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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by teacherkris on March 27, 2003, at 13:11:06
In reply to Re: Straterra approval. » teacherkris, posted by blondegirl47 on March 27, 2003, at 8:57:52
I can fully sympathize with the grumpy feeling. At the time I was wondering if it was PMS, if it was the strattera, if it was the people around me or what it was. In hindsight I truly believe it was the Strattera and I have great sympathy for my students who had to put up with me for a couple weeks of grumpiness :-) as I'm a middle school teacher! Other than the irritability the dizziness was by far the most frustrating side effect for me, I even had to put on a movie one class period as I felt I was going to pass out. But along with the irritability, the dizziness passed. After I got up to 30 mg (my doc raised me 10 mg per day) I only had the dizziness on the first day that I would raise the dose then it would pass. I'm now up to 60 mg, 40 mg am and 20 in the afternoon and am having no side effects that I can tell. I'm waiting to even begin trying to test the Strattera for effectiveness until I'm up to at least 80 so I can't give you any info on that.
Someone had asked me about Libido. I think it may have lowered it slightly but as I'm not in a relationship right now it's hard to tell ;-).
All I can say is hang in there, I was miserable in the beginning but am still optimistic that it will be worth it. And for people who don't feel it is a time release, you need to remember that it's not like a stimulant it's more like an anti-depressant. Once it's built up in your system it's a constant it's not in and out of your system like a stimulant is so it shouldn't be wearing off at the end of the day if you have been on it for some time. This is also why it can't be given with "weekend holidays" as some parents do with stimulant medications.
Posted by blondegirl47 on March 27, 2003, at 13:28:16
In reply to Re: Straterra approval. » blondegirl47, posted by teacherkris on March 27, 2003, at 13:11:06
Thanks for the info...It was me asking about libido :) Have you been hungry too? I can probably take the dizzy's and being tired if I know it will get better, but I don't know if I can take being hungry all the time. Thanks again your reply, it helped alot.
Posted by kashusha on March 27, 2003, at 14:43:58
In reply to Re: Straterra approval. » teacherkris, posted by blondegirl47 on March 27, 2003, at 13:28:16
I'm curious about the constant hunger. I had heard it's more common to have a decreased appetite. I tried Wellbutrin and was hungry all the time, and I don't want repeat of that. Also, libido is a bit of a problem for me on Effexor.
Posted by teacherkris on March 27, 2003, at 14:47:17
In reply to Hunger » blondegirl47, posted by kashusha on March 27, 2003, at 14:43:58
Hunger has definitely not been a problem for me! I've lost more than 10 pounds since starting Strattera 6 weeks ago and I haven't changed anything else in my life. So I've definitely had a decrease in appetite, which I'm not complaining about! :-) However, I am still on Concerta too so that may have something to do with it.
Posted by blondegirl47 on March 27, 2003, at 14:52:55
In reply to Re: Hunger, posted by teacherkris on March 27, 2003, at 14:47:17
How strong of dose are you on? Did you have dizzy's and grumpy's in the beginning?
Thanks for your reply :)
Posted by blondegirl47 on March 27, 2003, at 14:57:27
In reply to Re: Hunger » teacherkris, posted by blondegirl47 on March 27, 2003, at 14:52:55
sorry, teacherkris, the message above was supposed to be to kasha...the one about dosage. :)
Posted by blondegirl47 on March 27, 2003, at 15:02:19
In reply to Re: Hunger » blondegirl47, posted by blondegirl47 on March 27, 2003, at 14:57:27
Man, I'm having blond moments in rapid succession. You are the one that lost 10 lbs, but I'm pretty sure you have listed your dosage. I have been craving carbs all day. Which has not been a problem in over a year. I had my blood sugar pretty stable. I have been eating only protein and low carb veggies. I had lost 25 lbs. which is probably at 20 now.
