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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 701 to 725 of 1242. Go back in thread:
Posted by Gale Fox on June 10, 2003, at 8:06:02
In reply to Re: Keep the Strattera updates coming!, posted by froggyanna on June 1, 2003, at 15:26:08
A word about Wellbutrin & Strattera and appetite/weight loss. One of the side effects of Wellbutrin is weight loss. I lost 30 lbs in 4.5 months on Wellbutrin (that was the 30 lbs I'd gained on Paxil over the past 6 years).
My pdoc tells me that appetite supression is one of the side effects of Strattera, and I'd have to ssay that's been true for me also. So I suggest monitoring your weight and food intake if you're on one or both of these meds. (I'm currently taking 80 mg Strattera & 100 mg Wellbutrin)
I started taking 40mg Straterra on May 22, so that's 10 days. I had a few side effects (slight queasiness, slight dizzyness) but they wore off in a couple of days. I actually got a slight little "high" the first day, but that went away after about two hours. In the afternoons, I experienced severe tiredness. Being unemployed, I could nap through that.
>
> I have also been taking Zoloft, various dosages for several years. Right now I am at 100mg and that seems to keep the tendency to depression very nicely alleviated. And I am taking .2mg Levoxyl for Hashimoto's hypothyroidism for about a year now (Synthroid for many years before that).
>
> Before starting the Straterra, after my first visit with a psychiatrist for the treatment of ADD, I started out with Buspar (buspirone) on April 30, so that's about a month now. The doc has experience with using buspirone to treat snoring and sleep apnea, thus allowing for better sleep and the possible reduction of ADD symptoms due to better-quality sleep. I don't think that it is improving my snoring at all -- I continue to sleep with a CPAP machine (continuous positive airway pressure). And since I have been fairly successfully using CPAP for many years, and supposedly sleeping well because of it, and I still struggle with symtpoms of ADD, I've concluded that sleep apnea (in my case) is NOT the trigger for my ADD.
>
> But I'm still taking the Buspar, because I think it is working well with the Straterra in helping me to get a little more "regulated." That started even before the Straterra. I've noticed a slight increase in my ability to get going in the morning and a greater willingness to just DO the routine little things that one has to do every day that I typically argue with myself about (about whether I really want to do them or not). A lot of that weary emotionality about doing things seems to be fading. And that's a good thing! Oh yes, and I've finished reading two books!! I've almost never finished a book in my LIFE!
>
> But I'm still feeling unwilling to tackle some larger projects and chores that are waiting for me. I still feel procrastination and scatteredness as a major element in my days, and that's what I want to change. At this point, it's crucial, because I need to find a job. We are selling our house (if someone will buy it!) because we want to find something more affordable -- my lack of income has become a crisis. Because of being laid off three times in 5 years, and because ADD has always caused me extreme strain in performing well at work, I think I've got a mild version of post-traumatic stress disorder! I need to find some kind of support, whether it's medical or ADD coaching or both, to get me to focus in on preparing a resume and preparing to go back out into the world. At this moment, I can hardly even begin to think about that.
>
> Because I'm a believer that being hypothyroid can exacerbate ADD symptoms, I have been waiting to add any more Straterra until I can find out from my internist about the results of my latest thyroid tests. I've just recently found out that I may be missing the crucial T3 -- I'm only taking a T4 drug. I will be seeing that doctor June 10 for a complete physical and discussion of my test results. I think that getting my thyroid functioning well will go a long way toward offsetting some of the side effects of the psychoactive drugs (like tiredness).
>
> In the meantime..... I just saw my psychiatrist for the second time on May 29. I told him that I noticed a distinct drop in my appetite after starting the buspirone and continuing with adding the Straterra. He said that because of that, I might want to consider substituting Wellbutrin as my antidepressant instead of Zoloft. He said that it has less of a chance of increasing your appetite than Zoloft does (and I have really struggled with binge eating since taking antidepressants). He said that Wellbutrin will help to reinforce the appetite-reducing qualities of the buspirone and Straterra. Plus, it might keep me from participating in my lifelong habit of ripping my fingernails! He also suggested that I take Straterra at night instead of in the morning to help stave off the afternoon tiredness (apparently studies have shown that it stays in your system for about 25 hours).
