Posted by Clayton on November 7, 2003, at 11:47:21
In reply to Try Strattera, helped me (nm) » deloris, posted by KimberlyDi on November 6, 2003, at 11:33:17
I will post this to several Stratera threads and so will try to keep it generic.
My pdoc and I are considering putting me on Stratera. I need to know the symptoms it was prescribed for in your vase, it's effficacy at addressing those symptoms and its sie-effects, especially withdrawl that I see so many scary posts about in this forum.
I have mild ADD. My real peoblems are Social Anxiety (SAD), very dysfunctional mood depression and insomnia, amd a lack of drive and motivation. (I'm physically fit, so my physical health is not likely the cause of that). I was on Przac - it did nothing. Then I was put on Paxil. It was only about 20% efficacious at controlling SAD and improving mood. Then I found a very good new pdoc who immediately added Remaron as an adjunct to the Paxil. The amotivational component was reduced by only about 25%. It remains a career threatening problem.
THIS (Remaron plus Paxil) was the keys to the kingdom! It worked in only 3 or 4 days. Not one single SAD attack in the time I've been on it (5 months) and a good 80% improvement in mood with a corresponding reduction in dysfynction. The lack of motivation, unfortunatekly, didnot improve. Still, it was a life saving improvement that ended horrible psychological pain.
Remaron is unique. It increases the production of both seratonin and norepinephrine and therefore, increases supply by supplimenting, not blocking reuptake. This made it synergistic re: seratonin as supply was up and reuptake was doen.
But darn! The result was TOO MUCH seratonin. Two months ago, I became truly bipolar with rapid onset for the first time in my life. Crying and Wailing alternateig with ranting and compulsive spending. (VERY atypical for me). It was triggered by extreme stress but the underlying cause was an overload of seratonin.
So...the doc has dialed back the Remaron dose and given me the mood stabalizer Zyprexa (which wipes out all your emotions) to stop the manic symptoms until the seratonin dose is dialed in. I hate the loss of emotion but it'sa temorary necessary expedient. Unfortunately, this cut also reduces my only Norepinephrine support.
My doc and I are considering swapping out the Paxil for Straterra while keeping the Remaron. This shifts the synergy to the norepinephrine side of the equation while maintaining some seratonin support from the Remaron.
So I need to do as much research as I can about Straterra as the final decisom is mine and, in this day and age, all mental health prescriptions are best guesses based on intuition and informd judgement.
What were your sysptoms. Why was it prescribed for you? Did it work and how well? How long did it take to work? How does your doc explain it's intended action and why did he/she choose it? I'm reading some scary stories about side effects and withdrawl. What side effects, if any, did you run
into? Did it improve your mood (especially if you transitioned from an SSRI)? Did it help, exacerbate or not effect your anxiety levels? Any effect on drive and motivation? Did it help your ADD (if that's one of your issues)? Is there ANY other advice, information or experiences you'd like to share on this?That's a big pile of questions and I'm asking a lot. I know your time is limited and valuable. But ANY information you are willing and have time to share is appreciated most gratefully! I do need help and I have to make decisions about what therapy/meds to pursue. The more kmowlede I have, the better.
Thanks for taking time to read this.
Kindest Regards.
poster:Clayton
thread:277052
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031105/msgs/277470.html