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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2007, at 15:53:39
Hey I have a friend who has been on straterra for three weeks and a few days ago it kicked in and no more depression he's feeling great. Anyone know about straterra and Depression. Thanks Love Phillipa
Posted by Quintal on January 20, 2007, at 16:54:49
In reply to Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2007, at 15:53:39
No, but I've taken a similar drug that belongs to the same class, Edronax (reboxetine), and it has horrible. The worst med I've ever taken.
Q
Posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2007, at 16:55:51
In reply to Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2007, at 15:53:39
PS Supposedly Eli Lilly developed the med cymbalta at the same time and because of the expenses decided to market stratterra for ADD or ADHD and not as an antidepressant although Staterra worked for depression. Love Phillipa
Posted by laima on January 21, 2007, at 9:22:50
In reply to Re: Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2007, at 16:55:51
I thought I heard another version of the story, that it was developed for depression but didn't work for enough people, so they had to find another official use for it to get approved?That's really great for your friend though!
> PS Supposedly Eli Lilly developed the med cymbalta at the same time and because of the expenses decided to market stratterra for ADD or ADHD and not as an antidepressant although Staterra worked for depression. Love Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on January 21, 2007, at 11:37:47
In reply to Re: Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by laima on January 21, 2007, at 9:22:50
Not sure what is so great about the "non-stimulant" claim. This one made my heart race more than traditional stimulants.
Linkadge
Posted by Klavot on January 21, 2007, at 14:13:01
In reply to Re: Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2007, at 16:55:51
> PS Supposedly Eli Lilly developed the med cymbalta at the same time and because of the expenses decided to market stratterra for ADD or ADHD and not as an antidepressant although Staterra worked for depression. Love Phillipa
Mmm... Eli Lilly again... what is it about that company? They seem to be involved in a lot of controversy all the time.
Klavot
Posted by psychobot5000 on January 21, 2007, at 14:40:38
In reply to Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2007, at 15:53:39
> Hey I have a friend who has been on straterra for three weeks and a few days ago it kicked in and no more depression he's feeling great. Anyone know about straterra and Depression. Thanks Love Phillipa
Hi,
I took Strattera briefly for difficulty focusing (comorbide with major depression). I have also taken Reboxetine, and I found them to be very different, for whatever reason.
The first few times I took Strattera, it gave me a mild euphoria--made me feel almost normal, if a little druggy, but it made me tired also. Gradually the mood-elevation would evaporate later in the day, leaving me with only the weariness. It did not feel like a psychostimulant to me. After a couple weeks of dosing, the mood-benefits were pretty much gone (say, reduced below 10% of where they'd started), and the weariness was too much to take.
I've read a little about it, and some doctors seem to report an immediate improvement in ADD symptoms, without sustained response. So there seems to be some pattern of this. It's too bad, because it did briefly make me feel pretty well. Glad you're friend seems to be having success, though!
Psychbot
Posted by alohashirt on January 21, 2007, at 23:57:43
In reply to Re: Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by psychobot5000 on January 21, 2007, at 14:40:38
I took Strattera for nine months (approx) for ADHD. AT first it seemed to help me focus, then I got sleepy, and then I got miserable - fantasies of throwing self under a train. I only realized what was happening when a health insurance mess up caused me to stop taking Strattera for hree weeks and I suddenly felt happy.Very, very scarey.
> > Hey I have a friend who has been on straterra for three weeks and a few days ago it kicked in and no more depression he's feeling great. Anyone know about straterra and Depression. Thanks Love Phillipa
>
> Hi,
>
> I took Strattera briefly for difficulty focusing (comorbide with major depression). I have also taken Reboxetine, and I found them to be very different, for whatever reason.
>
> The first few times I took Strattera, it gave me a mild euphoria--made me feel almost normal, if a little druggy, but it made me tired also. Gradually the mood-elevation would evaporate later in the day, leaving me with only the weariness. It did not feel like a psychostimulant to me. After a couple weeks of dosing, the mood-benefits were pretty much gone (say, reduced below 10% of where they'd started), and the weariness was too much to take.
>
> I've read a little about it, and some doctors seem to report an immediate improvement in ADD symptoms, without sustained response. So there seems to be some pattern of this. It's too bad, because it did briefly make me feel pretty well. Glad you're friend seems to be having success, though!
