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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TriedEveryDrug on June 20, 2010, at 11:19:31
I've been on strattera 100mg for about 5 months now. It worked for maybe 2 or 3 months, but then pooped out.
The entirely time I've been plagued with insomnia.
Doc added desipramine which helped with the add issues & concentration.
I want to dump the strattera, but I have a very important and difficult technical job interview coming up within a week or so with a certain company notorious for giving hard interviews.
I'm afraid if I drop the strattera now, my brain will be mush. But it sort of feels like mush now anyway from 5 months of insomnia.
What do you think - should I stop (or quickly taper) the strattera immediately and hope I recover by next week (I would keep taking the desipramine).
Or should I wait until after the interview.
Thanks.
Posted by Phillipa on June 20, 2010, at 13:07:04
In reply to Stopping Strattera rapidly - any cognitive issues?, posted by TriedEveryDrug on June 20, 2010, at 11:19:31
That's a tough question you are functional now or no interview right? So what do you feel? Phillipa
Posted by Christ_empowered on June 20, 2010, at 18:10:42
In reply to Re: Stopping Strattera rapidly - any cognitive issues? » TriedEveryDrug, posted by Phillipa on June 20, 2010, at 13:07:04
I don't know man. Straterra was originally trialed as a stimulating antidepressant, I guess kind of like a newer Wellbutrin or something. It failed AD trials, but they salvaged it as an ADHD treatment.
I'm saying this b/c I would think the withdrawal would be like AD withdrawal; maybe you should consider doing this more gradually, rather than suddenly. It seems to me that you might also want to consider asking for a sleep aid of some sort until you're done tapering/discontinuing the Straterra. That's not unreasonable; Ambien and Sonata (the "z" hypnotics) are supposed to be less addictive than benzos, and they're available in generic form these days. Lunesta might also be generic, I don't really know.
Have you tried Stimulants for your problems? The cool thing about Stimulants is that they're a little more predictable than Straterra and you don't have to take them every single day. Some people take them only as-needed, other people alter the dose within the prescribed amount to suit their needs (like, when I used to take Adderall I was RX'd 60mgs/day, but I might only take 45 except for days when I needed that extra 15 for whatever reason).
I wish you luck; this is a tough situation to be in.
This is the end of the thread.
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