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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by theo on May 29, 2011, at 15:59:56
Any input from Strattera users? I've been taking it slow, went fro 10mg to 25, then 35, now 50 as my doc wants me around 50 or 60mg. Had a good response actually at 10mg, but that soon faded after 5 days, been at each dose around 5-7 days.
Posted by 10derheart on May 29, 2011, at 18:48:17
In reply to Feeling zoned/memory issues with Strattera, posted by theo on May 29, 2011, at 15:59:56
Hi theo,
Don't know if I can be of much help, but I'm quite sure I'm the longest term Strattera user on Babble (unless someone lurking wants to say otherwise). Been taking 80mg for about 7 years for inattentive ADD. Still working and I suspect I could lower the dose now because I have gained many life skills to cope with my ADD challenges. Although....since it's based on body weight and I weigh at least 50 lbs more than when it was first prescribed, technically, a pdoc might say any less would not possibly be as efficacious. <shrug>
After 10 mg, are you saying you still dont't have a lasting response....or...? I wasn't sure. Do you take it strictly for ADD? (Sorry if you've posted that before.....my memory leaves something to be desired) Any side effects? - 10der
Posted by theo on May 29, 2011, at 20:37:06
In reply to Re: Feeling zoned/memory issues with Strattera » theo, posted by 10derheart on May 29, 2011, at 18:48:17
I have been on 35mg for a few weeks with positive response kind of. Just went up to 50mg. Do things get better at higher doses? I'm ADD and OCD.
Posted by bleauberry on May 30, 2011, at 19:56:39
In reply to Feeling zoned/memory issues with Strattera, posted by theo on May 29, 2011, at 15:59:56
The way I see that is the dose is too high for you right now.
The early good response was probably the body liking the extra norepinephrine. Then receptors started to adjust and feedback loops kicked in. Maybe with longer time and no dose changes a true therapeutic effect might have taken place.
I don't know. Tough call. If it were me I would probably go back down to my most recent lower dose and stay there for a while. Feel it out from there. I would go down to a dose that does not give me any problems, and then give it some time, attempting to increase later if needed. I know you went slow, but maybe not slow enough or maybe went too high already without realizing it. In any case, in my searchs on norepinephrine meds such as strattera and milnacipran the best results come months later....3 to 9 months later....in the clinical trials the ones that got the most benefit were those that hung in there for the long haul. I think these kinds of meds help to recalibrate a bunch of stuff but it takes time for that to happen. In the meantime, I think the zoned/memory stuff is simply your body saying too much already.
Serotonin+Norepinephrine combos I think have a lot more potential than either one alone. So if things don't go great, I would consider adding a serotonin med before anything else. Just my opinion, but I think the entire spectrum of psychiatric disorders is improved when focused on more than one basic chemistry.
Posted by theo on May 31, 2011, at 10:37:43
In reply to Re: Feeling zoned/memory issues with Strattera, posted by bleauberry on May 30, 2011, at 19:56:39
Thanks for the input. I've taken stims before and although Strattera is not a stim, it is similar in titration in that usually with stims, if I got to a dose to high, I felt zoned.
Posted by torrid on June 1, 2011, at 15:58:35
In reply to Feeling zoned/memory issues with Strattera, posted by theo on May 29, 2011, at 15:59:56
strattera 10mg messed my liver up in less then 2 weeks on that small dose but that's all I have on the subject
Posted by theo on June 4, 2011, at 9:42:58
In reply to Re: Feeling zoned/memory issues with Strattera, posted by torrid on June 1, 2011, at 15:58:35
What were your symptoms?
Posted by floatingbridge on June 7, 2011, at 11:26:34
In reply to Re: Feeling zoned/memory issues with Strattera, posted by theo on June 4, 2011, at 9:42:58
Hi Theo,
I hesitate to say anything. And it has been 10derheart's wonder med. I didn't do well. But I (or my body?) rejects all sorts of meds.
It didn't help my add (inattentive). Then again, I showed no positive response to it ever, unlike yourself.
So maybe dialing in the dose for you is critical.
I wonder how 10derheart found her or his sustaining dose?
