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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Lexxey on April 1, 2003, at 17:07:00
In reply to Re: Straterra - Back to Ritalin SR - Bob, posted by LibbyH on April 1, 2003, at 15:43:19
when a person stops stimulants there will often be a period when they are depressed. The brain gets used to those chemicals. That's why I have always taken one month off ritalin for the almost 20 years I took it. It just makes me a little draggy for a few days. This makes sense to me and I can cope if I have to. I just drop everything I don't bump into. Clumsiness comes back and drives me nuts!!!
Posted by paulk on April 1, 2003, at 17:33:57
In reply to Re: Atomoxetine (Straterra) weight gain, posted by blondegirl47 on April 1, 2003, at 15:19:49
> I have read where people are taking it twice a day. Since it makes me sleepy, I am happy to only take it once a day. I hope your weight gain stops, as well as mine. :)
Dividing the dose may make you half as sleepy twice a day. A time release version may eliminate the sleepyness altogether. I remeber how surprised I was when I took effexor and switched to the slow release - almost like a different drug.
Posted by not exactly on April 2, 2003, at 3:05:31
In reply to Re: Straterra - Back to Ritalin SR - Bob, posted by LibbyH on April 1, 2003, at 15:43:19
Libby,
I can't believe your pdoc switched you from Prozac+Wellbutrin+Ritalin to Lexapro+Strattera+Klonopin all at once! That seems completely irresponsible - no wonder you felt suicidal. I'm sure the bad reaction you had was not due to the Strattera, but rather withdrawal symptoms from quitting the Wellbutrin and Ritalin cold turkey (both should be tapered off very gradually to avoid severe rebound depression).
- Bob
Posted by AS Mom on April 2, 2003, at 8:00:52
In reply to Re: Straterra - Back to Concerta - AS Mom, posted by Msanjelpie on April 1, 2003, at 7:40:52
DD's reaction to Strattera: weepiness and extreme fatigue! She has an autoimmune disorder so we didn't want to see her more tired than she already is. Also - did not help her ADD at all. She was on Concerta for 3 years prior to trying Strattera. We will be switiching her today to Ritalin (not time-leased) so we can give her the medication only when she needs it for school. Some days she is so tired that she doesn't attend school and we don't give her medication for ADD on those days. This was another reason we stopped the Strattera. We want to be able to have the option of reducing meds when she isn't feeling well.
DS's reaction: EXTREME moodiness and hyperactivity. He also had very vivid, disturbing nightmares. Now that he's back on Concerta, he's not having the nightmares and is calm and in control. He's been on Concerta/Ritalin for 3 years prior to trying Strattera.
My son also suffers from anxiety/depression. We took him off of prozac, and we'll see the psych today to discuss other meds that might help him with anxiety. The prozac did not help his anxiety at all. He was on that for about 2 years. We were hopeful that Strattera would be able to help both ADHD and anxiety, but it didn't work for him.
Posted by LibbyH on April 2, 2003, at 12:47:41
In reply to Re: Straterra - Back to Ritalin SR » LibbyH, posted by not exactly on April 2, 2003, at 3:05:31
I've experienced the rebound depressions before and every depressive episode is a little different, but over the course of my entire life, up until this last time I could say I've had certain tendencies when depressed. This last time, the impulsiveness and suicidal impulses specifically were awful. Between suicidal impulses, I felt great. It looked a lot more like mania. It was strange enough to make me wonder if all those trials with the BIpolar drugs were a fluke & I actually had some weird type of super rapid cycling bipolar with swings every 2-3 hrs. instead of every several days, so much so that I asked my pdoc about it.
He directed me back to my history, the trials, the testing, and the fact that I had been stable for two years on a pretty high doe of some pretty stimulating meds, so he was pretty confident I wasn't Bipolar.In other words, it wasn't like I was DEPRESSED so much as BIPOLAR, so I think what was goin on must have been a combination of both the sudden withdrawal from the Ritalin (the Wellbutrin had pooped out months ago) AND the effects of the Straterra. I have been doing some reading on the drug since my experience & increased impulsivity can be a side-effect of the drug. I understand that sometimes this can settle down as one builds a tolerance, but I was in a situation where I was making active (albeit not very seriously threatening) suicide attempts. I had never seen myself behave this way. I was scaring myself, my family, and even a pdoc who has seen me through five years of awful depression. I couldn't afford to wait. I don't mean to alarm anyone, but I will be on Ritalin for as long as the FDA, my pdoc, and my health will allow. Without it, I am dangerously impulsive and thoroughly capable of destroying my life in less than a week.
