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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 16, 2009, at 21:14:12
I don't know. 3-4 days in and I feel very tired and foggy. I go from 40mg to 60 tonight. I know about waiting, yes, but right now it's difficult to imagine this is an ADHD med.
Any one with experience w/ this med?
fb
Posted by Phillipa on November 17, 2009, at 0:43:36
In reply to curious: strattera experience?, posted by floatingbridge on November 16, 2009, at 21:14:12
FB there used to be quite a few who liked strattera. Hope they answer. Love Phillipa
Posted by 10derHeart on November 17, 2009, at 3:36:48
In reply to curious: strattera experience?, posted by floatingbridge on November 16, 2009, at 21:14:12
Yup. Been on it for 6 years as of Jan 2010. Really excellent med for my inattentive ADD.
Here are links to two of my previous posts...they are looooong, but maybe might help some. I just can't concentrate long enough (bad joke...yeah, I know) to write the story out again.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070719/msgs/771814.html
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20071019
/msgs/791148.html...and this one to you last week:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091029/msgs/923785.html
If you search for Strattera in the archives here, you will find lots more from other Babblers. If I recall, mostly negative due to s/e. Guess I am just one of the really fortunate ones.
I never felt tired or foggy. Just amazed at the quieting of the previous NOISE in my head and the inner calm. Way different from Ritalin (only med I took prior for ADD) but for me, better, as it covers a wider range of issues and is long-lasting.
Keep us posted. - 10der
Posted by SLS on November 17, 2009, at 6:28:11
In reply to Re: curious: strattera experience? » floatingbridge, posted by 10derHeart on November 17, 2009, at 3:36:48
Hi.
- Scott
Posted by maxime on November 17, 2009, at 10:10:29
In reply to curious: strattera experience?, posted by floatingbridge on November 16, 2009, at 21:14:12
When I took it, it made me very sleepy and not many meds do. Do you feel like you are in a fog? The side effect should go away in two weeks or so if you can ensure it that long. You should try to stick to it for a bit to see if it helps because you never know!
Take care FB.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 17, 2009, at 18:06:53
In reply to Re: curious: strattera experience? » floatingbridge, posted by maxime on November 17, 2009, at 10:10:29
10derheart, thanks for the links! And Maxime, yes, stay the course (for at least two weeks!)
Today was better!
fb
Posted by SLS on November 17, 2009, at 22:24:26
In reply to Thanks all Re: curious: strattera experience? » maxime, posted by floatingbridge on November 17, 2009, at 18:06:53
> 10derheart, thanks for the links! And Maxime, yes, stay the course (for at least two weeks!)
>
> Today was better!
That's great!I hope you hit the target.
- Scott
Posted by floatingbridge on November 18, 2009, at 0:52:21
In reply to Re: Thanks all Re: curious: strattera experience? » floatingbridge, posted by SLS on November 17, 2009, at 22:24:26
Posted by Zyprexa on November 18, 2009, at 2:11:24
In reply to curious: strattera experience?, posted by floatingbridge on November 16, 2009, at 21:14:12
I took it for about 2 weeks. It had me in bed all the time. I was energyless. It made me feel awfull. And I quit and decided I was not ADD.
Posted by SLS on November 18, 2009, at 6:12:42
In reply to Re: curious: strattera experience?, posted by Zyprexa on November 18, 2009, at 2:11:24
> I took it for about 2 weeks. It had me in bed all the time. I was energyless. It made me feel awfull. And I quit and decided I was not ADD.
That sounds about right. My experience with Strattera was about the same. This is one drug that seems to be effective specifically for treating ADD and relatively ineffective for treating depressive disorders. I have seen Strattera work very well for adult ADD, including the depressive symptoms that often accompany it.Have you tried desipramine? It is a very different drug than Strattera, even though, like desipramine, it is a selective NE reuptake inhibitor. Sometimes, people respond to desipramine who don't respond to nortriptyline.
