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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by not exactly on March 31, 2003, at 0:32:23
In reply to Re: Strattera and children, posted by Patt on March 30, 2003, at 13:57:32
just to set the record straight...
Strattera needs to be taken regularly and for a prolonged period in order to be effective. Unlike stimulant meds for ADHD, it does not make sense to take Strattera p.r.n.
However, stopping the drug all at once is NOT a problem. The following statements are quoted verbatim from Lilly's official "prescribing information" monograph [http://pi.lilly.com/us/strattera-pi.pdf]:
"Atomoxetine can be discontinued without being tapered."
"There was no evidence of symptom rebound or adverse events suggesting a drug-discontinuation or withdrawal syndrome."
Posted by Lexxey on March 31, 2003, at 8:25:40
In reply to Re: Strattera and constipation, posted by carlyb on March 23, 2003, at 9:03:57
Someone told me to take magnesium and it helped a lot. It also reduced my blood pressure so be careful how you take it. Also apricots and yogurt regularly are good.
If I don't drink plenty of water and take bran and metamucil everyday I get miserable. This is the most troublesome side effect for me.
Posted by Lexxey on March 31, 2003, at 8:34:16
In reply to Re: Hunger » blondegirl47, posted by Hattree on March 28, 2003, at 10:29:49
I wonder if the grouchiness has to do with quality of sleep.
I had problems there until I started taking Unisom [otc] and am sleeping well and I'm on the full dose of 40mg twice a day. I feel my appetitie declining too. I'm waiting to get a surge of motivation like I have heard folks mention who have taken it a while.
I think this Straterra is going to work for me. I still feel a little dizzy about 1 hour after taking the Strat but I can deal with that. When I was just plain ADHD with no drugs I was "dizzy" and "ditzy" all the time!!!
Posted by Lexxey on March 31, 2003, at 9:03:29
In reply to Re: Strattera Tics/weird sleep, posted by blondegirl47 on March 24, 2003, at 14:50:13
My sleep is a lot better now after 2 1/2 weeks on 40mg and 3 days on the full 80mg dose but I am also taking Unisom to help until I get used to it.
I'm not taking any other ADHD drugs cuz I want to see if this really helps by itself.
Posted by blondegirl47 on March 31, 2003, at 9:04:42
In reply to Re: Hunger, posted by Lexxey on March 31, 2003, at 8:34:16
Thanks for your reply Hattree, I have been taking my strattera at night...I seem to sleep better that way. Although I do wake up a few times, so may it is broken sleep making me grouchy. Today is better though. :)
Posted by Lexxey on March 31, 2003, at 9:05:24
In reply to Re: Would love Strattera updates, posted by blondegirl47 on March 24, 2003, at 14:52:22
I get a dizzy spell about 1-2 hours after each dose but it settles down. I'm hoping it will fade away and it seems to a bit.
Posted by blondegirl47 on March 31, 2003, at 9:07:47
In reply to Re: Strattera Tics/weird sleep, posted by Lexxey on March 31, 2003, at 9:03:29
Thanks for your reply Lexxy, I'll keep hanging in there with it.
Posted by blondegirl47 on March 31, 2003, at 9:11:27
In reply to Re: Hunger » blondegirl47, posted by moosh on March 27, 2003, at 19:01:51
Thanks for your reply Moosh. It gives me hope. I am not quite as hungry today or as grumpy. Last night I woke up in the middle of the night hungry, but I think that was a blood sugar thing :) I will stick with this a while longer.
Posted by blondegirl47 on March 31, 2003, at 9:13:44
In reply to Re: Straterra - Back to Ritalin SR-Libby, posted by Proud2B-ADD on March 27, 2003, at 20:49:50
I don't care for Ritalin much, but I think the stimulant meds should be taken with until the strattera has a chance to start working. My doc said that he tried strattera alone at first, but most of his patients weren't happy with that. I am on adderall xr and strattera.
Posted by blondegirl47 on March 31, 2003, at 9:16:58
In reply to Re: Straterra approval., posted by Proud2B-ADD on March 27, 2003, at 20:58:42
Thanks for your input Proud2B-ADD, I hope my libido revs up like yours.
