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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by zeugma on November 11, 2003, at 12:13:08
In reply to Re: Strattera updates?, posted by sadmom on November 11, 2003, at 9:42:28
I find that meds that work on norepinephrine increase emotionality (hence the mood swings). For example, when I'm depressed I always feel like crying, but can't because my emotional expression is blocked. When on a noradrenergic drug, the emotions flow more freely, making it easier to express them (whether negative or positive). I consider this part of the 'normalizing' effect of these drugs. The drawback is that for people with bipolar tendencies the increased emotions can precipitate a manic episode.
Posted by Lasagne on November 11, 2003, at 12:31:07
In reply to Re: Strattera updates?, posted by sadmom on November 11, 2003, at 9:42:28
Dear Sad Mom:
It sounds like you may have a bipolar disorder that coexists with your attentional problems. You might want to consider talking to your doctor for a trial of Zyprexa. My 11 year old son takes Strattera, Adderal XR, Celexa, and Zyprexa. Prior to the Zyprexa my son was having huge mood swings where he would get very combative and then at other moments he would be crying his eyes out. The doctor started him on a very small dose of the Zyprexa and it was amazing how much it calmed the rollercoaster ride down. It is a very good mood stabilizer that doesn't involve routine blood testing like some of the other mood stabilizer's out there. It's very difficult treating attentional problems when bipolar disorder coexists with it. SSRI's and stimulants can aggrivate the bipolar and throw a person into a manic episode, especially if the patient is not taking a mood stabilizer concurrently. > If my son could function well enough to get through his school work on the Strattera alone I really think that alot of these emotional upheavels could have been avoided. During the summer he functioned well on the Strattera alone for his ADHD, but once school started he couldn't focus well enough to get through all his school work in one day without adding the Adderall back to the mix. As for the sweats, I got that side effect too when I began the Strattera. It took me about 6 weeks for that to go away.
Good luck, LasagnaStrattera makes me sweat. But it also calms me. I take 40mg at 9am when I get to work. Then it seems to wear off after 5 hrs, so I take another 40mg at 2pm. I am taking it for depression related attention problems. I am also taking 30mg Remeron at night. This is the closest I've felt to normal in 4 yrs, after trying numerous antidepressants/combos. However I do seem to be having mood swings. And when I get depressed for a couple of days a week, it is quite bad and I have to take Xanax so I'm not continually crying. I don't know if this is a result of the Strattera, because mood swings is listed as a side effect.
Posted by bcabare on November 11, 2003, at 13:15:23
In reply to Re: Strattera updates?, posted by pain-pal on November 10, 2003, at 23:59:52
This is the first time in decades that I have felt comfortable and confident. I really appreciate Strattera for that. This is also the first time in many years that I _HAVEN'T_ been on a mood stabilizer. I originaly was diagnosed as being Bi-polar. My symptoms aren't totally in line with typically ADD, but the book "What does everyone else know that I don't" caused me to consider that I might be ADD. Mainly this was due to being so focused that you miss the social cues that later cause you interpersonal problems. My pdoc agrees that my original bipolar diagnosis (not his) was wrong. As to side effects: lots of itching, nausea, sleepy. But career-wise, I have progressed so much in the last four months -- everyone has commented on my new-found abilites and are now deferring to me in group projects.
Posted by lessismore on November 11, 2003, at 13:33:08
In reply to Re: When is the best time to take Strattera? » Lasagne, posted by Snowie on November 10, 2003, at 18:01:46
I don't have insurance, and pay $180 a month for my Strattera. I don't have a regular job or a lot of money, but the Strattera makes things so much better that it's worth it to me. I would pay for the Strattera before the mortgage.
Posted by lessismore on November 11, 2003, at 13:38:23
In reply to Re: Strattera updates? » sadmom, posted by zeugma on November 11, 2003, at 12:13:08
I like the idea that the S. is "normalizing". I have always hated to show my emotions, and find I am more likely to cry at something sad, or yell about something that makes me angry (appropriately, I think), since I started the S.
Posted by loolot on November 11, 2003, at 13:48:13
In reply to Re: Strattera updates?, posted by lessismore on November 11, 2003, at 13:38:23
I am just about to up my dosage to 40mg because 18 doesnt work anymore. Does this keep happening? Will my adrenal system keep adjusting to this med until it just stops? I worry about that.