- Scott
Posted by floatingbridge on November 18, 2009, at 15:23:22
In reply to Re: curious: strattera experience?, posted by Zyprexa on November 18, 2009, at 2:11:24
Thanks Zyprexa, for your experience. I think this might be helping, but am still not sure. My dose is currently 60mg at night. I guess I should find out what the therapeutic range is. It does seem to make for a better morning--that is, I still can sleep right through my morning stimulant, (great, huh?), but when I make myself get up and move, I notice my mood is a little brighter. I'll take that for now! :-)
Interesting that you thought you had ADD, then realized you did not. You took it only for ADD?
best to you,
fb
> I took it for about 2 weeks. It had me in bed all the time. I was energyless. It made me feel awfull. And I quit and decided I was not ADD.
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on November 19, 2009, at 13:36:12
In reply to Re: curious: strattera experience? » Zyprexa, posted by floatingbridge on November 18, 2009, at 15:23:22
One thing I rerember is it improved alertness, more attention wise but the 2nd time I took it I was/currently taking Prozac it caused to much anxiety. Plus I read somewhere that both Prozac increases noradrenaline with strattera, but also that could of been just a temporary period of time.
Posted by bulldog2 on November 19, 2009, at 15:56:34
In reply to curious: strattera experience?, posted by floatingbridge on November 16, 2009, at 21:14:12
> I don't know. 3-4 days in and I feel very tired and foggy. I go from 40mg to 60 tonight. I know about waiting, yes, but right now it's difficult to imagine this is an ADHD med.
>
> Any one with experience w/ this med?
>
> fb
>
>Hi Floating
While some have had good experiences on strattera most consider it a really crappy adhd drug. The only reason any docs prescribe it because of reluctance to use real stims which are the best adhd drugs. My p-doc likes to augment stims with wellbutrin when there is coexisting depression.
Posted by Zyprexa on November 19, 2009, at 19:42:44
In reply to Re: curious: strattera experience? » Zyprexa, posted by floatingbridge on November 18, 2009, at 15:23:22
My doctor at the time thought I might be ADD, I didn't. Didn't realy care if I was or not, didn't think I needed anymore medications. So I tried the strattera and it just made me feel awfull. After that I didn't want to try any other ADD meds. Because they all have problems with addiction. And I seemed to function fairly well with out.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 19, 2009, at 23:57:44
In reply to Re: curious: strattera experience? » floatingbridge, posted by Zyprexa on November 19, 2009, at 19:42:44
> My doctor at the time thought I might be ADD, I didn't. Didn't realy care if I was or not, didn't think I needed anymore medications. So I tried the strattera and it just made me feel awfull. After that I didn't want to try any other ADD meds. Because they all have problems with addiction. And I seemed to function fairly well with out.
Yes, addiction or at the very least tolerance--which I really try to work to keep my dose low and consistent and not give into impulsive increases. I'll let myself be tired on my regular dose and accept that I'm tired. If strattera was the only ADD med I was on, I don't think it would cut it. Still a little more fuzzy & tired, though anxiety has decreased a bit :-)
I guess many other conditions can mimic ADD's inability to focus.
I hope your current regime is serving you well!
thanks,
fb
Posted by floatingbridge on November 20, 2009, at 0:01:31
In reply to Re: curious: strattera experience?, posted by bulldog2 on November 19, 2009, at 15:56:34
> Hi Floating
>
> While some have had good experiences on strattera most consider it a really crappy adhd drug. The only reason any docs prescribe it because of reluctance to use real stims which are the best adhd drugs. My p-doc likes to augment stims with wellbutrin when there is coexisting depression.Hi Bulldog,
Yeah, if this were the only adhd med, I really don't see how it would work--unless it works well for children and teens? I have taken wellbutrin (450mg), and it didn't help at the time; however, that was before dex was on board--and a bunch of other stuff that I'm off now was.
Cr*pes!
Decreases my anxiety, though!
fb
Posted by floatingbridge on November 20, 2009, at 0:04:26
In reply to Re: curious: strattera experience?, posted by rjlockhart04-08 on November 19, 2009, at 13:36:12
> One thing I rerember is it improved alertness, more attention wise but the 2nd time I took it I was/currently taking Prozac it caused to much anxiety. Plus I read somewhere that both Prozac increases noradrenaline with strattera, but also that could of been just a temporary period of time.