Best wishes,
fb
Posted by 10derheart on June 7, 2011, at 13:39:58
In reply to Re: Feeling zoned/memory issues with Strattera, posted by bleauberry on May 30, 2011, at 19:56:39
>In any case, in my searchs on norepinephrine meds such as strattera and milnacipran the best results come months later....3 to 9 months later....in the clinical trials the ones that got the most benefit were those that hung in there for the long haul. I think these kinds of meds help to recalibrate a bunch of stuff but it takes time for that to happen. In the meantime, I think the zoned/memory stuff is simply your body saying too much already.
Wow - if that is correct, I really am either the true exception to the rule...or a freak of nature <grin>. I kinda prefer the latter label.....more "fun." Seriously, though, I tried only two doses - 40 mg and 80 mg and have stayed at 80mg since about April 2004. With 40mg, I got some response in a week, but hardly enough. My pdoc at the time, being either aggressive or....maybe ignorant as Straterra was just out then (no excuse, I know) just doubled the dose and that was seriously like a miracle for my symptoms within just a few days. I will never forget walking around incredulous at the quietness in my brain, being able to remember what I was doing and where I was going, and so much more. It was a great thing.
I respond easily and well to all sorts of meds, though, from psychiatric to pain relief to antibiotics, they all work at the lowest does for me. I wish I could bottle that and give it to everyone on PB. I know it is a great blessing.
Posted by 10derheart on June 7, 2011, at 13:40:19
In reply to Re: Feeling zoned/memory issues with Strattera » 10derheart, posted by theo on May 29, 2011, at 20:37:06
> I have been on 35mg for a few weeks with positive response kind of. Just went up to 50mg. Do things get better at higher doses? I'm ADD and OCD.
Sorry, theo, life events took over and I forgot to come back to this thread.
Yeah, they certainly got better for me, but if you see my post to bleauberry below, I guess I am not a typical example. I just jumped from 40mg to 80 mg after about three months and.....voila! I am very sensitive to meds overall, though, in the 'good' way. A dose of 20mg of Prozac improved my MDD by about 80%. Combining this with 60-80mg of IR methylphenidate also was quite effective for my ADD, but taking the stim numerous times a day was a pain and my GP at the time had a fit about my pdoc scripting a stim because I had hypertension, though it was completely controlled by meds and did NOT get worse when I started the Ritalin. That GP was a bit of a reactionary, arrogant, unreasonable MD, IMNSHO, but my pdoc sort of strongly "suggested" we try a non-stim and I didn't mind. Good thing, in hindsight.
I don't have the OCD piece. Just ADD all the time, comorbid with some depression and anxiety from time to time.
Posted by 10derheart on June 7, 2011, at 13:46:28
In reply to Re: Feeling zoned/memory issues with Strattera » theo, posted by floatingbridge on June 7, 2011, at 11:26:34
> I wonder how 10derheart found her or his sustaining dose?
So very totally a "she" Overweight, out of shape, ADD-riddled (but it's okay 'cause I got it mostly under control) middle-aged woman trying to figure out what I am exactly supposed to be doing and being in life
Or, check the archives on the Psych board for my long, dramatic, sad (some say melodramatic and pathetic) history with attachment and love for my male therapists that brought me to Babble......<sigh> Not that you will or should, not exactly a fun read....
Was that TMI? Probably.
I posted to bleauberry how I got to my dose of Straterra. Titration of this med was not really in my pdoc's game plan, clearly. Thankfully, no problems, just an amazing change in my brain
Posted by floatingbridge on June 7, 2011, at 14:09:00
In reply to Re: Feeling zoned/memory issues with Strattera » floatingbridge, posted by 10derheart on June 7, 2011, at 13:46:28
Hi! No idea you were a woman. Sound a bit like me, though right now I feel like an heir to the drama of trauma and TMI.
So your post was not TMI.
Just a question for you. Strattera, as BB said takes time to work? That is very interesting and good to know.
I needed to abort the strattera after a month. It increased my pain & depression plus I couldn't put two thoughts together. (ADD inattentive here.) We all react differently. I couldn't hang in. That's why I thought if Theo shows modest improvement.... Maybe good.
You seem so sane. Good work :D
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