Has anyone been on one dosage of straterra for a while?
Posted by bcabare on November 11, 2003, at 14:50:38
In reply to When is the best time to take Strattera?, posted by Snowie on November 7, 2003, at 23:43:22
I am often very tired, which these postings seem to confirm for a person taking S in the morning. However, when I took it at night, it appeared to not be as effective the following evening, so I went back to a morning dose. I think I will next try a dinner dose or twice/day smaller doses.
Posted by bcabare on November 11, 2003, at 15:11:38
In reply to Re: strattera side effects, posted by bige on October 11, 2003, at 12:02:13
Somewhat glad to see others having hot flashes; I thought I was going through menopause. (I take between 100 and 120 mg/morning with 40mg prozac)
Posted by MamaB on November 11, 2003, at 15:54:53
In reply to Re: strattera side effects, posted by bcabare on November 11, 2003, at 15:11:38
> Somewhat glad to see others having hot flashes; I thought I was going through menopause. (I take between 100 and 120 mg/morning with 40mg prozac)
Boy an I glad to know I wasn't imagining the hot flashes! My psychiatrist still doesn't believe me
but they were very real!
Posted by bcabare on November 11, 2003, at 17:54:28
In reply to Re: Strattera updates?, posted by Mid- Life Crisis on October 15, 2003, at 23:58:33
Make sure you have an IEP filed at the school. My daughter was often singled out. Her actions warranted her being singled out at times, but not _ALL_ of the time. So when she was expelled for using drugs, and the drug dealer simply suspended, then I knew this wasn't right. Her mood disorders made her make more enemies of the teachers than allies. Had I filed an IEP stating her handicap, I might have saved a lot of frustration.
It wasn't until after two suicide attempts that I placed her in a group home to get help. After three years of hell, she is still a *big* handful. But she is alive and looking forward to graduating from an alternative school on the "B" plan and eventually going to school for interior design. When she was 14-16, I did have her on meds for being bi-polar, OCD, ODD, etc. Now at 17, I wish I could get her to use Strattera, which has been a Godsend to me.
> Frustrted Mom,
> My 15 yr. old son was also previously on Adderall (XR and the generic short-acting type) before trying Strattera. I'm at wit's end, because he gets in trouble for "disruptive" behavior, which the school labels disruptive even if it's only shaking his head when the teacher is talking and he tells me even the kids in his class accuse the teacher of not liking my son (and he CAN be trying, because he's the class clown type.) Believe it or not, this is an alternative high school which has loads of ADHD kids in it, and so lots of my son's friends are also ADHD. However, the teachers at this school seem to understand very little about ADHD. (Ironically, the school is sponsoring a local therapist presentation in a couple of weeks for parents entitled "What Parents Need to Know About ADHD Children". I wish this school would also consider one for the teachers as well! Sorry to vent!)
> Anyhow, Adderall made my son's normally sweet (for a 15 year old boy) temperament angry and oppositional...not like him. On Strattera, he just seems out of it so far, and says it makes him feel wierd, though I think some is the drowsiness. Only thing left to try after this is Wellbutrin, but that would not seem to address his problems, as he has no depression.
Posted by Lasagne on November 12, 2003, at 21:39:49
In reply to Re: Strattera -does it wear off?, posted by loolot on November 11, 2003, at 13:48:13
>Reply to below post:
I have been on 80 mgs. of Strattera since last May and I haven't had to adjust my dose once. Eighteen mgs. seems like a very low dose and quite possibly wasn't the right dose to begin with. Yet, since Strattera has a lot of side effects in the beginning the doctors are now starting people on lower doses and then working up to the optimal dose which I believe is based on your body weight. I think it is still a little early to know if your body will become resistant to Strattera, thus indicating a higher and higher dose over time. From my personal experience with Prozac (an SSRI), I have been on the same dose for years now and it's effectiveness has remained the same. Since Strattera is somewhat similar to the SSRI's, we can only hope that it will behave the same over time instead of becoming less and less effective like the traditional stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall.