>
>Hi RJ,
Thanks for your experience. Right now it seems to be decreasing anxiety a bit for me (but my AD is pristiq)--so that is really nice--I've been able to cut back on my benzo by a third!
take care,
fb
Posted by bleauberry on November 20, 2009, at 5:08:17
In reply to curious: strattera experience?, posted by floatingbridge on November 16, 2009, at 21:14:12
I can't really explain it in convincing scientific detail, but I think when we create a norepinephrine reuptake inhibition scenario we set into a motion a chain of events affecting the adrenal glands, cortisol, and thyroid. The first thing that happens is feedback loops say "uh-oh, too much norepinephrine, slow down production". And thus tired. The adrenal glands have an enormous strain taken off their shoulders, they can now relax. That it turn calms down thyroid. Eventually adaptations take place, where the new exagerated amount of norepinephrine is seen as normal. Production returns to where it was pre-med. The adrenals being functioning better after a rest. Thyroid hitches a ride too. So in the end, there has been a cascade of events involving everything within the noradrenaline realm. Beginning with a slowdown, and later adapting to normalization.
It is the slowdown period, which can last from a few weeks to a few months, that is hard to tolerate. The tiredness can maybe be viewed as a good thing...it means healing is underway.
I went through the same with Milnacipran. On the other side of it was activity, more energy, more interest, motivation, creativity. But in the midst of it was tired, blah, lifeless.
I could be totally wrong in all this. I just think that once the feedback loops kick in (about 3 to 4 days after starting the med), a whole cascade of adaptations is set into motion which takes weeks or months to come out the other side. I talked with a couple people from clinical trials of NRIs. Some of the most successful cases were patients that had to wait 3 months to 6 months...and even one 9 months...before the strong benefits kicked in.
From hanging out at adrenal/thyroid forums, it is fairly well confirmed that normalizing the noradrenaline axis takes months, and is best done in tiny steps.
The best you can do is the lower the dose. Increase it after you have built up some tolerance. Don't be in a hurry to rush it, possibly overshooting your magic windown, and possibly ending your trial before benefits have had a chance to show.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 20, 2009, at 17:06:58
In reply to Re: curious: strattera experience?, posted by bleauberry on November 20, 2009, at 5:08:17
Bleauberry,
Thank you for taking the time to write--and your post is really great news for me. Very Interesting. I'll be hanging out at this dose for some time--pdoc said optimal (standard for my weight) is 80. But maybe 60mg will be the ticket.
Yes, less anxiety, more fatigue and fuzziness. Hmmm. You've given me some things to think about--and I like (love) the idea of a med helping normalize the 'noradrenaline axis' which I am now off to google.
kindest regards,
fb
Posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2009, at 19:05:02
In reply to Re: curious: strattera experience? » bleauberry, posted by floatingbridge on November 20, 2009, at 17:06:58
Whos the google Queen???? Great that you lowered the benzo by a third? All at once? I'm impressed. Love Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on November 20, 2009, at 21:29:44
In reply to Re: curious: strattera experience? » floatingbridge, posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2009, at 19:05:02
Posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2009, at 21:50:31
In reply to I still think you reign supreme! (nm) » Phillipa, posted by floatingbridge on November 20, 2009, at 21:29:44
Not sure anymore now I got to google straterra. Love Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on November 21, 2009, at 20:20:34
In reply to Re: I still think you reign supreme! » floatingbridge, posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2009, at 21:50:31
> Not sure anymore now I got to google straterra. Love Phillipa
Well, me too. Yesterday pdoc said it works on dopamine as well. I hadn't come across this. Hmmm.
hugs,
fb
Posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2009, at 21:36:59
In reply to Re: I still think you reign supreme! » Phillipa, posted by floatingbridge on November 21, 2009, at 20:20:34
I got a wierd site forgot what it said will try and search later combine dopamine with straterra? Thanks for the tip. Love Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on December 2, 2009, at 0:41:36
In reply to Re: curious: strattera experience? » floatingbridge, posted by 10derHeart on November 17, 2009, at 3:36:48
Hi 10derheart and all,
Up to eighty strattera since Monday--I am exhausted. And Fuzzy. I know Bleauberry said this might subside in six months or so. I don't know if it's helping or hurting at this dose.
10derheart, what dose it works for you? Do you use it as monotherapy?
sigh--life goes on, and so do s/e's.
fb
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