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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sometimesblue on October 31, 2007, at 12:30:58
For those of you who were following my earlier thread of trying to make my doc understand that i thought my symptoms of innattentiveness, lack of focus and (direction?) were leading me to think it was ADD related....well she got the point! She had me take one of those tests and prescribed Strattera....So if anyone has experience with this drug, please share. As she told me, the strattera is a non-stimulant ADD drug? And what she wants to eventually do is lower the prozac and wellbutrin, she thinks most of my "issues" are due to some untreated ADD...makes sense i think. Well, it's what i kind of thought all along.
And for those who said to be weary of actually coming out and saying "i think i have ADD"...I was honest with her, told her what my previous doctor said and she agreed with me.
I'm getting the script filled today, but i would like to know if anyone has any positive/negative experience with strattera? Spefically, is it strong, weak, addictable, and anything else you can think of.
Thanks a bunch :)
Posted by Racer on October 31, 2007, at 12:37:26
In reply to And so my doctor got the point...., posted by sometimesblue on October 31, 2007, at 12:30:58
I took Strattera for a while when it first came out, for depression. I think it probably was helping a lot, but there were some other issues going on just then that would have stopped anything from being totally successful. (Don't ask.)
As far as side effects went, the only one I recall was that it changed my menstrual cycle. For the first time since I was about 13, I had a classic, "normal" cycle. Otherwise, it was a pretty friendly drug.
Good luck with it.
Posted by B2chica on October 31, 2007, at 13:09:37
In reply to And so my doctor got the point...., posted by sometimesblue on October 31, 2007, at 12:30:58
i am glad that your doc got the point. and very glad that they are willing to try something to help.
strattera was my first med for ADD.
and it was a WONDERFUL appetite suppressant...but unfortunately little else. but it was also fairly new i think, so the dosages and stuff may have changed by now.and i have heard others here on this board a few years ago stating how it worked great for them.
but i'm afraid it did nothing for my attention and focus.
do remember we're all different.but i would try it for a while.
But word for the wise, my (then) pdoc would NOT let me give up on it, he kept trying it and would not change me...i was on it for about 5 mo. before i switched pdocs. then put on ritalin and noticed within 3 days a difference in my work.so try it, but if within after a few dosage changes if you aren't noticing anything DON"T let them keep you on a $$med that doesn't help.
best wishes!
b2c
Posted by sometimesblue on October 31, 2007, at 13:14:58
In reply to Re: And so my doctor got the point...., posted by B2chica on October 31, 2007, at 13:09:37
That's the thing, some docs insist that they know it all...my previous doc wouldn't even entertain the idea that it could be ADD related, she insisted it was depression related and put me on 4 different AD meds. This new doc, i like her much better, actually sits down and listens. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for the input.
Posted by Zyprexa on October 31, 2007, at 14:15:22
In reply to And so my doctor got the point...., posted by sometimesblue on October 31, 2007, at 12:30:58
Not good not bad. Not addictive. Sort of feel like I'm losing sleep. A little anxious about going out in public. Feel lack of energy. On the other hand it is also energizing. The effects don't last that long, 5 hours maybe. Mixed with caffine and or wellbutrin, its much more stimulating.
One good thing I noticed right away was an increased sensation of feeling and noticing things.
Posted by Maxime on October 31, 2007, at 14:24:29
In reply to And so my doctor got the point...., posted by sometimesblue on October 31, 2007, at 12:30:58
I was on it for depression. I didn't stay on it for long because it made me too nauseous. Titrate it slowly if it does the same to you.
If it doesn't help there are other things you can try that are not stimulants - Desipramine and Nortrip.
Good luck!
Maxime
Posted by 10derHeart on November 1, 2007, at 13:23:44
In reply to And so my doctor got the point...., posted by sometimesblue on October 31, 2007, at 12:30:58
Here's my first long post on it:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070719/msgs/771814.html
And here's a more recent thread:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20071019/msgs/791148.html
There's more in the archives, too.
I've not experienced anything that would make me think it was addictive, but then again, other than the yucky days I had with stopping cold turkey b/c of running out (described in 2nd link above), I have not been off Strat for even one day for almost 4 years. I don't think it has the chemical makeup to be physically addictive, but I'll leave any definitive comments on that to the experts here.... :-)
It's been a terrific med for me. I'm glad your doc is willing to talk and consider ADD and treat you for it. Controlling some of the symptoms can change your life, and explain a lot of things. I have done this mostly through reading and self-help books, and forums on line specifically for adults with ADD. I found all these hugely helpful when first dx'd.
I could probably give some more info, links, etc., but I'm not sure just what might be helpful. Let me know of anything specific. Hope it all goes well for you.
Posted by sometimesblue on November 1, 2007, at 13:34:31
In reply to Lots of positive experience :-) » sometimesblue, posted by 10derHeart on November 1, 2007, at 13:23:44
I read your 1st link that said what the average dose is in adults...my doc only prescribed a total dose of 10 mg...? She DID say to call her in 2 weeks to see how things were going so maybe she just wants to take it extra-slow....
Posted by 10derHeart on November 2, 2007, at 16:23:49
In reply to Re: Lots of positive experience :-) » 10derHeart, posted by sometimesblue on November 1, 2007, at 13:34:31
Yeah, I think some docs are just more conservative than others, and that can be a good thing, in case of really severe s/e's. It just requires us to be really patient sometimes - not easy for me! I think I remember reading (maybe not on Babble, but somewhere) that quite a few docs commonly start Strattera at either 10 or 18mg, despite what Eli Lily recommends.
Maybe this means you'll get a pleasant surprise if you titrate up to 40mg +, on whatever schedule your doc is okay with, by experiencing really obvious, clear symptom relief? Something to look forward to :-)
At 40mg I thought something like, "hey, what *is* this steady, focused, lack of a thunderstorm in my head feeling....? I can even organize and plan stuff, and I haven't lost my keys in days...it's kinda nice...."
At 80 mg, it was immediately more like, "wow! you mean *this* is how other people feel inside without the constant ADD-clatter in their brains?" Even more focused, 'quiet,' centered...hard to explain....but you would just *know*..
Keep us posted.
Posted by elanor roosevelt on November 3, 2007, at 17:45:42
In reply to Re: Well I've been taking it for a week..., posted by Zyprexa on October 31, 2007, at 14:15:22
> One good thing I noticed right away was an increased sensation of feeling and noticing things.are you talking about Strattera?
Posted by finelinebob on November 3, 2007, at 18:53:45
In reply to And so my doctor got the point...., posted by sometimesblue on October 31, 2007, at 12:30:58
... missing appointments over and over again. Letting your pdoc know that yes, you write it down but forget to look at the note. You put that little appointment card in your wallet but it gets buried under other cards and you never look at it. You get a reminder call but forget to check your messages because you had some other calls to make before you could check your voice mail.
My pdoc already had gotten the point, tho, so he started rethinking treatment options.
Good luck with your new med.
flb
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