Posted by moosh on March 27, 2003, at 19:01:51
In reply to Re: Hunger » blondegirl47, posted by blondegirl47 on March 27, 2003, at 15:02:19
Hi, I just wanted to add my experience with Strattera and the whole eating thing, maybe it will help....I can totally understand what your going through. I have been on Strattera for 3 weeks now and I started off with 40mg once a day. I had the cravings so bad for fried greasy food I swear I would start to practically drool thinking about it...(I know, gross). I was not prepared for that side effect at all. I continued anyway and after 7 days on 40mg I went up to 80mg...the food cravings have completely subsided, and I don't have much interest in food at all actually...which is not common for me in general. However, I did get extremely irritable and moody and I seriously thought I was going to physically hurt my husband. That has also passed. As a whole Strattera has had the least amount of side effects so far than any other med I have been on. I feel good enough about it to stick it out and see what happens. I hope I could help. Good Luck
Posted by Proud2B-ADD on March 27, 2003, at 20:49:50
In reply to Re: Straterra - Back to Ritalin SR-Libby, posted by Spinning on March 26, 2003, at 11:45:53
Libby... you took the words right out of my mouth! I was told docs can't give adults Ritalin... I miss Ritalin so much. I'm on Strattera now...
My needs are the same as yours. I'm looking forward to reading an adults perspective on Ritalin vs. the Strattera experience....Thanks!
Posted by Proud2B-ADD on March 27, 2003, at 20:58:42
In reply to Re: Straterra approval. » teacherkris, posted by blondegirl47 on March 27, 2003, at 13:28:16
I've had a much stronger libido since I've started taking Strattera--! My husband is thankful.. :o}
Anybody else have this experience??
One "side effect" I can really live with..! LOL
Posted by Hattree on March 28, 2003, at 10:29:49
In reply to Re: Hunger » teacherkris, posted by blondegirl47 on March 27, 2003, at 14:52:55
I noticed that some of the people who had success much earlier in this thread were starting on much smaller doses (where did they go?). Maybe the starting dose recommended by the "experts" is too high. I have found that to be true in my case with a number of meds.
Posted by Patt on March 28, 2003, at 10:42:16
In reply to Re: Straterra - Starting this new drug with my son, posted by Msanjelpie on March 26, 2003, at 3:52:07
I am sure the doctor has addressed this, but there is a specific warning against opening the capsules of Straterra and sprinkling over food. Just wanted to be sure you were aware of this. I read this last night in the information with a sample package.
Posted by paulk on March 28, 2003, at 11:11:27
In reply to Re: Straterra - Starting this new drug with my son, posted by Patt on March 28, 2003, at 10:42:16
> I am sure the doctor has addressed this, but there is a specific warning against opening the capsules of Straterra and sprinkling over food. Just wanted to be sure you were aware of this. I read this last night in the information with a sample package.
The warning is just FUD(Fear Uncertainty and Doubt) so you will give them more money. The inside powder tastes bad, so I put them in empty capsules.
Update – I’ve been taking 12mg/day all at once in the morning (I’m 200lbs be aware that there is quite a range (5:1) of blood level depending on your individual metabolism.). Seems to be working quite well at this low dosage – only I notice that I crave food in the evening – so I am going to try taking 10mg morning and 10 mg afternoon.
No roller-coaster compared to Ritalin and it keeps working as opposed to the amphetamines I tried.
Posted by Patt on March 28, 2003, at 11:30:29
In reply to Atomoxetine (Straterra) splitting capsuls , posted by paulk on March 28, 2003, at 11:11:27
> > I am sure the doctor has addressed this, but there is a specific warning against opening the capsules of Straterra and sprinkling over food. Just wanted to be sure you were aware of this. I read this last night in the information with a sample package.
>
> The warning is just FUD(Fear Uncertainty and Doubt) so you will give them more money. The inside powder tastes bad, so I put them in empty capsules.
>
> Update – I’ve been taking 12mg/day all at once in the morning (I’m 200lbs be aware that there is quite a range (5:1) of blood level depending on your individual metabolism.). Seems to be working quite well at this low dosage – only I notice that I crave food in the evening – so I am going to try taking 10mg morning and 10 mg afternoon.
>
> No roller-coaster compared to Ritalin and it keeps working as opposed to the amphetamines I tried.
>I'm very new to this, so can you explain why a warning against splitting capsules would cause a patient to give them more money? I don't understand. Sorry for my confusion!
Posted by paulk on March 28, 2003, at 12:05:32
In reply to Re: Atomoxetine (Straterra) splitting capsuls , posted by Patt on March 28, 2003, at 11:30:29
> I'm very new to this, so can you explain why a warning against splitting capsules would cause a patient to give them more money? I don't understand. Sorry for my confusion!