>
> So, in summary:
> 0.2mg Levoxyl in morning;
> 100mg Zoloft in morning;
> 60mg buspirone at night;
> 40mg Straterra at night;
> Add and gradually increase Wellbutrin, 100-200mg twice a day over 10 days;
> Try eliminating Zoloft after this;
> Add T3 thyroid treatment, possibly Cytomel;
> Depending on effect of thyroid treatment, increase Straterra to 120mg max.
>
> That's my current "recipe," and I feel like I am on the right path. I'm noticing gradual improvement in my functioning and the side effects are not unmanageable. I am looking very favorably right now on Straterra, by itself and in combination with other medications.
>
> GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU!
> froggyanna
>
Posted by Gale Fox on June 10, 2003, at 8:23:15
In reply to Straterra at night ? Other questions....., posted by froggyanna on June 2, 2003, at 16:52:39
See my responses below. I'm taking Strattera for depression (80 mg) and 100 mg Wellbutrin.
So my questions are:
>
> 1. Has anyone else been advised to take Straterra at night? If so, is that decreasing your daytime sleepiness?I take 40 mg in the moring & 40 mg in the afternoon - one of several unpleasant side effects for me was insomnia.
2. If you increased your dosage slowly, did you avoid the tiredness? The agitation? The irritability?
I wish my doctor had been willing to strat me out on 10 mg. I did go up slowly, had good effects at 25 mg after a month, but then lost them as we withdrew Wellbutrin. Increasing the dosage and adding the Wellbutrin back in have helped, but I'm not seeing the dramatic improvement I saw (& felt) in February.
3. Would there be any benefit to taking part of the dose before bed and part in the morning?
I think the benefit of splitting the dosage is that you get Strattera in your system more consistently over time.
> 4. How many days did you go before increasing?
I have to go at least a week, sometimes longer because of two side effects I have - increase in a benign tremor (exacerbated by Wellbutrin), insomnia (Also exacerbated by Wellbutrin). Currently I'm postponing going up to 100 mg Strattera because of constipation. I'm told my body will adjust to the med, but meanwhile I'm taking something for the constipation as well.
5. Was it a month or more before you started experiencing any real effect on your ADD symptoms? Are you MAINTAINING those effects?
>
I'm tking for depression, not ADD. But yes, it was 3-4 weeks before I felt and effect. It was dramatic, but then dropped off - Now that I'm up to 80 mg, I'm trying to give it a 6 week trial.> Those are only some of my questions, actually. I'm just so eager to get my head straightened out that I'm feeling impatient, even though I KNOW that I have to give it time. I suppose that if someone had actually stabilized on Straterra they might not still be hanging around this discussion forum. But I sure would like to hear some real success stories. I am "afraid" to start taking the stimulants... at least not until I've done all I can without them.
>
> Thank you VERY much for any and all advice you can offer!
>
> froggyanna
>
Posted by Gale Fox on June 10, 2003, at 8:35:07
In reply to Re: Urgent question about Strattera for depression, posted by tanafofana on June 2, 2003, at 10:29:47
I find it incredible that you were able to start at 40 mg, let alone go up to 80 so quickly, because my experience has been so full of side effects & I've had to increase very slowly.
I saw great effect after about a month at 25 mg, but then we withdrew Wellbutrin & my mood and activity level dropped dramatically. I'm now up to 80 mg of Strattera and am also taking 100 mg of Wellbutrin, but though I've improved some, its not been as noticeable as the first month, so I'm disappointed - no, make that angry - I've been playing with meds for 9 months and still haven't got anything effective. I'm trying to stay with the Strattera til I've been on it for 6 weeks.
Posted by Lasagne on June 10, 2003, at 10:36:44
In reply to Re: Straterra at night ? Other questions....., posted by Gale Fox on June 10, 2003, at 8:23:15
I have been taking Strattera for about 4 weeks now. At first I did the regimine of 40 mgs.once in the morning and then 40 mgs. once in the late afternoon. I found this made me so spacey and tired during the day. I felt like I was living in a big fog.