Posted by snowflake on March 31, 2003, at 10:58:13
In reply to Re: Straterra - Back to Ritalin SR-Libby » Proud2B-ADD, posted by blondegirl47 on March 31, 2003, at 9:13:44
Thanks to the replies. I stopped giving my son the Strattera as of yesterday Sunday. 6wks on it was 6wks too long. I have called his doctor this morning to get redirection and put him back on Adderall XR asap. Call it coincidence, but he had baseball practice yesterday and it went very well. I would love to hear more experiences from parents with kids on Strattera or Strattera vs. Adderall XR.
Thanks everyone, this is a great site!
Posted by AS Mom on March 31, 2003, at 12:24:29
In reply to Re: Straterra - Back to Ritalin SR-Libby, posted by snowflake on March 31, 2003, at 10:58:13
I have taken both of my children off Strattera and am using Concerta for them again. They are much happier, in control, and much more self-confident.
Posted by rickgee on March 31, 2003, at 14:18:10
In reply to Re: Straterra - Back to Ritalin SR-Libby, posted by AS Mom on March 31, 2003, at 12:24:29
Hello All, I just read all of the threads from the first of the year and want to thank all for input. I am a 58 year old male who has ADHD forever. I have also suffered from mild depression which I think is related to above. I just ended a withdrawal period on Effexor (thank God that's over) From all I have read I think that Straterra may be the one. However since I'm going to be my doc's guinea pig, I think we should start slow. Maybe 18mg day to start. I will post as I get going.
Posted by blondegirl47 on March 31, 2003, at 14:22:51
In reply to Going To Start Straterra This Week, posted by rickgee on March 31, 2003, at 14:18:10
Hi rickgee, I think that is what my doc started me on. The sample pack is 18 for 4 days, then 25 for 2 weeks. I can't remember what the next dose size is. Good luck with it. I am glad my doc didn't take my other meds away at the same time, Stattera makes me kind of tired.
Posted by rickgee on March 31, 2003, at 14:36:37
In reply to Re: Going To Start Straterra This Week » rickgee, posted by blondegirl47 on March 31, 2003, at 14:22:51
How long have you been taking it. I wasn't taking any stim's. Tried Ritalin a few years ago didn't do much. I have a fairly stong tolerance for drugs, so hopefully not too many side effects.The effexor was OK, but if I had known how it was to get off, I would have asked for something else. It was nice to see that Straterra has some effect on depression too.
Posted by blondegirl47 on March 31, 2003, at 14:40:27
In reply to Re: Going To Start Straterra This Week, posted by rickgee on March 31, 2003, at 14:35:57
Today makes 2 weeks. I am struggling with the grumpy's that come and go. Also, have intermitent problem with wanting to binge. Fried foods and sweets. I have read that this goes away, so I am going to give it a month. Hope that part goes away soon.
I take it at night before bed because it seems to make me tired. Not everyone gets tired from it though.
Posted by blondegirl47 on March 31, 2003, at 14:41:38
In reply to Re: Going To Start Straterra This Week, posted by rickgee on March 31, 2003, at 14:36:37
Rickgee...I think you are double posting :)
Posted by teacherkris on March 31, 2003, at 15:57:52
In reply to Re: Going To Start Straterra This Week » rickgee, posted by blondegirl47 on March 31, 2003, at 14:41:38
Good luck on starting! I started at 10mg and my doc raised it by 10 each week as follows:
week 1: 10 mg am
week 2: 10 mg am and 10 mg afternoon
week 3: 20 mg am and 10 mg afternoon
week 4: 20 mg am and 20 mg afternoon
week 5: 40 mg am (no increase in total dosage)
week 6: 40 mg am and 20 mg afternoon
week 7: 40 mg am and 40 mg afternoon (this is where I am now)
Just an FYI I found that most pharmacies don't stock the 10 mg size and had to order it. I was irritated with my doctor at first for the slow start up but I'm glad as each time my dose went up I had some mild side effects but they always went away after the first day or so.Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Posted by babs on March 31, 2003, at 19:20:32
In reply to Re: Going To Start Straterra This Week, posted by teacherkris on March 31, 2003, at 15:57:52
I currently take adderall and my pdoc wants me to switch to straterra. I'm wondering about a few things- one, has anyone lost weight on it? Due to my other meds I've gained a whopping 60 pounds and the adderall hasn't helped at all. Also, when I first started adderall I noticed a decrease in my caffeine and nicotine consumption (I smoke and drink diet Coke like a fiend) but unfortunately that effect wore off a long time ago (I think the adderall is losing its effectiveness overall anyway). Has anyone noticed a decrease in caffeine/nicotine use since starting straterra? I would LOVE to hear that was one of the side effects.
