Strattera Aggression in Adult??!! Help? | ADHD Information
Hi, some of you know me.I've been doing strat for some months now. After I got over the side effects I was okay with it although it did little for focus and I still fidgeted a lot--I did cry less and was less unhappy on it. I also put on weight [yay!] while on it.
Lately though I have been getting fairly aggressive on it. It used to happen for about an hour after I took the dose but I could handle that--I was just careful to stay away from people or tell them that it made me nutz for about an hour.
But now--it's frequent. I had some impulse control [trained myself] when unmedicated now I have zip. If this keeps up I'm afraid I'm going to wind up in a violent altercation sooner or later from blowing a gasket at somebody. Last week I bit the heads off [verbally] 4 people in less than 24 hours.
I'm wondering whether to drop the dose or completely dump the meds. I told my doc but right now there's a lot of stress in my life and I think he attributes it to that.
Anybody else out here get hostile on this stuff?
another stratera user: have been on for a few months and not happy with it...not cause it is increasing agression, i don think it is. I dont think it is helping much if at all and further: insufficient sleep is my big problem and i wan t to try anouther med after my doc is satisfied i've been on this long enough: 6 weeks AFTER getting to theraputic dose: 80 mg.personally, I found it completely ineffective. I was nauseated all morning and irritable, and didn't help me with focus problems at all. Well what it did for me was work as a mild antidepressant and help me sleep.
Does jack squat for focus or getting things done or impulsivity *sigh*
Spoke with doc today--told him that it was just getting worse including bad dreams now.
So we are trying for two more weeks and then either switching or I'll go unmedicated again--with or without agreement.
He keeps asking if I'm bi-polar. I worked in the field and I know what bi-polar looks like and this ain't it. Depressed I'd buy, walking autism I'd buy, PTSD definitely, lack of attachment syndrome and/or attentional inconsistencies I'd certainly buy, but bi-polar--nope.
My biggest fear is that some out-of-control shrink decides I'm borderline. Once they paste that on your forehead, life gets very difficult. *sigh*
Hey Metis.. long time no talk! It's been crazy here over the summer. You remember when I was on Strat don't you? It also made me very aggressive/confrontational and had some serious nightmares! And I was also diagnosed with Borderline.... BUT, my Shrink has finally removed that label from me :) I have some Borderline traits, but honestly what human doesn't at one time or another?
I switched to Focalin XR and that did great for me for about 4 months or so then it all of a sudden stopped working! It wasn't that I needed to up the dosage either cause of how my dosage was. I took 2- 15mg caps in the AM, and if needed at noon 1 more 15mg cap. I did this for about a month, and then I stopped taking the 2nd dose. Went on vacation and got out of the habit of taking ANY meds (I know... bad me, but I stopped everything for about 2 weeks). When I went back to taking them the Focalin didn't work anymore. 2 pills made me almost jittery and anxious. Whereas before it calmed me down. 1 pill did nothing, then a week later 2 pills didn't make me jittery anymore, but it just didn't help. Added the 2nd dose and still nothing.
So, my Dr decided to switch me this past Friday to Vyvance. He also stopped the Tenex because it was making me too sleepy and no longer helping with the Anxiety. So now I'm working on the proper dosage of Vyvance starting tomorrow. and Buspirone for the Anxiety. I told him I didn't want an anxiety med that would knock me out.
I wish you the best of luck and hope your Dr will change your med.. it sounds like Strat's doing the same for you as it did me (pretty much nothing).
[QUOTE=ShawnB]Hey Metis.. long time no talk! It's been crazy here over the summer. You remember when I was on Strat don't you? It also made me very aggressive/confrontational and had some serious nightmares! And I was also diagnosed with Borderline.... BUT, my Shrink has finally removed that label from me :) I have some Borderline traits, but honestly what human doesn't at one time or another?
Amen to that one--I didn't see you as "borderline" anyway! Didn't make sense to me
Well I cut the strat to 1/2 but now it's even MORE useless. Oh well, I think my GP is packing me off for further assessment and a shrink anyway so let's see what happens with that.
I switched to Focalin XR and that did great for me for about 4 months or so then it all of a sudden stopped working! It wasn't that I needed to up the dosage either cause of how my dosage was. I took 2- 15mg caps in the AM, and if needed at noon 1 more 15mg cap. I did this for about a month, and then I stopped taking the 2nd dose. Went on vacation and got out of the habit of taking ANY meds (I know... bad me, but I stopped everything for about 2 weeks). When I went back to taking them the Focalin didn't work anymore. 2 pills made me almost jittery and anxious. Whereas before it calmed me down. 1 pill did nothing, then a week later 2 pills didn't make me jittery anymore, but it just didn't help. Added the 2nd dose and still nothing.
Odd you mention that. The strat wasn't great but it worked--until I got pneumonia and had to take prednisone. I thought the pred made me nuts [it always does] but when I finished it--I stayed nuts.
So, my Dr decided to switch me this past Friday to Vyvance. He also stopped the Tenex because it was making me too sleepy and no longer helping with the Anxiety. So now I'm working on the proper dosage of Vyvance starting tomorrow. and Buspirone for the Anxiety. I told him I didn't want an anxiety med that would knock me out.
Blech. Can't blame ya there!
I wish you the best of luck and hope your Dr will change your med.. it sounds like Strat's doing the same for you as it did me (pretty much nothing).
Worse than nothing. I was an inch away from committing assault 4x in less than 24 hours. And at one point--I bashed a cabbie's trunk with a board [was carrying a watercolour pegged to it] when he backed up into the crosswalk. In this neighbourhood--that borders on dangerous. I can't stand that out-of-control feeling.
See you around soon! How's the biz going?
[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=ShawnB]Dang girl! Sounds close to what happened to me! I live near Washington D.C. (and most areas are very dangerous). I was driving with my Kids in the Van and this car with two young male punks cut me off and I screamed out obscenities and flipped them off (that can get you killed around here). I would have NEVER done that before! Especially not with my kids in the van with me!! It was at that point that I had to do something and got off the Strattera. Crazy stuff!
Halle-flippin'-loo-yah! So it CAN make ya nutz
I dropped it down to 40mg just to keep the depression under control for now but this has GOT to change
Biz was super busy over the summer... calmed down too much right now though unfortunately.. but that's how it goes.. feast or famine.
Good to see ya around again
I'll be around a bit more now that it's slowed down... plus I'm starting these two new meds as well.
Let us know how ya make out with them.
Talk to you soon... BE SAFE!!!
Frankly I'm in hiding right now
[/QUOTE]Dang girl! Sounds close to what happened to me! I live near Washington D.C. (and most areas are very dangerous). I was driving with my Kids in the Van and this car with two young male punks cut me off and I screamed out obscenities and flipped them off (that can get you killed around here). I would have NEVER done that before! Especially not with my kids in the van with me!! It was at that point that I had to do something and got off the Strattera. Crazy stuff!
Biz was super busy over the summer... calmed down too much right now though unfortunately.. but that's how it goes.. feast or famine.
I'll be around a bit more now that it's slowed down... plus I'm starting these two new meds as well.
Talk to you soon... BE SAFE!!!