Then my doctor told me to just take all of my Strattera 80 mgs. total in the evening. I take it around 7 p.m. and it really helps me to relax to get a good nights sleep. Then I wake up in the morning and feel good. I don't feel a huge urge to go back to bed after getting my children off to school like I used to. Once I get moving it seems like I can get things accomplished and keep going until my normal naptime at noon. I have also found that I am capable of taking shorter naps than before. Before I didn't feel good if I didn't lay down for 1 1/2 to 2 hours daily, but now if I lay down for just an hour I can still function through the afternoon and evening routine with my children.
I am also finding it easier to do the routine things that need to be done daily. I still have a tough time doing the big projects that require organization, but I have been told that I can't expect ADD/ADHD treatment to completely resolve all my issues. Right now I am trying to stay focused on the little improvements that happen daily. Before starting the Strattera I was in a depressive slump and now I finally feel like I am pulling out of it.
I also take Prozac 60 mgs. daily and Buspar 30 mgs. daily.
The Buspar really helped alleviate my anxiety symptoms, but the addition of Strattera improved my anxiety even more. I don't worry as much as I used to about things that I have absolutely no control over.
My doctor had actually been treating me for depression and anxiety for years, then after all of my boys were diagnosed with ADHD, he mentioned that I should make a special appointment to have him do a ADD/ADHD evaluation on me. That is the point where he started me on the Strattera. He thinks that coping with my ADD/ADHD symptoms for 33 years was the source of my depression and anxiety. I am now reading books about adult ADHD and am finding the whole thing enlightening. Many things are beginning to make sense for me.
Posted by Lasagne on June 10, 2003, at 10:48:18
In reply to Re: Keep the Strattera updates coming!-appetite, posted by Gale Fox on June 10, 2003, at 8:06:02
I have been taking Strattera for a month now. I began with 40mgs for the first 4 days and then increased to 80 mgs. after that.
In the beginning my weight dropped down about 5 lbs. After about 3 weeks I began to get more of an appetite back with a slight difference. If I overeat at all I feel sick to my stomach. I also still get an on and off feeling of nausea, which I find is a huge appetite control mechanism for me. My weight has gone up a few pounds since the initial weight loss, but I am still happy about the progress I have made. Prior to the Strattera I tried excercise and a better diet, yet I could not get my weight down below 160 lbs. This is the first time in a long time that I have noticed that I have lost inches and I am also below 160 lbs.
Posted by Viridis on June 10, 2003, at 20:26:41
In reply to Re: Keep the Strattera updates coming!-appetite, posted by Lasagne on June 10, 2003, at 10:48:18
I've been using low-dose Adderall for quite a while now (10 mg/day), and I find it helpful for ADD and depression. However, I'd like to try Strattera, and my pdoc is keen on this too. I'm wondering if others here have taken Strattera and Adderall (or another stimulant) simultaneously.
I've seen comments elsewhere that suggest one stay with Adderall (or Ritalin etc.), at least while the Strattera is kicking in, while others say to discontinue the stimulant before starting Strattera. In the Strattera prescribing info, there's no contraindication listed for amphetamines etc.
I plan to start the Strattera cautiously, at a low dose, since I'm sensitive to certain meds (Wellbutrin and SSRIs). I'm just wondering if anyone has used Adderall and related meds together with Strattera, how they made the transition, and so on. I'd like to have some feedback so that I discuss this in an informed way with my pdoc, who's very reasonable and open-minded, but also somewhat cautious. He doesn't mind mixing meds (within reason), and listens to what I say, but I'd like to be sure I know what I'm talking about.
Thanks in advance!
Posted by Lasagne on June 11, 2003, at 12:21:29
In reply to Re: Straterra at night ? Other questions..... » froggyanna, posted by MomofBoys on June 5, 2003, at 9:47:19
To: Mom of Boys
I too am raising 3 boys,ages 10, 7, and 4. They all have ADHD.
Do your boys have ADHD too?
How old were you when you were diagnosed?
I am 33 and after years of being treated for depression and anxiety, the doctor did an evaluation on me and now he thinks that I have suffered from ADD my whole life, which is why I have struggled so much with depression, etc. He started me on Strattera about a month or so ago. I am slowly noticing improvements but nothing as spectacular as you have noted. Have you ever done regular stimulant treatment or is Strattera your first try too?