Posted by teacherkris on March 31, 2003, at 19:26:24
In reply to Re: straterra, weight, caffeine and nicotine, posted by babs on March 31, 2003, at 19:20:32
Smoking and drinking caffeine are both ways to self-medicate. I used to do both before starting Ritalin about five years ago. Now if my meds are right and I do drink caffeine I get jittery as it just ups my level of stimulant in my body. As I mentioned in a previous post I've lost 15 pounds since starting strattera about six weeks ago. :-) I'm still on some Concerta though so I haven't tried drinking diet coke with it yet. My hope is the opposite of yours, that by going on Strattera and off Concerta/stimulants I WILL be able to drink Diet Coke again, along with taking Exederin and Sudafed that both have stimulants in them. We'll see what happens!
Posted by Proud2B-ADD on March 31, 2003, at 20:25:09
In reply to Re: straterra, weight, caffeine and nicotine, posted by babs on March 31, 2003, at 19:20:32
I've been on Strattera for 2 1/2 weeks. I've been a light smoker (2-3 cigarettes a day) for about 4 months before starting Strattera. Even though I didn't smoke very much, I found it hard to kick those few a day.
Since I've started taking Strattera, I've lost my craving. However, I've noticed that I still crave a cigarette when I drink, but on a day to day basis, I've kicked the habit!
Posted by babs on March 31, 2003, at 21:02:15
In reply to Re: straterra, weight, caffeine and nicotine, posted by teacherkris on March 31, 2003, at 19:26:24
that's great that you lost fifteen pounds! Did Ritalin have a similar effect on you? For your sake, I hope you cn drink diet Coke again. For my sake, I hope the straterra cuts down on the craving!
Posted by Msanjelpie on April 1, 2003, at 7:40:52
In reply to Re: Straterra - Back to Ritalin SR-Libby, posted by AS Mom on March 31, 2003, at 12:24:29
AS Mom: Why did you take both of your children off Strattera and switch to Concerta for them again. Why did you take them off the Concerta in the first place... How did the Strattera make them act...
THANKS - Jeannie
Posted by blondegirl47 on April 1, 2003, at 8:15:12
In reply to Re: straterra, weight, caffeine and nicotine, posted by babs on March 31, 2003, at 19:20:32
Hi Babs
I have slowed up on caffiene because it seems to mess with my adderall absorption. Also makes me more shakey. My pdoc is letting me take strattera with my adderall. If you go off adderall cold turkey and switch to strattera alone you won't be able to tell what strattera is doing because you will be crashing from no adderall.
From what I have read, once strattera kicks in (about a month) you might lose some weight. This is day 15 for me and I have been having intermintent binges. You may also experience some grouchies and a little dizzyness.
Make sure your pdoc gives you the samples that start out at 18mg and move up gradual. Good luck
Posted by Patt on April 1, 2003, at 10:15:07
In reply to Re: straterra, weight, caffeine and nicotine, posted by blondegirl47 on April 1, 2003, at 8:15:12
I am only at Day 5 on the Straterra 40 mg/day, but so far I'm starving. I did not take a stimulant medication prior to the Straterra, so didn't have to worry about withdrawal. I wake up during the night with my stomach growling, I'm so hungry. I've gained about 2 lbs. in the 5 days, so I'm hoping this passes. If not, I'll definitely have to stop! I drink regular and/or diet coke with the medication, and drink about 2 cups coffe each day & don't seem to have any problems with the caffeine.
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