that. 

there is loads of info around just kinda scroll thru all the bs and joking around and there are shining nuggets of gold in some of these posts.

and as everyone has said - ask your doc.  but also be aware that it just depends on the amount of contact that they have had with ADDers as to the amount of info and knowledge they are gonna have.  and this is a great site because so many people have been through the meds themselves so can give you first-hand info on what worked for them and what didn't.

but each brain is different --- so i guess it could be a bit of a trial and error procedure to find out what works best for you.

do look into getting counseling at the same time.  i am a BIG fan of working with more than just the meds to help you......




I doesn't make me sleepy and I don't have any side effects anymore.  Sometimes I wonder if it's doing anything at all.  I do know that it is doing something because the racing thoughts have stopped.  I wasn't hyper before.  I guess it works differently in everyone.  I'll speak to my doctor on Monday and see what she says.  Thanks for the feedback!Have you read the label yet?

That could help you find answers.
     Yes, but it does not give detailed advise.  I'll ask my doctor.  I was just hoping someone had experience with this.  I'm not good at waiting to see my doctor for the answers sometimes!