STRATTERA = CONSTIPATION!!!!!!!!!!!! | ADHD Information
hello folks!!!!!
well, every one seems to be songing and dancing and tiptoeing AROUND this touchy subject, but i will get straight to the point.....
I am a petite young lady, that had FINALLY managed to grow some meat onto my skinny little bones after getting married when i started strattera. I did not like it because I could literrally go for DAYS without eating if i didn't FORCE myself to eat!
I lost a whole CRAPLOAD of weight, and I stayed SO CONSTIPATED ALL THE TIME that my life was MISERABLE! i had the worst stomachaches i have EVER HAD!
As for my temperament?? I would have to give a POSITIVE response because, my husband says my moods calmed WAY DOWN and i was able to laugh things off much more easily, focus more, and was easy to get along with, and did not take myself or anyone else too seriously.
i would just have to take his word for it because I WAS TOO MISERABLY CONSTIPATED ALL THE TIME TO NOTICE!! i thought the side effects would wear off so i was on strattera for about 6 months, but it did not get better for me.
Now I KNOW i CAN'T be the only one who has had this problem obviously, because it is one of the main side effects listed for this drug, i just never HEAR anything about it because to lot's of people, this is a touchy, no discussing subject.
but, i will tell it like it is!!!
some people live by strattera, but it was just not for me.
YES that whole cotton, dry mouth thing with the strattera was awful too.
The whole thing that bothered me about this strattera is that for me, none of the side effects got better with time. I had taken Wellbutrin too, and it had a couple side effects, and these lessened in a few weeks.
But the MORE i took the strattera, the WORSE the effects got, for six months i gave a chance, and at last my stomach was like ENOUGH!!!
i was afraid that the constant continual constipation might cause some permanent damage to my stomach at some point..
oh yes, i took wellbutrin alone about a year BEFORE i started the strattera, and I loved it; it just made me a little touchy, and irritable.
The two together worked well otherwise, because the Wellbutrin gave my MUCH NEEDED energy and motivation. The strattera, my husband tells me, seemed to focus that energy and to even the mood swings out that wellbutrin sometimes caused.
I tried Metamucil, more veggies, different meal patterns, and EVERYTHING. Nothing worked.
Sonya,
Congrats on your pregnancy!
I am on Straterra, and I am enjoying the decreased appetite, cause you see I could stand to loose a few. But I was very concerned with the constipation issue because with my last pregnance (3 total) I had some serious issues with HE_______DS
! I dont need anything upsetting going on back there. I make sure I have 10-20 grams of fiber per day at least! I drink lots of water, not because I want to, but because my throat is always dry, which also helps. But it just sounds like you didnt like it at all. After the baby and the nursing is done, suggest another drug.
while i appreciate the support, i did try everthing i could possibly try to help with my symptoms. you name it, i tried it. I was on strattera for about 6 months, and my weight just dwindled down to nothing.
Strattera, is just not for me. it did affect me well mentally, but it gets to the point when its just like "is the benefits worth all of this??" I wish i was as fortunate as some people who take it and love it and have minimal problems, but i am not. my best reaction so far was to just come off of it.
a couple of months after i stopped taking strattera, i got pregnant, so now, i'm not on anything.
I do, however, after the birth of my child, plan to see my psych and try some other medication out to keep myself calm and collected during those "baby blues" when i feel i will be my most disorganized.
i just wrote to express concerns for those shy people out there who may have had my problem and were to embarrassed to talk about it. but so far, no one wants to discuss this rather touchy topic...
I guess I did kind of "lecture," didn't I. Sorry about that.
May I congratulate you on your pregnancy!!! Now you don't only get to eat for yourself, but for the two of you!
Be well!Sonya...I sympathize with the "crappy"
and uncomfortable side effect you experienced on Strattera. As you say, constipation is the first side effect always mentioned for adults on Strattera. They don't say any more than that, except to speak with your doctor. I am assuming that eating, whether hungry or not, several little meals during the day and drinking LOTS of water may help your problem. I know it's difficult not eating when you're not hungry, but, as I'm sure you're aware, your body does needs fuel to function properly, physically and mentally. I'm not on Strattera, but am on a med that curbs the appetite. So I'm making sure I eat breakfast, before taking my meds, and trying to schedule little meals at the same time during each day (recommended by my pharmacist).
You said you guess Strattera is just not for you. Did you stop taking it after six months? If so, are you taking any other med instead? It seems such a shame, when Strattera seemed to work so well for you, or at least that's what you were told.
Good luck, Sonya.GypsyWomyn38405.7630902778