Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 238936

Shown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Re: Help! Taking Straterra » Gradstudent

Posted by Dinah on July 3, 2003, at 9:20:11

In reply to Help! Taking Straterra, posted by Gradstudent on July 3, 2003, at 8:58:01

Originally posted by Gradstudent 7/3/03

> Hello all,
> I have just registered after browsing through the discussion on the subject of Straterra. What many of you said gave me the strength to work through the side effects and keep taking it!
> If anyone could respond to my question I would SO appreciate it. The doc who prescribed it (my husband, a neurologist) doesn't kow much about it:
> This is what I've experienced so far: stiff neck, burning headache sensation and then major sleepiness. Are these supposed to go away?
> I started on 20mg morning plus 10mg afternoon. Is this too high?
>
> Thank you so much, the ability to focus and work through my attention issues is vital right now, as I am struggling to fonish and OVERDUE dissertation.

 

Re: Help! Taking Straterra » Dinah

Posted by fallsfall on July 3, 2003, at 21:56:34

In reply to Re: Help! Taking Straterra » Gradstudent, posted by Dinah on July 3, 2003, at 9:20:11

My side effects were/are different from yours, but I know that a lot of people say it makes them sleepy. I'll let them tell you if it goes away. It seems to me that the people who say it makes them sleepy take it at night, and that helps.

I started at 10mg and went up 10mg every 3 days. Others start at 40mg and go up 40 mg every few days. Some people waited 2 weeks to increase the dose. I think that the trend that I see is that everybody is different - some people can go up fast and others can't. If you go up too fast for you, then the side effects are awful. If you raise the dose by the right amount and let your body get used to it then it is much easier to live with.

Strattera doesn't help everybody - but many of us who do like it have looked long and hard for a med that will work. So we're really glad it is here.

Good Luck!

 

Re: Help! Taking Straterra » Dinah

Posted by Viridis on July 4, 2003, at 0:36:19

In reply to Re: Help! Taking Straterra » Gradstudent, posted by Dinah on July 3, 2003, at 9:20:11

I'm new to Straterra too -- I've been on it for about three weeks. I tried 25 mg/day for the first few days and it was fine. It has a mellowing, focusing effect for me and seems to improve my mood too.

After four days I went to 40 mg and suddenly had side effects -- stiff neck and shoulders, minor nausea, and dry mouth. The positive effects were still there, though; I posted here and fallsfalls suggested I ride it out. After about a week, the nausea and stiffness disappeared, although I still do have some dry mouth issues (this isn't too bad; I just drink more water).

A couple of days ago I tried 65 mg and it made me feel kind of spaced out and dizzy. Today I took 50 mg and that was fine. So, I think I'm hovering around the right dose for me (40-50 mg range), but may try to bump it up a bit, gradually.

I've taken various antidepressants that have caused much worse side effects, and been told by doctors that these would disappear -- except they never did, even after weeks or months. Strattera is different (for me at least, and apparently fallsfalls too) in that the side effects really have gone away.

I find it a very positive drug for concentration and mood, and so far it's been well worth the transient side effects. It may or may not be right for you, but I'd give it a chance. If the dose seems too high, try a smaller amount and build up gradually. Some people here have reported good results at 18 mg while others need 80 -- like just about all the other meds, there's tremendous individual variation.

Good luck (with Strattera and your dissertation)!

 

Re: Help! Taking Straterra

Posted by Gradstudent on July 4, 2003, at 10:20:02

In reply to Re: Help! Taking Straterra » Dinah, posted by Viridis on July 4, 2003, at 0:36:19

Thanks for taking the time to go through what you experienced while on Strat. I think I'll start taking it at night and see what happens. I really hope this drug works for me, and it's helpful to know that others have had similar experiences. You're right about not staying on something that deson't do the trick for too long, though, just not worth it!. I'll let you know how it goes. Have a good 4th of July.

 

Help! Taking Strattera » Gradstudent

Posted by bbmod on July 6, 2003, at 20:50:22

In reply to Re: Help! Taking Straterra, posted by Gradstudent on July 4, 2003, at 10:20:02

Hi Gradstudent!
Glad you were able to get some good input. Your one comment about taking Strattera @ night is a bit odd. It's usually taken in the a.m., I think, when your need to focus and function is @ it's greatest. Just wondering?
> Thanks for taking the time to go through what you experienced while on Strat. I think I'll start taking it at night and see what happens. I really hope this drug works for me, and it's helpful to know that others have had similar experiences. You're right about not staying on something that deson't do the trick for too long, though, just not worth it!. I'll let you know how it goes. Have a good 4th of July.

 

Re: Help! Taking Strattera » bbmod

Posted by fallsfall on July 6, 2003, at 22:21:27

In reply to Help! Taking Strattera » Gradstudent, posted by bbmod on July 6, 2003, at 20:50:22

From reading this board, I'm thinking that it may be that if you need it for ADHD, then you take it at night because it makes you sleepy. If you are taking it for Depression, you take it in the morning and it doesn't make you sleepy. Just a guess - any one want to vote on this?