>
> Psychbot
Posted by 10derHeart on January 22, 2007, at 1:50:28
In reply to Re: Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by alohashirt on January 21, 2007, at 23:57:43
No, not primarily for depression, but just as a balance to other posts, I have been on Strattera for 3 years and it has consistently improved my ADD symptoms the entire time.
No poop out, no side effects after dry mouth went away in the beginning. I stopped Ritalin (seemed to be raising BP a few points and I do have mild HTN) and tapered, then stopped, Prozac and replaced both with the Strat in Jan' 04. My pdoc at the time and I decided on this course together.
I seem to be an exception and I do feel incredibly blessed that it works so well for me.
Indirectly for me, it ends up serving as a *great* AD. My ADD symptoms were bad all the time, and some days severe, so to have this med (plus some quality therapy) work this well on the racing thoughts, disorganization, apathy, procrastination, hypersensitivity, etc., of ADD, ended up with me feeling far less negative toward myself, less anxious, less frustrated...the list goes on, which for me meant a steady reduction in frequency and length of depressive episodes.
Hope that wasn't too confusing, Phillipa, and I know you're not asking about it for ADD, but sometimes I like to post the good stuff about this med here, and you gave me an opening...:-)
Posted by linkadge on January 22, 2007, at 14:42:45
In reply to Re: Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by 10derHeart on January 22, 2007, at 1:50:28
Does it give you tachycadia? Did it give you tacychardia at treatment startup. Did this resolve?
Thanks for any info.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on January 22, 2007, at 18:39:34
In reply to Re: Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by 10derHeart on January 22, 2007, at 1:50:28
l0derHeart thanks so much for the positive post hope he reads this one. Love Phillipa
Posted by psychobot5000 on January 22, 2007, at 19:41:34
In reply to Re: Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by linkadge on January 22, 2007, at 14:42:45
> Does it give you tachycadia? Did it give you tacychardia at treatment startup. Did this resolve?
>
> Thanks for any info.
>
>
> LinkadgeHi,
It did not affect my heart-rate or blood-pressure at all when I took it, though I took it only for a period of...perhaps two weeks. I carefully monitor it with such medications. For comparison, for me amphetamine mixed salts, dexamphetamine, and methylphenidate all caused slight to modest increases in heart-rate and blood-pressure.
Posted by theo on January 22, 2007, at 23:17:12
In reply to Re: Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by linkadge on January 21, 2007, at 11:37:47
> Not sure what is so great about the "non-stimulant" claim. This one made my heart race more than traditional stimulants.
>
>
> LinkadgeWhat's a good starting dose? The PI says 40mg but seems I've read it's better to start at 18-25mg, then move to 40mg if needed?
Posted by psychobot5000 on January 23, 2007, at 10:56:58
In reply to Re: Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by linkadge on January 22, 2007, at 14:42:45
> Does it give you tachycadia? Did it give you tacychardia at treatment startup. Did this resolve?
Cardiovascular effects of atomoxetine in children, adolescents, and adults.Wernicke JF, Faries D, Girod D, Brown J, Gao H, Kelsey D, Quintana H, Lipetz R, Michelson D, Heiligenstein J.
Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. jfwernicke@lilly.com
BACKGROUND: Atomoxetine is a highly specific presynaptic inhibitor of the noradrenaline (norepinephrine) transporter that was recently approved in the US for the treatment of patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
RESULTS: Atomoxetine treatment was associated with small but statistically significant increases in mean systolic blood pressure in adults and diastolic blood pressure in children and adolescents. Mean pulse rate increased for all atomoxetine treatment groups. The increases in blood pressure and pulse tended to occur early in therapy, stabilised, and returned toward baseline upon drug discontinuation. There was no significant difference between atomoxetine and placebo treatment groups in change in QTcD interval for all study populations. Palpitations in the adult patient population were the only significant cardiovascular adverse event (p = 0.037) occurring more frequently in the atomoxetine treatment group (3.7%) than in the placebo group (0.8%). Discontinuations due to cardiovascular-related events were very uncommon in the adult group, and did not occur in the child/adolescent group.CONCLUSION: While atomoxetine has noradrenergic activity, increases in pulse and blood pressure were small and of little, if any, clinical significance. Atomoxetine was not associated with QT interval prolongation. Cardiovascular effects of atomoxetine were minimal, and atomoxetine was well tolerated in short- and long-term studies.
