I've been on Strattera for about a month. When I started on it, I was sleeping almost 12 hours a day. I felt so fatigued, I didn't even want to get out of bed. Some of that has worn off, but I'm still sleeping about 10-12 hours a night (i don't usually sleep more than 8) and I can't seem to make it to the gym to save my life. To top it off, I keep having what I'm calling temper tantrums where I get so angry I want to break something. It's a little scary since I've never had that happen before.
I've read that this can happen (in other forums), but was wondering if these side effects were still there after a month or so. The doctor told me to keep taking the meds becuase the side effects wear off in a few weeks, but they haven't. I go back tomorrow to see him. Hopefully he'll change the meds.
Hello again!
Well things are better! He took me off the Dexedrine because I was taking that to help with the sleepiness of the Zoloft. It wasn't helping from keeping me getting sleepy. He took me off the Dexedrine and on to Straterra along with cutting me back to a 1/2 Zoloft. When I was taking it at night I wasn't sleeping worth a darn. When I called the doc he had me switch to taking it in the morning. I asked if that didn't help me sleep better, if it would be okay to take an over the counter sleeping pill to help me to sleep again at night. He said, "no"! Call before you taking anything and we will find you something that will mix with the meds you are on. Not to take any more over the counter drugs.
However, now that I am taking the Straterra first thing in the morning. I am sleeping, fine, again. Thank goodness, I didn't know how much longer I could go on like that.
LauraO38104.1871412037Hi to you all. I haven't been able to get on the web due to my workload at work. We just went through Inventory at our store. Some of you probably have gone through similar experiences. Alot of overtime. Anyway it is nice to chat with you all. I started to write last week in response, but so upset with this computer I had to walk away vowing I never would go near the darn thing. Well look who won.LOL. The Strattera 80 mg that I have been on for 3 weeks is still having the calming effect. Question is how to determine how much mgs is enough, should another med go inconjunction with this? My Dr put me on this by my request. She doesn't really know about ADD. She says I'm self medicating. Well hell, they go by what the Phamacy Sales Reps are pushing. It took a while to convince what was going on with me. She was for ever putting me an anitidepressant. She'd get mad at me because I would stop taking the med. Again, she wasn't listening and there are othe DRs who fall into that category as well. We know our bodies. With Websites as these we learn alot about this condition and we seem to be more knowledgeable they take a defensive attitude. Maybe it is because of malpractice issues or maybe as she said that I minuplated her. Didn't know how to react to that. The only thing I can think of that would make her say that is that I have asked about Ritilan. Guess she thougt I was a druggy. She should know because she is the one who prescribes only three meds that I do take that she refills for me and she knows there is no abuse. I am not saying that I don't have an additive nature, but if something is making you feel NORMAL (it seems all of ADD people have been trying to feel normal) well of course I want more that is why I have asked is a higher dosage better??????I have an extreme problem with constipation. Hate to admit it, but if I don't fess up I might have some other problem. Seems like the only way I can go is if I use a laxitive on the weekend and a suppository mid week. Are any of you experiencing these side effects. I also have started have heavy hot flashes. I have been use to these because of my age so it didn't bother me, but lately they have really been hot and uncomfortible. I am thinking of hitting the bottle of CoHask. Sorry for the spelling. I think you know what I mean. Nice talking to you. Sorry to be so lengthy. I guess I just have more to say since I am on this medication.
Laura - how come you switch from the Dexadrine to Strattera? Just curious.
I just started Stratter on Tuesday. The tiredness is fading, last night I slept fairly well. Not much of an appetite. The hot flashes really suck! I mean we're talking like dripping sweat! So far, not sure if I've seen any real benefits. Too soon to tell I guess.
You are not whining. Call doc, you sound miserable. I hope it gets better for you.