1 for Depression - take it in the AM

 

Re: Help! Taking Strattera » fallsfall

Posted by Viridis on July 7, 2003, at 3:13:36

In reply to Re: Help! Taking Strattera » bbmod, posted by fallsfall on July 6, 2003, at 22:21:27

I'm taking it for ADD and depression, and I take it in the AM. It doesn't make me sleepy, but definitely calmer and more focused. I also take Adderall, which has a somewhat similar but complementary effect.

 

Help! Taking Strattera » Viridis

Posted by bbmod on July 7, 2003, at 11:13:44

In reply to Re: Help! Taking Strattera » fallsfall, posted by Viridis on July 7, 2003, at 3:13:36

What dose of Strattera and Adderall are you taking?

> I'm taking it for ADD and depression, and I take it in the AM. It doesn't make me sleepy, but definitely calmer and more focused. I also take Adderall, which has a somewhat similar but complementary effect.

 

Re: Help! Taking Strattera » fallsfall

Posted by zeugma on July 7, 2003, at 14:00:19

In reply to Re: Help! Taking Strattera » bbmod, posted by fallsfall on July 6, 2003, at 22:21:27

> From reading this board, I'm thinking that it may be that if you need it for ADHD, then you take it at night because it makes you sleepy. If you are taking it for Depression, you take it in the morning and it doesn't make you sleepy. Just a guess - any one want to vote on this?
>
> 1 for Depression - take it in the AM


I take Strattera for ADHD and depression, also it seems to be helping with my phobic symptoms too. I take 80 mg in the a.m. Doesn't affect my energy level, but does make me more alert.

The overlap between ADHD and depression could make it tough to draw any conclusions from this question. I used to think that my depression was a result of failures and difficulties caused by ADHD, but now I'm not so sure. If antidepressants (TCA's and Strattera, which is an antidepressant in all but name) help with ADHD through NE reuptake inhibition, then maybe the high comorbidity rates are caused by noradrenergic dysfunction which is associated with both? What would be interesting is if they did norepinephrine depletion studies on people with ADHD similar to what they've done on depressives treated with desipramine. That might shed some light on how Strattera actually helps mitigate ADHD symptoms.

 

Re: Help! Taking Strattera » bbmod

Posted by Viridis on July 7, 2003, at 15:28:56

In reply to Help! Taking Strattera » Viridis, posted by bbmod on July 7, 2003, at 11:13:44

I take a very low dose of Adderall -- 5 mg in the AM and then often 5 mg later in the day. Occasionally I'll take 10 mg at once, but more makes me feel a bit irritable, whereas the small dose is just calming.

I'm still new to Strattera; I started with 25 mg and almost immediately felt a positive effect, then went to 40 mg and had some mild side effects (nausea, stiff neck, dry mouth), but these were manageable and went away in a week or so. I still have a bit of dry mouth, but nothing serious. Now I'm experimenting with 65 mg/day (in two doses, 40 mg in the AM and 25 mg in the afternoon). At first it made me feel a bit spacy, but that too seems to be disappearing. I'm still using the handful of sample starter packs my pdoc gave me (I gather the drug co. hands them out freely) but just asked for a three-month prescription for 60 mg pills, so will start using that dose soon.

I really like Strattera, and it mixes well with my other meds. As I said, there were some initial side effects for me, so you might want to be cautious with dose increases. The starter packs make it pretty easy, especially if you can get a few -- mine have a mix of 25 and 40 mg capsules, so you can try different combinations to test the appropriate dose.

 

Re: Help! Taking Strattera -- no more

Posted by Gradstudent on July 8, 2003, at 9:23:56

In reply to Re: Help! Taking Strattera » bbmod, posted by Viridis on July 7, 2003, at 15:28:56

Hi guys,
After continued bad side effects, I have decided that maybe Ritalin was not so bad, for some reason, I could manage it much better.
I had a really bad night last week and decided to stop Strattera after that. Maybe I should have stuck it out longer, but then again I did not get any positive signs, just bad reactions, so it could very well be the right decision for me.
Thanks to all for your input!!

 

Help! Taking Strattera

Posted by bbmod on July 8, 2003, at 11:44:31

In reply to Re: Help! Taking Strattera » bbmod, posted by Viridis on July 7, 2003, at 15:28:56

Glad Strattera works for you. I think it helps here, too, but there are sooooo many meds involved it's hard to tell. Which side effect belongs to which med is yet to be figured out....
> I take a very low dose of Adderall -- 5 mg in the AM and then often 5 mg later in the day. Occasionally I'll take 10 mg at once, but more makes me feel a bit irritable, whereas the small dose is just calming.
>
> I'm still new to Strattera; I started with 25 mg and almost immediately felt a positive effect, then went to 40 mg and had some mild side effects (nausea, stiff neck, dry mouth), but these were manageable and went away in a week or so. I still have a bit of dry mouth, but nothing serious. Now I'm experimenting with 65 mg/day (in two doses, 40 mg in the AM and 25 mg in the afternoon). At first it made me feel a bit spacy, but that too seems to be disappearing. I'm still using the handful of sample starter packs my pdoc gave me (I gather the drug co. hands them out freely) but just asked for a three-month prescription for 60 mg pills, so will start using that dose soon.
>
> I really like Strattera, and it mixes well with my other meds. As I said, there were some initial side effects for me, so you might want to be cautious with dose increases. The starter packs make it pretty easy, especially if you can get a few -- mine have a mix of 25 and 40 mg capsules, so you can try different combinations to test the appropriate dose.