_______Sounds a little milder than with stim treatment.
Posted by 10derHeart on January 23, 2007, at 21:13:46
In reply to Re: Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by linkadge on January 22, 2007, at 14:42:45
No, Link, but there's a catch....I'm on a beta blocker. I started atenolol for HTN long before any ADD or depression dxs. Which if I recall the mechanics of action a little bit (haven't thought about it for a while) keeps my HR from rising as it could/would "normally." So would it be possible, but not likely, to get tacky while on a beta blocker? I'm not sure.
Yeah, I've wondered from reading here what might occur w/HR if I ever lose weight, etc. enough to stop HTN meds. Not to mention how effective the atenolol was/is with the physical symptoms of anxiety.
Posted by corafree on January 24, 2007, at 15:42:21
In reply to Re: Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression? » linkadge, posted by 10derHeart on January 23, 2007, at 21:13:46
Wow good info on Strattera 10derHeart.
I've been under the impression beta blockers work somewhat like benzos. I'm on Valium ya' know.
My BP is high on Provigil, well was at doc's office.
I've always had low, low blood pressure.
Not sure what to do tho' as Provigil works to get me up, out, and about. There is a bit of nervousness accompanying it tho'.
Did you try Provigil b4 Strattera?
tks, cf
Posted by alohashirt on January 25, 2007, at 22:23:06
In reply to Re: Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression? » linkadge, posted by theo on January 22, 2007, at 23:17:12
My psychiatrist did a couple of research projects with Strattera and I can see taht he titrated my dose much more slowly than I hear occurring to others. Somethimng like one month on 10mg, one month on 18mg, and after eight months I was upto 80mg. I remember him saying that without this there were a bunch of icky side-effects that can occur.
> > Not sure what is so great about the "non-stimulant" claim. This one made my heart race more than traditional stimulants.
> >
> >
> > Linkadge
>
> What's a good starting dose? The PI says 40mg but seems I've read it's better to start at 18-25mg, then move to 40mg if needed?
>
>
Posted by corafree on January 27, 2007, at 5:55:47
In reply to Re: Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by alohashirt on January 25, 2007, at 22:23:06
I was talkin' to someone about Straterra because I know a guy who was on Ritalin as a child and I often wonder if he is 'STILL' ADHD.
After parents took him off Ritalin, prob' jr high age, his older bros' introduced him to meth. And yeah, it worked for him just like Ritalin. It actually calmed him, gave him direction, etc.
Well, the psych community got wind of his meth abuse, and when that happens they don't give ADHD a second thought ... because the meds are stimulants.
Anyway, as of late, someone said this one would be prescribed in such cases as it is not as much a stimulant.(?)
So, he's been labeled 'manic'. He doesn't take his bipolar meds; says makes him feel horribly depressed.
I dunno. I tried to help him.
I don't/won't/can't see him anymore.
I found a meth pipe in his things weeks back.
I don't wish him harm tho'.
cf
Posted by rina on January 28, 2007, at 17:35:51
In reply to Re: Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by corafree on January 27, 2007, at 5:55:47
> I was talkin' to someone about Straterra because I know a guy who was on Ritalin as a child and I often wonder if he is 'STILL' ADHD.
>
> After parents took him off Ritalin, prob' jr high age, his older bros' introduced him to meth. And yeah, it worked for him just like Ritalin. It actually calmed him, gave him direction, etc.
>
> Well, the psych community got wind of his meth abuse, and when that happens they don't give ADHD a second thought ... because the meds are stimulants.
>
> Anyway, as of late, someone said this one would be prescribed in such cases as it is not as much a stimulant.(?)
>
> So, he's been labeled 'manic'. He doesn't take his bipolar meds; says makes him feel horribly depressed.
>
> I dunno. I tried to help him.
>
> I don't/won't/can't see him anymore.
>
> I found a meth pipe in his things weeks back.
>
> I don't wish him harm tho'.
>
> cfI was taking Strattera for ADD. It did absolutely nothing but snore in my system.
Posted by corafree on January 31, 2007, at 6:31:03
In reply to Re: Anyone Taken Straterra For Depression?, posted by rina on January 28, 2007, at 17:35:51
Yep, that doesn't surprise me. I sort of had a feeling it 'was hype'.
tks, cf
This is the end of the thread.
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