Just got prescribed Strattera... | ADHD Information

I'm a 26 year old female and have been going to therapy for relationship/self-esteem/anxiety/depression issues. My therapist recommended I see a psychiatrist to see if medication would help with the depression/anxiety while we worked things out in therapy. I saw the psychiatrist yesterday and he honed in immediately on ADD (he said he saw more anxiety than depression).

I told him I had gone to a psychologist in 1998 for ADD testing and that it was her professional opinion that I didn't have ADD. My current therapist thinks also that I don't have any kind of disorder, nothing that can't be talked better in therapy. The psychiatrist says he wants to give me Strattera to see IF it confirms what he thinks - if it works, I have Adult ADD... if it doesn't, I don't and he will go to what I believe he called psychoactive drugs (Straterra being passive).

I've always scored high on ADD tests because I have a lot of the behaviors, just that therapists always believed it was because of the environment and not anything ingrained in my personality like ADD. I didn't even go to the psychiatrist for possible ADD, just depression/anxiety.

I see my therapist next on Thursday and I guess I just don't know how to take the news that the psychiatrist wants me to take Strattera (I have 18 days of a free sample so at least I get to see the therapist before I have to fill out the prescription... I certainly want her opinion on this... I got a copy of the questionnaire I filled out from the psychiatrist). So now I'm just confused, mostly :)

 

It sounds like you enjoy therapy and the one on one it offers... Shrinks on the other hand are famed for 15 minute counsels and a prescription...

I felt similarly about a pill solving my problems - and was amazed when it affected things I felt certain were keyed to experiences and emotions from my past  strangely within days of being on a script (started with WellbutrinXL and now on Strattera 40's) I found life was smoother, I was less frustrated, less irritated , more hopeful, and more able to deal with things - I've been able to clear out the clutter that has surrounded me for years and I find my coping abilitities growing... So, my point is; Depression and anxiety are often caused by having lived with ADD untreated into adulthood. A few years ago it was barely recognised in adults let alone diagnosed or scripted correctly. It isn't really a "dysfunction/disorder" but a different way of processing information. Many of us are smarter than the average bear but don't present that in the way that would bring us kudos - infact many of us seem to engender resistance in "authority figures" - which results in our self esteem being hit harder than we can process as fair or deserved... so, take the pills, relax and open yourself to the possibility that your issues might be assisted chemically for the time being (perhaps give you some time/patience/ability to create some new coping/healing methods) ... Psychology/Psychiatry isn't a "right or wrong" science... none of us are exactly alike nor do we always fit a profile - trust the shrink to be good at what he does and - keep the therapist to talk out your experiences and successes.

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I'd get rid of the therapist! I went to about 12 in my life before someone finally said something about ADHD. Funny, I went on Adderall and my anxiety attacks and depression went away!

One question, is you psychologist going to not diagnose you with adult ADHD if Strattera doesn't work? If that's the case I would ask to try a drug that has the highest rate of success with treating adult ADHD (Adderall IR) before he makes his final Dx!

Glad that you found our board, and WELCOME!

Nah, this therapist is a keeper.  She's the first one that has really listened to me and knows me better than anyone else, certainly better than the psychiatrist.

Who would you trust, someone you have been talking to for over four months or someone who you saw for 20 minutes and decides you have ADD out of a questionnaire printed off the web and wants you to take a pill to confirm the diagnosis?

Not to mention the battery of tests that I went through in 1998 to see if I had ADD or not... 1998Therapist said that in her professional opinion I didn't have ADD.

Now you see why I am so confused! :(

I'm making an appt on Monday to see another psychiatrist.
I DON'T suffer from A.D.D. , but I have OCD, Depression and Anxiety, and I am on a combination of an SSRI antidepressant and Strattera, and I can't even begin to say the wonders Strattera has worked for me. Just the Celexa wasnt enough, but with the added 20 mg. of Strattera my concentration is better, my self esteem is better, my headaches and tension are better, I am calmer and my reactions are more controlled, and I am much more assertive. I have found Strattera to be amazing.

I like *bluecloudsky4* take Prozac for (OC/anxiety) and Strattera. Both work together and one by themselve isnt' enough for me. I focus and settle down more with Strattera,some days I couldn't get settled until 2pm in the afternoon!

  The first weeks you start off with 40mg usually and then go to 60mg. I had headaches (not bad) and some stomach distress the first couple of weeks and tired/zombie type feelings (but it was probably due to the Prozac combo also) When it settled in I forgot about it except for dry mouth, but I like to drink water so it doesn't bother me. IF I would forget 2 days worth I get zombie like again, it is a daily, one day doesn't hit me as hard.

I like it because it isn't a stimulant! If I need one I drink coffee, LOL. ( it wakes me up or if I am hyper it puts me to sleep)