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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by alohashirt on November 6, 2005, at 18:48:12
Seven weeks ago I stopped taking Strattera for financial reasons. After two weeks I felt surpsingly cheerful. This has continued - a general increase in optimism that I can't explain but welcome. Any thoughts as to why? I didn't realize I was sad before - but I was a bit low and the difference in mood has been visible to all around me. I don't know for sure that the Strattera is the reason but I'm not about to return to it even if my distraction is a little worse.
The difference feels physical - my life isn't any different but I feel more optimistic - from 6/10 to 8/10 which is huge for me. I'm hoping that it continues.
Posted by linkadge on November 6, 2005, at 19:05:00
In reply to Strattera makes you feel sad?, posted by alohashirt on November 6, 2005, at 18:48:12
Yes, depression may be a side effect of strattera.
Linkadge
Posted by med_empowered on November 6, 2005, at 19:38:22
In reply to Re: Strattera makes you feel sad?, posted by linkadge on November 6, 2005, at 19:05:00
apparently, straterra was a **failed** antidepressant, but then some whiz at the company (eli lilly maybe?) thought that it might be good for ADD and so...they tried it, and it worked. It seems be the Buspar of ADD-land; non-addictive, "safe," but not so great for a lot of people. Plus, since its still basically an antidepressant (albeit an ineffective one), Straterra carries with it the usual worsening of depression, suicidal ideation, akathisia, etc. side effects. And apparently it can cause liver damage. Overall, this drug sucks.
Posted by linkadge on November 6, 2005, at 20:25:16
In reply to Straterra, posted by med_empowered on November 6, 2005, at 19:38:22
Have you thought of changing your name med-empowered ??
:)
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on November 6, 2005, at 21:50:45
In reply to Re: Straterra, posted by linkadge on November 6, 2005, at 20:25:16
Link I thought straterra was a nonaddictive or milder med for ADD. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by SLS on November 7, 2005, at 7:08:12
In reply to Straterra, posted by med_empowered on November 6, 2005, at 19:38:22
I tried taking Strattera for depression. I found that I became profoundly fatigued during the first few weeks. I think my dosage was titrated too fast. Overall, it did not help me. It certainly reduced my functionality at the start of treatment.
I have seen Strattera turn some ADD adults' lives around. Perhaps it is better for adult ADD than pediatric ADD. I'll probably want to look into that at some point.
Like most any other drug that "sucks", there are bound to be people who find Strattera invaluable.
I don't know what to think of this drug.
- Scott
Posted by Bill LL on November 7, 2005, at 9:42:06
In reply to Strattera makes you feel sad?, posted by alohashirt on November 6, 2005, at 18:48:12
Strattera is not approved as an anti-depressant. Keep in mind that a lot of people feel better when they discontinue any antidepressant. But oftentimes the depression returns after a few weeks or so. But also, oftentimes it doesn't return.
Hopefully it won't return. But just be aware that it possibly could and don't hesitate to try a different medication for depression if it does return.
> Seven weeks ago I stopped taking Strattera for financial reasons. After two weeks I felt surpsingly cheerful. This has continued - a general increase in optimism that I can't explain but welcome. Any thoughts as to why? I didn't realize I was sad before - but I was a bit low and the difference in mood has been visible to all around me. I don't know for sure that the Strattera is the reason but I'm not about to return to it even if my distraction is a little worse.
>
> The difference feels physical - my life isn't any different but I feel more optimistic - from 6/10 to 8/10 which is huge for me. I'm hoping that it continues.
Posted by linkadge on November 7, 2005, at 10:34:40
In reply to Re: Strattera makes you feel sad?, posted by Bill LL on November 7, 2005, at 9:42:06
I notice you mentioned that a lot of people feel better when they discontinue an antidepressant. (even if only temporarily) I have observed this myself, and was wondering if you had any idea as to why this might be so.
Linkadge
Posted by 10derHeart on November 7, 2005, at 17:24:51
In reply to Re: Straterra, posted by SLS on November 7, 2005, at 7:08:12
>Like most any other drug that "sucks", there are bound to be people who find Strattera invaluable.<
I am one of those people.
I've been taking Strattera for 2 years this month and it has been extremely effective for my adult ADD sysmptoms.
I also had good results with methylphenidate, but chose to stop and start Strattera due to concerns from my GP doc over it possibly aggravating preexisting hypertension (I never totally agreed it was doing that) as well as the ease of refilling it, being a non-controlled med.