>
Pricing of new meds is usually about $3 a pill and the price changes very little with the dosage. So if you can buy 40mg pills and split them it is much cheaper than buying 20mg pills.
Posted by Patt on March 28, 2003, at 12:09:51
In reply to Atomoxetine (Straterra) splitting capsuls » Patt, posted by paulk on March 28, 2003, at 12:05:32
Now, I understand. We do this with some of the "scored" medications that we have taken. However, how do you split capsules? Since we were given an adult sample package, they came in capsules, so I was not aware of the pill form. Thanks for explaining!!!!!
Posted by Rachel2 on March 29, 2003, at 2:07:27
In reply to Re: Straterra approval., posted by Proud2B-ADD on March 27, 2003, at 20:58:42
I'm wondering what the success rate is with straterra and depression. Could anyone who's specifically taking it for that give us an update?
Posted by LibbyH on March 29, 2003, at 12:37:31
In reply to Re: Straterra - Back to Ritalin SR-Libby, posted by Spinning on March 26, 2003, at 11:45:53
Spinning, YES! Made me very impuslisive & irritable. "Aggitated" (SP?) was the word my pdoc used. I actually had to be hospitalized for a week because I was having suicidal impulses that really scared me. I have Major Depression in addition to ADD but I was never the suicidal type...
After 3-4 days back on the Ritalin SR (20 mg 2X/day) I feel great. So I guess the Wellbutrin "poop out" was all that needed to be addressed. He replaced my Wellbutrin SR (300 mg/day)& Prozac (20mg/day) with Lexapro at just 20 mg/day & I feel great. I am also adding Topamax for migraines & it also seems to be helping with mood. I'm currently at 75 mg/day titrating up to 100.
Good luck to all...
L.
Posted by AS Mom on March 29, 2003, at 17:46:23
In reply to Re: Straterra - Starting this new drug with my son, posted by Msanjelpie on March 26, 2003, at 3:52:07
My son also has AS and ADHD. He just started Strattera. He took 25mg for 4 days and today he took 40mg, which the doc said would be his therapeutic dose. He's 11 y/o, 75lbs.
I SEE NO CHANGE! He's hyper and out of control! Nothing like ritalin! Does this med take time to kick in? I don't know how long I can wait!!!
AS Mom
Posted by not exactly on March 29, 2003, at 18:17:14
In reply to Re: Straterra - Back to Ritalin SR spinning, posted by LibbyH on March 29, 2003, at 12:37:31
Sorry, but I am completely confused by your message.
> Spinning, YES! Made me very impuslisive & irritable. "Aggitated" (SP?) was the word my pdoc used. I actually had to be hospitalized for a week because I was having suicidal impulses that really scared me. I have Major Depression in addition to ADD but I was never the suicidal type...
What drug are you referring to that caused this? Strattera? Wellbutrin? Ritalin? Other? A combination?
> So I guess the Wellbutrin "poop out" was all that needed to be addressed.
How long had you been taking Wellbutrin? What (if anything) were you taking with it? What was the evidence of "poop out"?
I used to take Wellbutrin, and it helped me a lot. But after about a year, I started to notice a "flattening" of my emotions. My pdoc added (rather than substituted) Ritalin, and it "fixed" the problem within a few days. A very effective combo for me, far better than either drug had ever been by itself.
> He replaced my Wellbutrin SR (300 mg/day)& Prozac (20mg/day) with Lexapro at just 20 mg/day & I feel great.
So you discontinued BOTH Wellbutrin & Prozac, and are now taking Lexapro + Ritalin? Glad it's working well for you now.
- Bob
Posted by snowflake on March 29, 2003, at 20:20:49
In reply to Re: Strattera and children, posted by concernedaunt on March 25, 2003, at 13:57:59
My son is 11 with ADD/anxiety/depression. He was taken off Adderall XR 6wks ago and started on Strattera. 18mg, then to 36mg. Due to feeling very tired his doctor cut back to 28mg, then after 10 days back up to his 36mg. WELL!!!! Monday will be a week that he was back to 36mg and it has been the week from hell. First of all the Strattera never helped his ADD, it seemed to help his mood slightly, but this week the mood swings and irritability have caused him problems at school with his teacher, peers, today his baseball coach I think was ready to kick him out and finally 3 days straight here at home of crying and saying things like "nobody cares for him", "he hates his life" and "he hates himself". It's the weekend and I don't want to wait until Monday to call his doctor. Can someone please tell me if he has to be taken off slowly or if I can just stop giving it him. We have had enough and he is miserable. When he was on Adderall this didn't happen, in fact starting Jan/03 he was the best he had been in a while, he was on 40mg a day,plus 30mg a day of Buspar, 20mg Lexapro and 40mg Celexa. This combination was finally proving to help. He is still on everything else. We are so sorry we decided to try Strattera. Someone out there, or Dr. Bob, please write back with helpful words.
