Which drug do you prefer? Adderall or Stattera? Which worked better? Which had less side effects?
I wanted to make this a poll but I didn't think enough people had been on both drugs and since every treatment is different I thought I'd just throw the question out there.
So, which do you prefer?
Cheekydeeky
I have been on both seperately, and in combination. I think that if Straterra is tolerated and you can achieve the proper dose, it can be good. I have Inattentive ADHD and it has helped me to be in a more consistent better mood. However, until I found the proper dose, I was very tired all of the time on it. I was started at 40mg and then raised to 80mg after 4 days. I was tired on 40mg and just didn't feel well on 80mg. I am now taking 65mg and this seems to be working well. However, I have only been on this dose for a couple of weeks and I have heard that its effectiveness may diminish with time?
As for Adderall alone, I didn't really notice much of an impact from this. I took this by itself and noticed some increased energy, but not much of a change in my ability to focus. When taken with Straterra I got some mild chest pains and became tired. I assume that this was due to the additional increase in norepinephrine that Adderall caused when combined with Straterra (which is also working to increase norepinephrine). I believe that my ADHD is affected more by the levels of norepinephrine than dopamine, but I still don't know this for sure??
I am now going to try an additional stimulant med, added to the Straterra, that will affect dopamine levels only and not the norepinephrine levels as I feel that I have finally found a good dosage of the Straterra for that.
It is really interesting how all of us react differently to the meds. I have read a number of posts where people have said that you should be on upwards of 100mg per day of Straterra, and others who have said that you shoulc be on less than 40mg as an adult. This holds true for other meds as well and I guess it just proves that what we are treating is simply the 'chemical imbalance' which has nothing to do with weight, etc.
I am interested to see what others have to say about their experiences with these drugs.
Question -
I first took the regular Adderol and it worked great!! Then after 2 months I started getting a very tight uncomfortable jaw. the last year I have tried everyone out there. The Adderol at first was the best. Now I am trying Adderol (all day) forgot letters? I just can't seem to get my dose right. I have almost been more spacey than ever, quick to anger, and not that much energy. Does anyone have an idea as to what I need?
Adele
I've never been put on Strattera but I can tell you that the Adderall has been a godsend for me. My doctor didn't even bring up Strattera to me. He was too concerned with the side effects it may have on me. He and I have talked at length about the different kinds of ADD meds and we have found that with the Adderall and a low carb, high protien and being careful with the fats has pretty much put most of my ADD in check. We did talk about the combinations and he remembered when we tried the Paxil and Welbutrin as well as the Zoloft, and those were a complete nightmare. Ironically it only made things worse. I don't know if this is the kind of information you are looking for but I figured I'd put in my two cents...lol
This is very helpful. Thank you.
I have found that Adderal works best for me. One of my biggest struggles is being soo tired and staying on task. Adderal just seems to help the most.
My doctor tried me on some antidepression meds also and they were a nightmare for me too. I totally couldn't function at all, could hardly get out of bed. It made me extremely depressed. I tried to endure it for 3 days thinking it would get better, but only got worst.
Thats my experience.
I tried Strattera and to make a very long story short, I hated it. At first, I started at 40 mg which was too much. Then went to 20 and gradually got up to 40 mg. Then tried 50. In the end (after 5 weeks) I was just too depressed, cranky, irratible and angry. When I felt it first "kicking in" after about a week I was thrilled and thought I had found my miracle drug. But alas, that feeling went away and all I really had were side effects (including high BP and racing heart).
Adderall - yes, a godsend for me as well! And I can't believe that with my Mitral Valve Prolapse I can even take this stuff, but it doesn't seem to affect my heart or my BP. Yay! I could go on and on about the benefits but suffice it to say I have more energy, I am happier, I can organize, I can concentrate, I can motivate myself, I'm less impulsive. I'm just a happy camper!
Kimo: I know what you mean about taking the Adderall...I have hypothyroid as well and when I started the Adderall it actually lowered my BP...when the thyroid kicked in my BP went a little lower to a perfect BP. Go figure...guess our miswired brains need the stimulant in the Adderall so the rest of our bodies can be "normal"...lol