Libby
Posted by not exactly on April 2, 2003, at 13:59:21
In reply to Re: Straterra - Back to Ritalin SR - Bob, posted by LibbyH on April 2, 2003, at 12:47:41
> the sudden withdrawal from the Ritalin (the Wellbutrin had pooped out months ago)
Drugs "poop out" because your body adjusts to them. This is virtually the same phenomenon as "tolerance", an aspect of addiction. Just because a drug has pooped out does not mean that you won't get a violent reaction to discontinuing it.
However, I'm willing to believe that the presence of the Strattera made the Ritalin & Wellbutrin withdrawal symptoms more severe and qualitatively different from what you may have experienced in the past.
- Bob
Posted by LibbyH on April 2, 2003, at 19:07:25
In reply to Re: Straterra - Back to Ritalin SR » LibbyH, posted by not exactly on April 2, 2003, at 13:59:21
Poop out = tolerance = addiction? Really? I had never heard of this. I had taken Wellbutrin before & so had my husband & daughter & none of us had ever been tapered off it before. Had no idea youit was a drug you needed to taper off. What a nightmare.
My doc is usually very conservative. It's not like him to do something so radical. The withdrawal effects had never even occured to me until a psych nurse in the ER mentioned it as a possibility following my last suicide attempt. Then it was like a light bulb went off... oh yeah, the last time I went off Ritalin cold turkey (had a bad stomach flu for two weeks) I went into a terrible depression. As I said before, the "mania" was really baffling about this time though.
Posted by snowflake on April 3, 2003, at 11:11:23
In reply to Re: Straterra - Back to Concerta - AS Mom, posted by AS Mom on April 2, 2003, at 8:00:52
Hi,
As I posted before my 11 year old son was not helped by Strattera, it sent him down the same road as your children(AS Mom). He has been put back on Adderall XR, but it will be a couple of weeks until we can bring him back up to speed. We saw his doctor this week and she verified that some other children she treats have had the same reaction. I wonder if it's better for adults. Anyways, I just to post this incase it helps other families. If anybody has more updates on this please write.
Posted by blondegirl47 on April 4, 2003, at 12:19:55
In reply to Re: Going To Start Straterra This Week, posted by teacherkris on March 31, 2003, at 15:57:52
Hi teacherkris
Just wondered how it was going with you. Tonight I start on 40 ml strattera...for 4 days then I go to 60. I hope it gets rid of these munchies!
Posted by teacherkris on April 4, 2003, at 12:46:06
In reply to Re: Going To Start Straterra This Week, posted by blondegirl47 on April 4, 2003, at 12:19:55
Hi - things are much better. I seem to be doing fine now at 80 mg (40 am 40 afternoon). The side effects have gone away. I still don't seem to be very hungry but I'm not dropping weight like I was. Although I had an interesting experience the other night, I forgot my afternoon dose and woke up in the middle of the night hungry. So maybe the twice a day dosing is good which doesn't make me really happy but oh well! :-) Next week i'm supposed to go to 80 mg. just in the a.m. so we'll see what happens. I'm now on a half of my regular concerta dose too, only taking 36 mg now. He doesn't want me off concerta for the next three weeks. I'll keep you updated. Thanks for asking :-)!
Posted by Magpie on April 4, 2003, at 14:10:42
In reply to Re: Started Strattera Yesterday Woo-Hoo!, posted by macaroni on March 15, 2003, at 1:06:46
Hi Gang,
Well I've been browsing this thread and it seems most ppl are using this drug for ADD / ADHD. I do not have either of those DXs but I had been on Adderall as a stimulant to counteract the fatiguing side effects of my other meds. Now this past Wednesday the Adderall was stopped and I started taking 40mg Straterra. I have been totally exhausted ever since. I am also concerned because the PI says "not a stimulant". I just got off phone with doc a while ago and she says it only says that because it doesn't have FDA approval as such. Is anyone else here using it as a stimlant and not for ADD / ADHD and how are you making out with it? TIA,
Magpie
Posted by blondegirl47 on April 4, 2003, at 14:15:38
In reply to Straterra- anyone using as stimulant?, posted by Magpie on April 4, 2003, at 14:10:42
Hi Magpie
For me Strattera is definitely not a stimulant. I take it at night before bed, because it wacks my adderallxr. I am add without hyper. Strattera used to be an anti depresant. It didn't quite make it as an anti depresant though. Its supposed to be used for focus not as a stimulant.