Posted by Msanjelpie on March 29, 2003, at 20:59:12
In reply to Re: Strattera and children, posted by snowflake on March 29, 2003, at 20:20:49
Well my son has been on Straterra for 5 days now. The main side effect is still no eating for a long time and then binging.
Today he was emotionally out of control, yelling at me and about to throw some stuff over something very trivial. My first instinct was to yank him off the Straterra.
But I recall an earlier post that said the first two weeks are very iffy with emotional outbursts and I'm just thinking since his meds increased to 25 last night from 18 that it was too quick of an increase for him.
I've committed myself to leaving him on this med for a month, because that seems to be the magic time when the medication is supposed to start doing what it is meant to do.
I am seeing glimpses of a new person in there, it's just hidden right now behind this wall of frustration and aggravation. As long as he is not barfing or having a rash, I'm going to play the wait and see game...
He's almost 14, so we are pretty used to his volatile displays of emotionalism.
From everything I've read, Straterra can be stopped at any time without any side effects. He has never been on Ritalin because I was always concerned about his growth, (already small for his age and didn't want him to stop growing all together.) So I have nothing to compare the Straterra to on that front.
Jeannie
Posted by snowflake on March 30, 2003, at 0:49:29
In reply to Re: Strattera and children, posted by Msanjelpie on March 29, 2003, at 20:59:12
Jeannie,
Thank you for your input. As I mentioned we are starting week 6 and nothing but down side, so I feel we gave it a good length to kick in. We had experienced emotional episodes in the past, but I can say that they had subsided at least in the last 6mo, it's been longer at home. He's had the teacher from hell this year, the kind they call "ADD toxic" so 90% percent of his past upheavel occurred at school. As I stated ,in Jan./03 it really seemed the mix of medications were definitely working and emotional episodes had gone away, plus the fact that we finally filed a complaint to the district office regarding this teacher, so she tries to behave although since her true self is not "nice" she still blows it. We had not experienced this type of defiance and emotinal lapse at home, so we can really tell this is not working, period. Hope to hear from other's out there. Any input on Adderall XR? This seemed to help him and I want to put him back on it. Eating and sleeping after the first initial days were actually OK on Adderall. With Strattera he has been eating like a normal 11 year eating all day opening cupboards etc. sleeping has been good also, but this emotional downward spiral is too much. If I would have seen improvement with his ADD symptoms and experiencing these side effects I might give it another week, but with his ADD being at a "full blown" stage and the other stuff, it's not worth it.
Posted by Patt on March 30, 2003, at 13:57:32
In reply to Re: Strattera and children, posted by snowflake on March 30, 2003, at 0:49:29
I hate to offer advice on medication, but I did read that you cannot stop Strattera all at once. Maybe you can call the pharmacy to be sure. Since it works more like an anti-depressant, I can see why stopping it all at once might be harmful. That is the one thing I didn't like what I heard about the new drug. With the others, you could take it when you needed it; Strattera has to be taken all the time. However, with it being a non-stimulant drug, I, too, thought it worth a try.
Patt
Posted by not exactly on March 31, 2003, at 0:32:23
In reply to Re: Strattera and children, posted by Patt on March 30, 2003, at 13:57:32
just to set the record straight...
Strattera needs to be taken regularly and for a prolonged period in order to be effective. Unlike stimulant meds for ADHD, it does not make sense to take Strattera p.r.n.
However, stopping the drug all at once is NOT a problem. The following statements are quoted verbatim from Lilly's official "prescribing information" monograph [http://pi.lilly.com/us/strattera-pi.pdf]:
"Atomoxetine can be discontinued without being tapered."
"There was no evidence of symptom rebound or adverse events suggesting a drug-discontinuation or withdrawal syndrome."
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