Hello again,
Boy, I am really starting to feel the side effects. I don't know if it is stopping the Dexedrine cold turkey or if is starting on the Straterra Monday Night. I haven't slept worth a darn the last 2 nights. I am so tired and completely downright exhausted. I have had to start taking Vivarin to stay awake during the day with the driving and all. That seems to help, however, that is 200 mg pills and I have already had 3 today. I can't take anymore Vivarin. My husband told me to lay down and sleep, that maybe that would help. I feel kind a bad. I bit his head off and told him I would if I could sleep but what would be the point when I can't. I know he was just saying that as a solution and being concerned and all. He has a business in the home, and we work together all day. Imagine the fun he gets to put up with right now. I feel so bad but sometimes I don't feel like I can control it. I don't like snapping at my loved ones. I also snapped at my 18 y/o son, he has no idea about my switching medications and the reasoning for the changes in me because I haven't really had a time to talk to him about it yet. My husband felt so bad about how awful I was feeling that he asked if I would like something to cheer me up. My thought at the moment was nothing will cheer me up (I did not however, say that). I looked at him and said sure. He gave me my birthday present early, instead of waiting until tomorrow. I am already pretty depressed about turning 36 but that is another story for another day. I will say this is the first time he ever bought me something that I really wanted and didn't say, we will go out after your birthday or what ever holiday it was so that I could pick out my gift. I will say it did make me feel better to know that he cared enough to pay attention when I showed him something I would really like to get "someday". It did cheer me up a bit. That was very nice.
I don't mean to whine so much. I am just in one of my moods. I am feeling a little depressed about getting older. A little concerned about the new med. Very concerned about not getting any sleep and being extremely exhausted. I think maybe tomorrow I will call the Dr. to see if it is okay to take a sleeping pill or at least rearrange when I take my pills. I go back to see him in a month but I don't think I will make it a month.
Well I will stop whining now. Thanks for listening/reading.
Very sleepy and irritable,
Laura
Hi piarawls, I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one with constipation problems. I work at in fast food, & it is really getting on my nerves to have to work through my shift with a tummy ache. Awhile back I hurt my lower back so since I went back to work I wear a back belt & trust me when my tummy is hurting I don't want to wear that back supporter cause it pushes on my stomach. I'm going to have to go to the store & get some soppositories so that I don't continue to have this problem. The Straterra doesn't make me sleepy at all which I'm thankful for. Right now I'm taking Val Proic Acid, Wellbutrin, & Straterra, & I'm doing alot better than I was.well, strattera's side affects are way better then addrerall's. the sleepiness goes away after about 6 weeks, they are there a little but not as bad.
it takes strattera about 3 weeks to get into your system. unlike adderall or ritlin which is immediate.
strattera should be taken with something the first 3 weeks or you are basically having nothing to help with your symptoms till it gets going.
good luck and call the doc.
Actually the Straterra is working for me with the exception that it causes constipation, but I've worked that out, so I don't have any problems. I did have some problems awhile back cause I didn't realize that I had to take it with water, & not on an empty stomach. When I was taking it on an empty stomach I would wake up & experience severe dizziness, but since I've started eating something before I took my meds, my dizziness has went away. Alot of times when I get up I usually eat raisin bran right out of the box, then take my meds. The raisin bran gives me the fiber I need plus I don't have an empty stomach when I do take my meds. Strattera is GARBAGE, the only thing it did was took my energy away but i still couldent concentrate at all, i took 120 m.g. for 11 month's it was way terrible it made me feel like A BUMP ON A LOG , and that's it that's all. and i have never heard of it working for anyone, ever. with a.d.d almost anything is worth a try,piarawls, I'm having the same problem with constipation due to the Straterra that I'm taking. I talked to the nurse where I go to counseling; when I told her the problem I'm having, she told me I need to get more fiber in my diet & drink more fluids. I've been loading up on salad, rasin bran, apple juice, apple sauce, & lots of water. Also it may help if you eat alot of fruit. When I don't feel like eating raisin bran w/milk, I eat it dry as a snack. She also suggested I get some Metamucel. I've been eating the raisin bran at night & it seems to be helping. You might want to try that.
Sounds to me like Strattera is nothing but trouble. Anyone else?
Strattera wasn't bad for me, but Adderall is much better. Strattera made me sleepy.