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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by daniel2000 on August 8, 2004, at 14:11:15
I've noticed that strattera has been giving me energy and life again. I have only heard that it causes fatigue. Has anyone else had this kind of success with the drug. I am taking 40 mg a day right now and have been for 2 weeks
Posted by Torque on August 8, 2004, at 14:51:58
In reply to Strattera as a mild stimulant?, posted by daniel2000 on August 8, 2004, at 14:11:15
Initially within an hour of dosing I found it slightly energizing. Within 4 or 5 hours I became very fatigued and sleepy. I found it helped somewhat with "hyperactivity". It did little or nothing for cognitive enhancement. Of course I have never taken the 80 mgs prescribed by Lilly as the recommended adult dose.
Torque.PS It did little or nothing for mood either. "YMMV"
Posted by Racer on August 8, 2004, at 15:14:59
In reply to Re: Strattera as a mild stimulant?, posted by Torque on August 8, 2004, at 14:51:58
Now, I was taking it as an anti-depressant, and was also taking three other drugs that interfered with its action, as well as Provigil which is a stimulant, so take into consideration that I was speeding out of my mind from the other drugs, BUT I think it was pretty effective as an anti-depressant for me, and I didn't notice much sedation. Again, Prozac had me skitting out of my skin, xanax tends to leave me depressed for about 36 hours after taking it, and the Provigil is My Friend... Who knows what it would have been like without the other drugs?
On the other hand, it seemed to be the easiest of the anti-depressants for me, fewest side effects -- and most of those side effects were WELCOME, none of the real deal-killers for me that all the others have had -- and, well, just the easiest med for me. I'm truly hoping to try it again.
I know that it's not directly on point, since I had so much else on board, but I hope that helps a bit. It might be more sedating without the other drugs, but it didn't seem to do it to me, although when I started it, it could have laid me out in front of a truck and I doubt I'd have noticed. By the time I had a steady state, though, it seemed to be pretty neutral that way.
Best luck.
Posted by JohnDoenut on August 8, 2004, at 23:25:15
In reply to Strattera as a mild stimulant?, posted by daniel2000 on August 8, 2004, at 14:11:15
I started taking it a month ago and Ive read a lot of people's experiences with it here and on other boards. It seems to me there are those for whom it just doesnt work and/or makes them tired. Then there are those for whom it works great.
I take 25mg 3 times a day now and its working great! When I started it it did make me a little tired but that went away after about 5 days. When I increased the dose same thing but went away. I found that I needed to space out the doses
rather than take it all at once. I think 75mg
is good for me and I dont need to go higher.
Its really made a difference for me in terms of
mood and energy. The only other drug I take is 75mg of Lamictal in the am.The drug was made for ADD not depression.
It is meant to be a nonstimulant, stimulant.
In other words to have a similer effect to
ritalin or adderal without being those
kinds of drugs.
Of course a lot of drugs are being used
for things other than what they were
designed or approved for. It seems to me
however that Straterra works best for people
who have real ADD (maybe some depression but not major) have the brain chemistry associated with
that which makes it work.
It doesnt seem to help people with major types
of depression. But of course people wont know
until they try it. Other factors of course are
other drugs being taken as well as dose
and how long youve been taking it. It takes
3 to 6 weeks at least I think assuming
increasing dosage to get some good results.
If you have major side effects that dont go
away then of course you cant take it.
Im going to do a seperate post about this.
Posted by Racer on August 9, 2004, at 0:45:37
In reply to Re: Strattera as a mild stimulant?, posted by JohnDoenut on August 8, 2004, at 23:25:15
I think that Strattera was actually developed as an anti-depressant, but didn't test well enough to be worth putting through the FDA paces for approval as such. It's a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, so it's less like a stimulant, and more like an SSRI in that it targets a specific neurotransmitter system in its affects.
Otherwise, you're absolutely right: it'll work for some, not for others, and you can't know unless you try. For me, most of the anti-depressants that have helped me in the past have affected norepinephrine more than serotonin, overall, so it seemed like a good bet. Now to try it again.
Posted by Bill LL on August 9, 2004, at 9:43:02
In reply to Strattera as a mild stimulant?, posted by daniel2000 on August 8, 2004, at 14:11:15
The 2 psychotropic drugs that I take are Lexapro 30 mg/day, and Strattera 120 mg/day (60 mg 2x).
Strattera does help me to stay more focused and more calm. I do have a certain degree of daytime tiredness, but I also had that before starting on it when i was only on Lexapro.
I usually take a caffeine pill in the morning (NoDoz 200 mg caffeine) and I have a few cups of either sodas or tea with caffeine each day. I stop taking caffeine by 2 pm so that it does not interfere with sleep.