I am interesting in having another woman with my same experience to swap stories with. Lately I have had to make sense of my new diagnosis and educate myself on it plus cope with my ADHD boys that my ADHD husband I produced. My whole world is filled with ADHD now and so I need another woman's perspective on how they have dealt with similar emotions.
'Lasagne' in California
Posted by Lasagne on June 11, 2003, at 15:13:26
In reply to Strattera AND Adderall?, posted by Viridis on June 10, 2003, at 20:26:41
Reply to below post: My son was taking 40 mgs. of Metadate (slow release Ritalin). It stopped working well after about 5 or 6 months of doing great, so our doctor suggested that we try Strattera by itself. We did this for about a month. He would get 20 mgs. twice daily. The first week things went pretty well except that he was not as focused in the afternoons. We tried playing with the dose a bit but it still didn't give him satisfactory results to make it through his school work. So our doctor suggested that we combine the Metadate with the Strattera. So now he is taking 40 mgs. of Strattera and 20 mgs. of Metadate. It does a good job of controlling his symptoms until about 3:30 in the afternoon, which means the homework time is not easy to deal with. We tried uping his dose to 40 mgs. of Metadate but it made him too moody. Now it's the beginning of summer and we are going to try something different in hopes that we can get him better stabilized to start 6th grade. Although, he has been tolerable to be around with the combination of Strattera and Metadate, he definitely isn't doing as well as I have seen him do in the past with other stimulant treatments. I would say that the best effectiveness he ever got was from the Adderall, but over time he became resistant to it. Since then we have never been able to get him back to the level of effectiveness that he had on the Adderall. All I can say is that it is worth a try to combine the Strattera with a stimulant. I have been doing this for two years straight with my son and it is just a constant trial and error process. Because children are still growing it is I think more common to have these problems finding the right treatment and maintaining it. I wish you luck.
Original message:> I've been using low-dose Adderall for quite a while now (10 mg/day), and I find it helpful for ADD and depression. However, I'd like to try Strattera, and my pdoc is keen on this too. I'm wondering if others here have taken Strattera and Adderall (or another stimulant) simultaneously.
>
> I've seen comments elsewhere that suggest one stay with Adderall (or Ritalin etc.), at least while the Strattera is kicking in, while others say to discontinue the stimulant before starting Strattera. In the Strattera prescribing info, there's no contraindication listed for amphetamines etc.
>
> I plan to start the Strattera cautiously, at a low dose, since I'm sensitive to certain meds (Wellbutrin and SSRIs). I'm just wondering if anyone has used Adderall and related meds together with Strattera, how they made the transition, and so on. I'd like to have some feedback so that I discuss this in an informed way with my pdoc, who's very reasonable and open-minded, but also somewhat cautious. He doesn't mind mixing meds (within reason), and listens to what I say, but I'd like to be sure I know what I'm talking about.
>
> Thanks in advance!
Posted by froggyanna on June 14, 2003, at 13:57:34
In reply to Re: Keep the Strattera updates coming!-appetite, posted by Gale Fox on June 10, 2003, at 8:06:02
> A word about Wellbutrin & Strattera and appetite/weight loss. One of the side effects of Wellbutrin is weight loss. I lost 30 lbs in 4.5 months on Wellbutrin (that was the 30 lbs I'd gained on Paxil over the past 6 years).
>
> My pdoc tells me that appetite supression is one of the side effects of Strattera, and I'd have to ssay that's been true for me also. So I suggest monitoring your weight and food intake if you're on one or both of these meds. (I'm currently taking 80 mg Strattera & 100 mg Wellbutrin)
Hi Gale,Yes, I'm also currently taking 80mg Straterra at night and 200mg Wellbutrin 2 times a day. 45mg buspiron at night as well. I HAVE been taking 100mg Zoloft for several years, but the pdoc has suggested that I stop taking it and see if the Wellbutrin can act as the antidepressant. I gradually increased the amount of Wellbutrin I was taking, while still taking the Zoloft. Now that I'm on 200mg 2x/day for a few days, I've stopped taking the Zoloft and we'll see how that goes.