 

Re: Help! Taking Straterra

Posted by Spinner on July 15, 2003, at 11:06:09

In reply to Re: Help! Taking Straterra » Gradstudent, posted by Dinah on July 3, 2003, at 9:20:11

I AM LOOKING FOR INPUT ON STRATTERA. My son (11) just started taking it a month ago. On his old meds he would go off of it on the weekends. However, I find that when I let him go off Strattera on the weekends he has such bad stomach aches and is so tired on Mon, Tues and Wed. that it doesn't seem worth it. Do you know if you need to take it 7 days a week? He was on 20mg for 2 weeks and is now taking 40mg and weighs 70 lbs. Do you think this is too high of a dose? Please help:)

WORRIED MOM

 

Re: Help! Taking Straterra » Spinner

Posted by blondegirl47 on July 15, 2003, at 14:10:20

In reply to Re: Help! Taking Straterra, posted by Spinner on July 15, 2003, at 11:06:09

Yes, you need to take it 7 days a week. It is a blood level thing. It didn't work well for me, but lots of other people have had success with it.
Blondegirl

 

Re: Help! Taking Straterra » blondegirl47

Posted by bbmod on July 15, 2003, at 23:36:48

In reply to Re: Help! Taking Straterra » Spinner, posted by blondegirl47 on July 15, 2003, at 14:10:20

40 mg of Stattera seems pretty high for an 11 year old! What does the doc say, Spinner? I also think of what 'whiterabbit' said about meds....sticking w/ the med and waiting out the adjustment period is often worth it!
> Yes, you need to take it 7 days a week. It is a blood level thing. It didn't work well for me, but lots of other people have had success with it.
> Blondegirl

 

Re: Help! Taking Straterra

Posted by spinner on July 16, 2003, at 18:40:38

In reply to Re: Help! Taking Straterra » blondegirl47, posted by bbmod on July 15, 2003, at 23:36:48

Thanks Blondie. I plan to keep him on it everyday to see if that helps and am trying to get in to see a Dr. for more info. We switched to this Strattera while moving crosscountry so I need to hook up with a new Dr. We are on an HMO so it is difficult to get in until we get in the system here. I hope they will move him down to 30mg to see if that helps. When he was on 20mg you couldn't tell he was taking anything but 40 seems too high. I'll get an apt. to see what can be done. I appreciate your input!!!!!!

 

Re: Help! Taking Straterra » spinner

Posted by blondegirl47 on July 17, 2003, at 8:25:42

In reply to Re: Help! Taking Straterra, posted by spinner on July 16, 2003, at 18:40:38

good morning spinner. My pdoc had samples that started out very small and worked up. Maybe the doc you get could give you that. Can't remember if I mentioned that my pdoc said, he stopped having patients switch to just straterra, he was having them take it in conjuction with their stimulant. It made me so tired I had to take it at bed time. I did sleep good for a while. :) Hope all goes well, I know its frustrating trying to get meds right.
Blondgirl

 

Re: Help! Taking Strattera

Posted by janjay on August 10, 2003, at 0:50:06

In reply to Re: Help! Taking Strattera » bbmod, posted by fallsfall on July 6, 2003, at 22:21:27

I have just started giving my son his dose of Straterra for focus and attention in the evenings. There is a dramatic difference in his ability to focus early in the moring and it is definately an imporvment. I am aslo seeing more anxiety. so will be giving him his Lexapro in the morning to see if that helps with anxiety and depression a bit better. Always a balancing act in dealing with the medications.....

 

Re: REPLY TO WORRIED MOM!!!!! BE CAREFUL!!!!

Posted by 2ndMOM on August 12, 2003, at 18:28:54

In reply to Re: Help! Taking Straterra » Gradstudent, posted by Dinah on July 3, 2003, at 9:20:11

STRATTERA IS NOT WORKING!!!! My 8 year old son started taking it 4 DAYS ago...he started with a sample pack of 18 mg...after the 4 days he was supposed to begin a higher dose of 25mg. He is 55 pounds. He has began throwing MAJOR fits (he kicked me in the face today when I was trying to get him in the car to take him home). Over the past 2 days, he has begun bucking authority and his grandmother has mentioned that he has talked about doing bodily harm to himself. I REPEAT: HE IS EIGHT YEARS OLD!!! I feel really stupid cause our doctor did not advise that we begin giving this medicine to him because he said that it's NOT WORKING!!! Eli Lilly has all these wonderful, hope-giving commercials for this drug and they absolve themselves by saying it MAY cause mood swings or other side effects, apparently the children in the commercials never told anyone they wanted to die. IF YOUR CHILD IS TAKING THIS DRUG AND HAS BEGUN EXHIBITING STRANGE BEHAVIOUR, PLEASE CONTACT ME!!!! @ sweetpeathreeo@yahoo.com
THANK YOU!!!!


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