Good luck. Hopefully a higher dose will work out for you and you won't have to keep adjusting it.
Lasagna
I am just about to up my dosage to 40mg because 18 doesnt work anymore. Does this keep happening? Will my adrenal system keep adjusting to this med until it just stops? I worry about that.
> Has anyone been on one dosage of straterra for a while?
Posted by Lasagne on November 12, 2003, at 21:43:23
In reply to Re: strattera side effects, posted by bcabare on November 11, 2003, at 15:11:38
> Hang in there. The hot flashes are very obnoxious in the beginning, but after a while it should calm down and completely go away. I believe that problem went away around my 6th week on the Strattera.
Lasagna
Somewhat glad to see others having hot flashes; I thought I was going through menopause. (I take between 100 and 120 mg/morning with 40mg prozac)
Posted by Lasagne on November 12, 2003, at 21:45:59
In reply to Re: strattera side effects, posted by MamaB on November 11, 2003, at 15:54:53
Oh, you think the hot flashes are bad, try extreme scalp itch with no apparent scalp condition. I complained about this to my doctor and he didn't believe me that I thought it was due to the Strattera and then I read other posts on this web-site of people experiencing the same thing. So don't assume your doctor knows everything.
Lasagna
> > Somewhat glad to see others having hot flashes; I thought I was going through menopause. (I take between 100 and 120 mg/morning with 40mg prozac)
>
> Boy an I glad to know I wasn't imagining the hot flashes! My psychiatrist still doesn't believe me
> but they were very real!
Posted by loolot on November 12, 2003, at 22:18:20
In reply to Re: Strattera -does it wear off? » loolot, posted by Lasagne on November 12, 2003, at 21:39:49
Yet, since Strattera has a lot of side effects in the beginning the doctors are now starting people on lower doses and then working up to the optimal dose which I believe is based on your body weight. I think it is still a little early to know if your body will become resistant to Strattera, thus indicating a higher and higher dose over time. From my personal experience with Prozac (an SSRI), I have been on the same dose for years now and it's effectiveness has remained the same. Since Strattera is somewhat similar to the SSRI's, we can only hope that it will behave the same over time instead of becoming less and less effective like the traditional stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall.
Thanks so much for the reply! I think the reason I worry is because I was on wellbutrin and it wore off, and I could tell that a lot of the poop-out which effected me physically was norepinephrine depletion. I developed worse asthma and allergies, etc.
So now I worry the same thing will happen with straterra. How is straterra similar to ssri's? Does it block reuptake of NE? I know it doesnt work on seratonin, right?
Posted by Mila S on November 12, 2003, at 22:54:15
In reply to Re: Strattera, posted by lessismore on November 5, 2003, at 19:30:15
I went on strattera several weeks ago. At first it seemed to be helping. However, I noticed that when I miss a dose or two or reduce the dose, I become severely depressed. I have experienced this sort of depression before but in recent years it has not been this bad. However, since I started the strattera, it has come back albeit only when I miss or change (reduce) the dose. It seems as if I have become dependent(not in the addictive sense) on the strattera such that not taking it causes this severe reaction.
It is not helping me all that much when I do take it. So I am not sure if I should keep taking it given the reaction I have when I miss a dose. Also I find that missing a dose or changing doses causes severe sleepiness as well.
I'm afraid to stop it altogether as I become so terribly depressed. Yet it seems that I need to get it out of my system altogether if I want these negative reactions to stop. I went up to 100 mg a day. Presently I have reduced the dose to 60 mg a day and I feel worse then I did before I ever started it.
Anyone else have this experience? Some folks mentioned mood swings. Perhaps this is what is happening to me. However the severity of the depression experienced seems to be something more then mere mood swings occurring as a side effect. And the fact that it happens when I miss a dose indicates that is not just a matter of a side effect but some kind of severe withdrawal effect.
I'm not sure whether I should get off it completely and suffer through the severe depression or keep taking the drug at my maximum dose. I also noticed getting severely depressed when I was first on 60 mg and would miss a dose.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Posted by sadmom on November 13, 2003, at 8:32:40
In reply to Re: Strattera - helping or hurting?, posted by Mila S on November 12, 2003, at 22:54:15
My left eye lid started twitching a couple of days ago and it is very annoying. Do you think it is the Strattera (80 mg) or the Remeron (30 mg) I am taking?