Posted by JohnDoenut on August 11, 2004, at 16:09:59
In reply to Minor quibble... » JohnDoenut, posted by Racer on August 9, 2004, at 0:45:37
> It's a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, so it's less like a stimulant, and more like an SSRI in that it targets a specific neurotransmitter system in its affects.
>My limited understanding of these drugs is that where norepinpherine is concerned, it is what is acted upon by ADD stimulant types of drugs like ritalin, adderal, and wellbutrin. So while it
differs from those with its S-RI qualities, the
affect is similer to stimulants.
Wellbutrin is used as an AD but it works on N as opposed to S but its also used for ADD.When I take straterra I feel like I have taken adderal but without the negative effects of it.
Some people who take ritalin and adderal report
it have an uplifting mood quality if only
for a short time. Anyway I find Straterra has the stimulating qualities and the mood uplifting qualities for me. After reading about SSRI's and the side effects I felt it was not for me and I didnt want to try them.Good luck with it!
Posted by JohnDoenut on August 11, 2004, at 16:12:11
In reply to Re: Strattera as a mild stimulant?, posted by Bill LL on August 9, 2004, at 9:43:02
>
> I usually take a caffeine pill in the morning (NoDoz 200 mg caffeine) and I have a few cups of either sodas or tea with caffeine each day. I stop taking caffeine by 2 pm so that it does not interfere with sleep.
>I had to stop taking caffiene in the morning when I started Straterra because it had the same effect as caffiene and the two seemed to cancel each other out. And I would get tired. I had
to go thru caffiene withdrawal for a few days.
Then a time later I tried drinking some coffee in the afternoon after having the straterra in my system for awhile and had a better result.
Posted by waki on August 11, 2004, at 17:47:23
In reply to Re: Strattera as a mild stimulant?, posted by JohnDoenut on August 11, 2004, at 16:12:11
I wish you strattera users luck. I am very disenchanted with that med. It made me feel good the first week or so. I then progressivly felt worse over a period of 8 weeks.
I have been off strattera for a couple weeks now and am still not where I was before i took that stuff.
I had so much hope for strattera from a concentration and energy stand point. It really let me down and I paid for it with over 8 weeks of deeper depression.
All I can say is be careful!
Posted by J. Backer on August 13, 2004, at 11:31:48
In reply to Re: Strattera as a mild stimulant?, posted by waki on August 11, 2004, at 17:47:23
i had a negative experience with strttera also, it did absolutly nothing for my ADD and i was still energless (im REALLY low-energy) i think it aggervated my deppression+anxiety also. i honestly belive its a mix between merketing and social approvial that strattera is even used to treat ADD. Stimulants have an 80% sucsess rate, personally id be surprised if 30% of the people on this board with ADD find Straterra remotely useful.
it was very very difficult (on acount of my past drug history) to get but i just started 20mg TimeRelease D-Amphetimine. and im doing excelant, i think this is last change i need on my medication for a long time, as long as things stay the way they are.
i am on:
Effexor XR 300mg
Trazodone 50mg
Dexadrin 20mg TRpeace J
Posted by PoohBear on August 16, 2004, at 14:48:50
In reply to Re: Strattera as a mild stimulant?, posted by J. Backer on August 13, 2004, at 11:31:48
I have been struggling to find something for my ADHD. I've tried all of the usual meds EXCEPT Strattera. I take Effexor XR for depression and Seroquel for sleep, but am sealing with weight gain from (presumably) the Seroquel.
Could I swap-out the Seroquel for the Strattera at night and get some sedation for sleep and improved focus/calmnness during the day? (I take the Effexor in the morning.)
If anyone has input, it would be appreciated...
Tony
Posted by J. Backer on August 17, 2004, at 15:57:04
In reply to Re: Strattera at Night?, posted by PoohBear on August 16, 2004, at 14:48:50
hey man,
i defently would recomend getting off the seroquil, it aggervated my add considerably. not to mention sedation and zombifacation.you could try strattera but i think if you want improvement on your ability to focus there are many many better options. id say trazodone at night to sleep, continue the effexor XR and then start a morning stimulant.
peace J
Posted by JohnDoenut on August 22, 2004, at 22:32:49
In reply to Strattera at all?, posted by J. Backer on August 17, 2004, at 15:57:04
> you could try strattera but i think if you want improvement on your ability to focus there are many many better options. id say trazodone at night to sleep, continue the effexor XR and then start a morning stimulant.
>
> peace JI think Strattera is like any other drug in that its going to help some people but not others. And also it depends on the other drugs a person is taking at the time.
I would suggest asking your pdoc if you can try it if other types of stimulants do not work. I tried Straterra as a last ditch effort and am very pleased with it.
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