Strattera, within less than 72 hours, gave me a centered feeling, a quietness of mind w/o feeling numb or drugged, that amazed me. I never knew *regular* (just meaning non-ADD) people had this absence of 24/7 chatter inside the brain...! For me, it brings a more even, more steady effect on several differnt symptoms of mine than any dosages and/or timing we tried with MPH (was up to 80-100 mg daily, PRN, when I d/c)
Actually, augmenting the Strat with a bit of MPH from time to time, depending what's going on in my life, seems to work best. Ritalin works a bit better for the inability to stay on tasks that I find dull than does Strat alone - it brings a laser-focus along with energy, for a short time.
My pdoc and I have agreed to do a liver panel every 6 months, out of caution after the warning came out. She would order one more often if I wanted it as well.
So, while I can understand from what others have experienced and written, why perhaps this med appears to "suck," it doesn't for me :-)
Posted by blueberry on November 7, 2005, at 18:16:08
In reply to Strattera makes you feel sad?, posted by alohashirt on November 6, 2005, at 18:48:12
Just my opinion, based on my own experiences and based on posts I've seen here over the years, but anything that is a pure norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor just totally sucks, and makes a lot of people feel worse. Things like strattera, reboxetine.
Things that are more mixed, like duloxetine or effexor, seem to be a lot better, overall in general terms.
When I say pure norepinephrine drugs suck, I am not including the tricyclics like nortriptyline or desipramine in that category, because they do a lot more than just work purely on norepinephrine. They have interaction with dopamine and opioid systems, and of course all the other systems that give them the side effects :-(. Even though they are thought of as norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, they do a whole lot more than that.
Strattera and reboxetine suck. But, that is just one opinion. I'm sure there are people that love them. According to clinical studies, there are. But I've never actually seen it happen.
Posted by med_empowered on November 7, 2005, at 21:24:33
In reply to Re: Strattera makes you feel sad?, posted by blueberry on November 7, 2005, at 18:16:08
When I say straterra sucks I mean it just hasn't proven to be that great a drug. There are lots of side effects, and even shrinks don't seem to like it so much...notice that most docs still RX Ritalin or Adderall first line for ADD (maybe Provigil)...kind of like BuSpar for anxiety, it just hasn't made much of a dent in day-to-day practice.
Posted by neuroman on November 7, 2005, at 22:08:27
In reply to Re: Strattera makes you feel sad? » Bill LL, posted by linkadge on November 7, 2005, at 10:34:40
Hi,
> I notice you mentioned that a lot of people feel better when they discontinue an antidepressant. (even if only temporarily) I have observed this myself, and was wondering if you had any idea as to why this might be so.
I had this happen to me after giving zoloft a three month trial run earlier this year. After stopping it I had the best couple of days I've had in years. It sucked because I knew it wouldn't last. Perhaps when this happens it might be beneficial to try a drug that has the opposite effect of the initial medication. If such a drug is available that is.
Paul
Posted by alohashirt on November 7, 2005, at 22:18:49
In reply to Re: Strattera makes you feel sad? » linkadge, posted by neuroman on November 7, 2005, at 22:08:27
For me the Strattera had a mild effect on my ADHD
compared to Ritalin/dexedrine. I didn't think it sucked and didn't even think I was thast sad until I stopped it and felt teh difference. Scary. I don't have a depression diagnosis. Lets see what happens.
Posted by mama141 on November 9, 2005, at 18:29:50
In reply to Re: Strattera makes you feel sad?, posted by alohashirt on November 7, 2005, at 22:18:49
> For me the Strattera had a mild effect on my ADHD
> compared to Ritalin/dexedrine. I didn't think it sucked and didn't even think I was thast sad until I stopped it and felt teh difference. Scary. I don't have a depression diagnosis. Lets see what happens.I have been on Strattera for just a little over three years. I works for my ADD, but unless I take it with a full meal I am horribly nauseated for the rest of the day. Although they have decreased over time, I still get "the sweats" What we discovered works is 0.5 Ativan -- it seems to prevent the sweating. Mama
Posted by katekite on November 11, 2005, at 22:11:12
In reply to Re: Strattera makes you feel sad?, posted by Bill LL on November 7, 2005, at 9:42:06
Why do you think it is that some people feel better after stopping?
I have had that experience before, sometimes I wonder if my brain just likes the feeling of withdrawal.
Kate
Posted by katekite on November 11, 2005, at 22:12:25
In reply to Re: Straterra, posted by linkadge on November 6, 2005, at 20:25:16
That was a really funny comment Linkadge, you rock!
Kate
This is the end of the thread.
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