Posted by bcabare on November 13, 2003, at 12:45:13
In reply to Re: strattera side effects » MamaB, posted by Lasagne on November 12, 2003, at 21:45:59
Yes, I agree, the scalp itching can be pretty bad and sometimes its on my arms and legs, too.
But the ability to feel like I really belong to society now is worth the odd, bothersome, side effects.> Oh, you think the hot flashes are bad, try extreme scalp itch with no apparent scalp condition. I complained about this to my doctor and he didn't believe me that I thought it was due to the Strattera and then I read other posts on this web-site of people experiencing the same thing. So don't assume your doctor knows everything.
> Lasagna
>
>
> > > Somewhat glad to see others having hot flashes; I thought I was going through menopause. (I take between 100 and 120 mg/morning with 40mg prozac)
> >
> > Boy an I glad to know I wasn't imagining the hot flashes! My psychiatrist still doesn't believe me
> > but they were very real!
>
>
Posted by Mid- Life Crisis on November 13, 2003, at 15:05:07
In reply to Re: Strattera or Remeron - eye lid twitching?, posted by sadmom on November 13, 2003, at 8:32:40
I'm glad you mentioned the eyelid twitching! I have had it for months, ever since I began ANY ADHD drugs. I have had it on Adderall, methylphenidate, Concerta, and now Strattera. It makes no difference which one, they all do it! (For me, it's only the right eyelid.) I have never been on any other psych. drugs but these, and have never had a permanent eyelid twitch before!
Although it's probably only noticeable to me, it's still very annoying. At first I thought it might be stress-related (bar exam, selling a house, looking for a job, etc.) but it's been months, and I've still got it. Besides, I feel calm for the first time in my life on Strattera, so it can't be anxiety-related.
Help! Has anyone else had this, and if so, did it ever go away??
Posted by Lasagne on November 13, 2003, at 20:28:44
In reply to Re: Strattera -does it wear off? » Lasagne, posted by loolot on November 12, 2003, at 22:18:20
Hi:
To clarify about Strattera being similar to the SSRI's, I should say that both are reuptake inhibitors. Granted they work on different chemicals (Serotonin vs. Norephinehrine), yet Strattera still has antidepressant properties as well as benefits for attentional problems. Prior to Strattera my son was being treated with stimulants and the antidepressant Celexa. My doctor said that the antidepressants help to give 24 hour control over the attention deficit symptoms and the stimulants give optimal control during the day when more focus is required for school or work. Like I said before I have been on the Strattera since May and it has helped extremely with my depression and attentional problems. This is really the most functional that I have been in years.
Lasagna
Posted by Lasagne on November 13, 2003, at 21:14:42
In reply to Re: Strattera - helping or hurting?, posted by Mila S on November 12, 2003, at 22:54:15
Hi:
Maybe you need to switch to an antidepressant while you taper off the Strattera. If you don't think the Strattera is giving you positive benefits when you take the medication regularly then it is an expensive medication to take just to prevent yourself from going into a depression. From my experience it takes more than a month to reach the optimal benefits of Strattera. Yet, I have read on this site that some people don't respond well to it at all. If you feel you are in this category then you may need to temporarily take another antidepressant medication so you can have control over the depression symptoms and then a few months down the road after you have completely tapered off the Strattera, then maybe you can try going off the antidepressant slowly to see how you function. The more I learn about Strattera and the SSRI's, I am finding that many people experience uncomfortable withdrawl symptoms when going off of them. According to my doctor the only way to reduce the withdrawl discomfort is to slowly ween yourself off of them. Last year I tried reducing my Prozac and I felt lousy. My doctor then suggested that so many days a week I should take my normal dose (60 mgs. MWFSun) and then the other few days I should take the lower dose (40 mgs. TTHSat) until my body adjusted to taking the 40 mgs. everyday and then to work on making the switch from 40 mgs. to 20 mgs. and so forth. Once I tapered down I did fine for a little while and then next thing I knew the depression came back full force making me realize that I will need to be on medication for the rest of my life. I suffered for years with depression before finally receiving proper treatment. There is a clear genetic tendency in my family towards mental illness, so I am a firm believer that antidepressants and Strattera have life altering benefits. There are of course some people who do not respond well to them at all, nevertheless their bodies get used to the chemicals being in their bodies after a trial of medicaiton and then when they try to abruptly discontinue the medication, they often have withdrawl symptoms as their bodies adjust to not having the chemical in their body anymore. I don't see this as the same type of chemical dependence that people get from abusing illegal drugs or alchohol because when I was going off of Prozac, I didn't feel an uncontrollable urge to down a bunch of pills to to ease the discomfort. From my personal experience with my brother who was recently hooked on crystal meth, stimulants carry a devastating level of dependence with them that will make you do anything to make the 'downer'/withdrawl symptoms disappear. I didn't experience anything close to this when going off the Prozac.