Weight loss would NOT be a problem for me at all, since I am 5'7" and weigh about 280 pounds. I need to weigh HALF of me!! I'm really glad that I've found these meds (assuming that they turn out to be right for me in all other respects). In addition to a SIGNIFICANTLY reduced appetite, I'm seeing some gradual improvements in my ability to concentrate and move forward with tasks without much trouble. I still procrastinate, and I'm hoping I'll find a way to clear that up. Also, I'm experiencing some mild physical shakiness that feels not quite right.
Here's the big thing for me, though: I recently had some major health tests done (sleep study, bone densitometry, and stress echocardiogram). I'm 51, so my internist thought it prudent to look at all these things (I have sleep apnea - that's why the sleep study.) Also blood tests. My thyroid tests came back "normal" but we may be tweaking with that a bit (that's another thread). My densitometry test shows that I have "severe" osteoPENIA in my lower lumbar region. That's the stage before osteoporosis. And the stress test (treadmill) revealed that I have an "area of abnormality" in my heart and they suspect that not enough blood is getting there. My overall cholesterol is good, but my triglycerides are skyhigh and the HDL (good stuff) is way low. I have to have a repeat stress test, with something they put in your veins so they can see your heart in more detail. My internist tells me that if they find a blocked artery, they will probably have to put a "balloon" inside it to open it up. That was pretty shocking to hear, but he says it's not major surgery.
What made me sad is that before hearing this, I had just made up my mind to join my local Curves for Women and start getting the exercise I so desperately need. I asked the doc if I could go ahead and do this and he said NO! I have to wait until we figure out what needs to be done about my heart.
I immediately did an internet search, hoping I could find some information on "natural" ways of increasing your heart health (better late than never). For those who are interested, I found a WONDERFUL page of info about an herb called Arjuna, and I'm going to be taking this as soon as it comes in the mail: http://www.planetherbs.com/articles/Arjuna.htm
Sorry for going a little off track, but y'know, we are all these things, not just our brains....
froggyanna
Posted by EasilyDistracted on June 14, 2003, at 15:11:15
In reply to Re: Straterra- anyone using as stimulant? » Lexxey, posted by Magpie on April 7, 2003, at 12:12:10
Was diagnosed with ADD about 8 years ago. Tried all the SSRI's, Wellbutrin and Cylert to help with attention and depression. Ended up gaining about 25#'s on SSRI's...not an option for me. Then I got the bright idea to "self medicate" with meth...my bright idea landed me in drug rehab, which is where I find myself now. My counselor worried that if I didn't address my ADD I would end up "self medicating" again...So, I began Straterra Wednesday am (40mg) with very little expectation and by Wednesday afternoon my entire rehab "group" was amazed at how calm I was! {It really was quite amazing). I was able to sit quietly and listen for the whole afternoon. Prior to that it was almost physically painful for me to "just sit". Anyhow, I began taking 80mg this morning and am not having any side effects that I cannot tolerate. I just may be on to something here....
Posted by Lasagne on June 14, 2003, at 16:04:36
In reply to new on Straterra, posted by EasilyDistracted on June 14, 2003, at 15:11:15
Hi:
I have been taking Strattera for about a month or so now. I am taking 80 mgs. daily at bedtime. I was recently diagnosed with ADHD at age 33, so I had never done any stimulant medication treatments prior to this time. And because of what I now see as a strange miracle, I stayed away from self-medicating myself, eventhough there is a huge family disposition to do so. Although, I have been taking Prozac for 10 years for depression and Buspar during the last few years for anxiety. I couldn't believe how much calmer the Strattera made me. At first it was a bit scary because I didn't realize how hyper I was before, so to start experiencing the world at what my doctor says is normal speed, it took a bit of getting used to. Now I am really enjoying this feeling. I don't fuss about so much and I can let a lot of things go that I used to get fixed on before and couldn't break the thought pattern. It is also easier for me to get through my daily routine and I find I am slowly but surely getting more organized. I am finding that with time the procrastination issues aren't as bad. I am not sure I will ever be completely rid of all of my symptoms but right now I am trying to stay positive about the improvements that have happened with this medication. The one thing I absolutely love about the Strattera is the ability to sleep. I have been a long time sufferer in the sleep dept. and now the medication relaxes my brain so I am not constantly thinking about this or that in the middle of the night. I find myself occasionally over thinking things, but I can recognize it now and somehow shut it off and move on to more productive thoughts or simply rest.