Posted by Lexxey on April 4, 2003, at 15:02:39
In reply to Re: Going To Start Straterra This Week, posted by blondegirl47 on April 4, 2003, at 12:19:55
Blondie...
About the munchies....I didn't get them when I started on Stratterra [I can't remember how to spell it] and that's amazing cuz just watching a commercial can get me going. I wonder if it could be coming down off stimulants that could cause that. I do notice that I get them for a few days when I used to go off Ritalin for one month every year.
Had you been taking stimulant meds?
[I use lexxyred cuz of my red hair...part of my identity and temperment]
Posted by Lexxey on April 4, 2003, at 15:07:29
In reply to Straterra- anyone using as stimulant?, posted by Magpie on April 4, 2003, at 14:10:42
I don't see any way this could be a stimulant!!!
It's supposed to effect brain chemistry with norepinephirine and dopamine by suppressing the pump or something like that.
But it does cause the heart rate to increase and can cause the bp to also....maybe that's what he means. It sure doesn't stimulate me. I'm still waiting for the foggy slow motion feeling to fade.
Posted by blondegirl47 on April 4, 2003, at 15:34:27
In reply to Re: Going To Start Straterra This Week, posted by Lexxey on April 4, 2003, at 15:02:39
Hi Lexxyred :)
Thanks for your input. Yes I am still on my stimulant medication. I was having some munchies before strattera, but now I have food specific munchies. I want fried salty stuff and chocolate. I will get a handle on it, I just have to do a better job of self parenting. I'm giving Strattera a month or so. If I don't see a lot more focus and clarity, strattera will have to go. :)
Posted by Viridis on April 4, 2003, at 20:01:32
In reply to Re: Going To Start Straterra This Week, posted by blondegirl47 on April 4, 2003, at 15:34:27
I think this question has been asked here before, but has anyone had success (or problems) with Strattera plus a stimulant? I take Adderall for ADD (and also as an antidepressant) and am quite happy with it, except for the inconvenience of its Schedule II status. I'd like to try Strattera, and my pdoc is quite enthusiastic about it. However, if it takes a while to kick in, I'd rather not discontinue the Adderall, at least not at first. And, I'm curious about whether the combination might provide better focus.
I don't see anything in the prescribing info that contraindicates stimulants such as Adderall while taking Strattera, and have seen reports on other boards of people combining both types of meds. I'd be interested in the experiences of those here.
Thanks in advance!
Posted by Hyperactiveone on April 4, 2003, at 20:16:25
In reply to Re: Going To Start Straterra This Week, posted by blondegirl47 on April 4, 2003, at 15:34:27
Well let me introduce myself my name is Dave and I was one of the ones in the clinical trails that made this drug in the testing faze but could not handle the ups and downs of placebo. So I got off them and went back to treatment and was put back on ritalin. Day one of the straterra this week I will keep you posted on how I feel I have been taking ritalin four about 10 years and wanted to come of stimulants trying to see how atomoxophine is going to work with ritalin.---I will let you know. Does anyone have weird dreams?
Posted by Hyperactiveone on April 4, 2003, at 20:19:25
In reply to Strattera plus stimulant?, posted by Viridis on April 4, 2003, at 20:01:32
> I think this question has been asked here before, but has anyone had success (or problems) with Strattera plus a stimulant? I take Adderall for ADD (and also as an antidepressant) and am quite happy with it, except for the inconvenience of its Schedule II status. I'd like to try Strattera, and my pdoc is quite enthusiastic about it. However, if it takes a while to kick in, I'd rather not discontinue the Adderall, at least not at first. And, I'm curious about whether the combination might provide better focus.
>
> I don't see anything in the prescribing info that contraindicates stimulants such as Adderall while taking Strattera, and have seen reports on other boards of people combining both types of meds. I'd be interested in the experiences of those here.
>
> Thanks in advance!I'll let you know day 1 of stattera 60mg and ritalin 10mg three times a day.
Posted by PuraVida on April 4, 2003, at 22:31:16
In reply to Re: Strattera plus stimulant?, posted by Hyperactiveone on April 4, 2003, at 20:19:25
Can anyone please describe how a stim makes you feel different/better?
I am pretty sure I am ADD, but my doc says no - I'm still depressed, so I'm going to get another opinion. I think the effexor has lifted my depression, and now I am seeing the ADD symptoms that I haven't been aware existed. Either I can't sit still, or I can't get going. Someone suggested I take epherdra-free Metabolift to see if it helped. When I take it, I feel more physically relaxed, and more mentally energized. Today I didn't take any, and feel mentally cloudy and physically tense - just want to escape.
