Posted by zeugma on May 31, 2003, at 19:52:26
In reply to Keep the Strattera updates coming! (nm), posted by Hattree on May 30, 2003, at 10:38:47
Halfway through week 3 on Strattera,and very happy with the subtle changes that have taken place. Strattera defintely has a stimulating quality to it (at least as I experience it). I feel like I have to expend less energy *forcing* myself to pay attention to what's in front of me, and in consequence feel that my performance in the workplace is getting much better. Plus I'm less drained by every little task I have to do, and it's such a relief not feeling I have to conserve every ounce of available energy for stayong *on top* of myself. ADHD, for me, has been a disorder of the self that has been absolutely crippling. I was first diagnosed in 1980, when I was twelve, and the subsequent lack of treatment made for a series of ever-worsening disasters, culminating in total academic failure and subsequent hospitalization for severe depression. Now that I feel that the depression is under control, I am hopeful that strattera will help with this core problem.
This is how I'd say Strattera compares with TCA's: no sedative component to Strattera, and possibly a stronger anxiolytic component. Maybe this is because it targets the Executive Function part of the brain more effectively than older drugs. I was very skeptical that Strattera would improve on nortriptyline but it does seem like there is some effect that promotes clarity of thought more than the nortrip. Again, that could just be the lack of sedative effect, but it feels like something more is going on.
Currently I am taking 40 mg in the morning (along with 75 mg nortriptyline at night and 10 mg buspirone tid). I will call my pdoc on Monday to let him know how I am doing on this dose. I am so happy with the results on Strattera that i am thinking about lowering the dosage of nortriptyline while raising that of Strattera. The only thing i would worry about would be a return of insomnia on a lower dose of nortrip. Maybe i could substitute a lower dose of amitriptyline at night for the nortriptyline as it is much more sedative?
poster:zeugma
thread:133458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030530/msgs/230480.html