Posted by Lasagne on June 14, 2003, at 16:13:55
In reply to Re: ...Strattera updates!-appetite/heart trouble, posted by froggyanna on June 14, 2003, at 13:57:34
I have been taking Strattera for over a month now. I take 80 mgs. at bedtime. At first the appetite control was more intense and I dropped down to 155 lbs after years of trying to do so on mere excercise and healthier eating (but to no avail). I attribute this to the nausea that I felt in the beginning. After about 3 weeks on the medication I noticed my appetite increased a bit and then I put back on a few pounds. Although, I find that the medication still continues to control my appetite. If I over eat at all, then I am so uncomfortable and feel sick. The nausea seems to be decreasing with time, something I was most concerned about because I would feel it on and off all day long at first. Now I seem to be stabilizing in that department, thank heaven!
The main side effect that I still continue to struggle with is the hot flashes and sweating that started when I began the medication.
Posted by gouda on June 15, 2003, at 18:05:44
In reply to Re: Q A to Froggyanna: CPAP and sleep apnea? » gouda, posted by froggyanna on June 7, 2003, at 12:08:54
Posted by gouda on June 15, 2003, at 18:08:33
In reply to Re: new on Straterra » EasilyDistracted, posted by Lasagne on June 14, 2003, at 16:04:36
To All,
I just marvel at how almost ALL of us STRATTERA-takers are ALSO on SSRIs! Lexapro, Celexa, Wellbutrin, etc.
Does anyone know what's the significance of this ADD & DEPRESSION connection?
Gouda
Posted by zeugma on June 15, 2003, at 21:35:53
In reply to Why are so many of us ADDers also depressed?, posted by gouda on June 15, 2003, at 18:08:33
> To All,
>
> I just marvel at how almost ALL of us STRATTERA-takers are ALSO on SSRIs! Lexapro, Celexa, Wellbutrin, etc.
>
> Does anyone know what's the significance of this ADD & DEPRESSION connection?
>
> Gouda
ADHD is a lot more serious (at least the kind that I have) than a lot of people commonly supposed. It has made my entire life a shambles. Plus, it commonly comes with comorbidities, particularly the more severe varieties. If I didn't suffer from some form of endogeneous depression, I would be depressed anyway at the havoc these disorders have wreaked on my life.
Posted by reba on June 15, 2003, at 22:34:59
In reply to Strattera AND Adderall?, posted by Viridis on June 10, 2003, at 20:26:41
Ok, so here is my deal. I'm 20 years old, and i was diagnosed with ADHD in the begining of february. Since then I decided to take Strattera. I tried my hardest to keep an open mind since i had never tried any type of meds before this, and my doc didn't know much at all about it. So heres for everyone getting frusterated with Strattera; it took me almost 2 months to really notice ANYTHING! Also it was hard because never having been on any other meds i didn't know what to expect. Advise for anyone trying Strattera for the first time, hang in there, and really keep an eye on changes to yourself, they were very hard for me at first to really see myself. Another point of advise i want to give is that meds don't fix everything, you really have to learn better skills on your own or through a ADD coach type thing. I personally read everything on ADD i could get my hands on. lol. But I have been reading all your posts and i too have had side effects such as dry mouth, daytime tiredness, hot flashes, and moodiness if i dont eat enough durring the day. I also lost weight and I am not used to that AT ALL. I'm not that big to begin with so it was weird.
Ok, I have a couple questions for whoever.
1st about the day time tiredness. I take 80mg at about midnight. But I am tired from when I wake up about 10, or 11 am till almost 5:00 pm. This is a huge problem for me. I drink lots of coffee to help this and I want to find a better way to deal, weather it be changing the time I take the meds or the dose I need to take.
2nd That brings up my 2nd question of what about using stimulant meds with Strattera. i want to hear anything anyone knows about this. I have never taken any sort of ritalin or anything so I want some input please. Maybe this is what I need to not be tired in the day?
ok so I suppose this is all for now!
Posted by cybercafe on June 15, 2003, at 23:38:45
In reply to Why are so many of us ADDers also depressed?, posted by gouda on June 15, 2003, at 18:08:33
> To All,
>
> I just marvel at how almost ALL of us STRATTERA-takers are ALSO on SSRIs! Lexapro, Celexa, Wellbutrin, etc.