Lasagna
Posted by Mila S on November 13, 2003, at 23:35:47
In reply to Re: Strattera - helping or hurting? » Mila S, posted by Lasagne on November 13, 2003, at 21:14:42
Thanks, I have had depression for years and still have not found somthing that works adequately. I have tried many of the anti-depressants and other drugs, however I never experienced this kind of withdrawal. I was hoping I would not have to taper off given that would mean I must buy lower dose pills. I was taking 60 and 40 mg pills. I dropped to just 60mg a day. I guess I'll drop to 40mg and when those run out see if I can handle the withdrawal.
Thanks much for your feedback. I would go on an anti-deppressant if I thought it might help, but I have been on so many that did not work (effexor, prozax, paxil, wellbutrin, remeron, lexapro, celexa...etc.). I would not know what to try next although there is always somthing new to try--I guess I've lost faith in medications. But I know I'm being irrational. All there is to do is to keep trying.
Posted by loolot on November 15, 2003, at 15:34:07
In reply to Re: Strattera - helping or hurting?, posted by Mila S on November 13, 2003, at 23:35:47
I feel generally a lot weaker on this med. It is a lot harder to excercise and I also seem to get sick more often. Anyone else have this problem? Also, is there another med which boosts Norep. only which isnt a reuptake inhibitor?
Posted by lessismore on November 15, 2003, at 17:18:52
In reply to Re: Strattera- Anyone else feel weak on it?, posted by loolot on November 15, 2003, at 15:34:07
Boy, I don't. I felt incredibly capable and motivated the first month or so. Now it's getting easier to not do the things I should, again, but I'm still thinking much more clearly and linearly (sp?!).
Posted by Lasagne on November 16, 2003, at 20:54:53
In reply to Re: Strattera - helping or hurting?, posted by Mila S on November 13, 2003, at 23:35:47
This is just a thought, but maybe you would have luck trying several different medications at the same time. For years I only took Prozac and thought it really helped, then a few years ago I started having more anxiety problems and the doctor began me on Buspar. Once again the Buspar made a huge difference. Then,last year my doctor diagnosed me at ADD and began me on Strattera. Somehow the combo of all these meds has made me more functional than I have been in years. I have also observed the same in my 11 year old son. It's a combination of medications that keep his stable. Good luck! Don't give up on trying to feel better.
Lasagna> Thanks, I have had depression for years and still have not found somthing that works adequately. I have tried many of the anti-depressants and other drugs, however I never experienced this kind of withdrawal. I was hoping I would not have to taper off given that would mean I must buy lower dose pills. I was taking 60 and 40 mg pills. I dropped to just 60mg a day. I guess I'll drop to 40mg and when those run out see if I can handle the withdrawal.
>
> Thanks much for your feedback. I would go on an anti-deppressant if I thought it might help, but I have been on so many that did not work (effexor, prozax, paxil, wellbutrin, remeron, lexapro, celexa...etc.). I would not know what to try next although there is always somthing new to try--I guess I've lost faith in medications. But I know I'm being irrational. All there is to do is to keep trying.
>
>
>
Posted by sadmom on November 17, 2003, at 12:53:51
In reply to Re: Strattera- Anyone else feel weak on it?, posted by loolot on November 15, 2003, at 15:34:07
My legs always feel almost jittery inside.
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