Can anyone help me make some sense out of this? Are there other physical clues - like I tend to feel great mentally when I take antihistines..
Thanks
PV
Posted by babs on April 5, 2003, at 9:15:19
In reply to Re: Going To Start Straterra This Week, posted by Hyperactiveone on April 4, 2003, at 20:16:25
Dave- I am currently on Adderall and my doc wants to switch me to Straterra. He told me that since straterra takes awhile to kick in I would be on both initially. Then after about two weeks, once the straterra had time to work, I would taper off the adderall. I don't know about staying ob oth long-term though.
Posted by Lexxey on April 5, 2003, at 9:37:39
In reply to Re: Going To Start Straterra This Week, posted by blondegirl47 on April 4, 2003, at 15:34:27
I'm starting my second week at the full dose and just waiting to be wowed!!! So far I'm not impressed but I did sleep all the way thru the night for the forst time in 3 weeks....guess that means I'm getting used to it.
Posted by Lexxey on April 5, 2003, at 9:52:13
In reply to Re: Going To Start Straterra This Week, posted by Hyperactiveone on April 4, 2003, at 20:16:25
I have had really fun dreams...I look forward to them but I'm an artist and I sometimes have musical comedy dreams.
In fact just last night I woke up with the best idea for a new pottery design that I will definitely use...I think something creative is going on. Maybe if there is tension in your life you might have nightmares but I have only had really good ones.
Lexxy the potter in ga
Posted by Lexxey on April 5, 2003, at 9:55:06
In reply to ADD meds - , posted by PuraVida on April 4, 2003, at 22:31:16
If I were you I would call doctors until I found one that specialized in treating ADHD addults....all you have to do is ask the office.
Posted by Female Exec on April 5, 2003, at 11:51:03
In reply to Re: ADD meds - , posted by Lexxey on April 5, 2003, at 9:55:06
Was diagnosed classic ADHD one month ago and suggested to take Strattera. I'm struggling to get the dosage right...started with 40 mg for three days then up to 80 mg which felt really bad. Over the past two weeks have split the doses into one around 7 am, the other around 1 pm and that's working pretty well. My doc suggested I start pushing them closer together and might reach a point of being able to take 80 mg in one dose. Today was 8 am and 11:30 and so far..so good.
The 'cloud of chos' I've been carrying around in my brain my whole life seems to have dissipated. On a scale of 1-10, I would rate around 7-8, which would be pretty significant improvement. I seem to be more focused, with less tangents in conversation. I'm able to sit at my desk for longer periods of time, without traveling through the office with various excuses (bathroom, coffee, visits etc). I am down to one legal pad of to dos...rather than a stack of notes and multiple legal pads going. I've cleared files that I seemed incapable of removing prior to meds. Mostly threw things away.
Anyway...will keep you posted, but we may be on to something here.
Posted by cybercafe on April 5, 2003, at 18:21:56
In reply to Re: ADD meds - , posted by Female Exec on April 5, 2003, at 11:51:03
> Was diagnosed classic ADHD one month ago and suggested to take Strattera. I'm struggling to get the dosage right...started with 40 mg for three days then up to 80 mg which felt really bad. Over the past two weeks have split the doses into one around 7 am, the other around 1 pm and that's working pretty well. My doc suggested I start pushing them closer together and might reach a point of being able to take 80 mg in one dose. Today was 8 am and 11:30 and so far..so good.
>
> The 'cloud of chos' I've been carrying around in my brain my whole life seems to have dissipated. On a scale of 1-10, I would rate around 7-8, which would be pretty significant improvement. I seem to be more focused, with less tangents in conversation. I'm able to sit at my desk for longer periods of time, without traveling through the office with various excuses (bathroom, coffee, visits etc). I am down to one legal pad of to dos...rather than a stack of notes and multiple legal pads going. I've cleared files that I seemed incapable of removing prior to meds. Mostly threw things away.
>
> Anyway...will keep you posted, but we may be on to something here.is it common for an ADD adult to be able to hold down fulltime work (prior to diagnosis/treatment)?
i found i just couldn't work because it took too much effort to focus... like, it just wasn't worth the effort ... ummm... after the first two hours, it started to become a big effort to concentrate, i felt wiped out, wanted to fall asleep (and did sometimes)
the first hour or two were okay though...... i think i probably hyper focused during the first 2 hours
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