>
> Does anyone know what's the significance of this ADD & DEPRESSION connection?i find both depression and ADD have to do a lot with feelings of boredom
and they are both related to pleasure centers of the brain no?
ritalin = makes stuff you're doing seem more interesting
serotonin = makes other stuff seem more interesting
Posted by gouda on June 16, 2003, at 6:30:29
In reply to Re: Strattera AND Adderall?, posted by reba on June 15, 2003, at 22:34:59
Thanks for your post, I am also in my 20s and just got diagnosed with ADD as well as mild depression (which I agree with others that ADD maybe the cause of depression). I am a newbie to the psych meds too, it's been a year. Basically, as you stated, it takes a long long time to adjust. There is really no science to this psych med stuff, and is super frustrating b/c it's so much trial and error.
Before Strattera, I took Ritalin. Even though I should be taking Ritalin daily, I only took it when I believed it was really necessary (like a month before finals ... hehe, I just goofed off for the 1st 2 months of the semester). It's basically like taking Speed, so I consciously felt really really uncomfortable. 1 Ritalin = 3 Venti Starbucks ... which was the really nice benefit. Ritalin definitely works; I think it is more of personal ethics issue.
I don't know much about other drugs in particular, but I've heard that Concerta is a non-stimulant ... others please correct me if I am wrong in telling Reba this! So if you're like me, Concerta might be something to consider.
So far, I'm still at 25 mg Strattera, so I'm not at your level yet, but crossing my fingers!
Posted by gouda on June 16, 2003, at 6:38:26
In reply to Re: Q A to Froggyanna: CPAP and sleep apnea? (nm), posted by gouda on June 15, 2003, at 18:05:44
Froggyanna,
Sorry, I dunno how I lost the message, rats! And I typed a lot for the reply!
In any case, I'll be brief the 2nd time around.
First, thanks for the info on sleep disorders fee. Too expensive for me! But I'll ask my pdoc about it!
Yes, I am taking Celexa (dropped the Wellbutrin) b/c I am extremely sensitive to meds and metabolize meds too quickly ... so that's why I get those weird sensations (shaking, tingling, hyper calm). Celexa has been great! Wellbutrin was a little too calming for me ... I am emotional, but I felt that Wellbutrin was making me a drone!
Glad to hear your irritability dropped out through your other med reduction!
gouda
Posted by teacherkris on June 16, 2003, at 9:44:33
In reply to Re: Strattera AND Adderall?, posted by gouda on June 16, 2003, at 6:30:29
FYI Concerta is a long acting form of methyphenidate (Ritalin). It is a stimulant. Strattera is the first non-stimulant designed to treat ADHD which is why everyone is so excited about it.
Posted by Old-ADD-Guy on June 16, 2003, at 10:19:36
In reply to Re: new on Straterra » EasilyDistracted, posted by Lasagne on June 14, 2003, at 16:04:36
Hello -
I am not sure if you are male of female - but I wanted to ask you...
I am also 33 years old and have recently tried Strattera for ADD - like you, it helped me a great deal and it helped me to sleep.
However, it also made me impotent so I needed to stop taking it. I mean it made me 100% impotent - which has never happened to me before... Have you have any bad sexual side effects from Strattera?
And - have you ever taken Wellbutrin? I may want to try Wellbutrin since it also works on norepinophrine but is not connected to hardcore sexual side effects...
Thanks
Posted by Old-ADD-Guy on June 16, 2003, at 10:23:07
In reply to Re: Strattera AND Adderall?, posted by gouda on June 16, 2003, at 6:30:29
Concerta IS a stimulant. It is form of amphetamine... like Ritalin and Adderall etc...
I beleive Concerta is acutally kind of Ritalin in a time-release form...
Posted by Lasagne on June 16, 2003, at 14:38:05
In reply to Re: new on Straterra, posted by Old-ADD-Guy on June 16, 2003, at 10:19:36
> Hello -
>
> I am not sure if you are male of female - but I wanted to ask you...
>
> I am also 33 years old and have recently tried Strattera for ADD - like you, it helped me a great deal and it helped me to sleep.
>
> However, it also made me impotent so I needed to stop taking it. I mean it made me 100% impotent - which has never happened to me before... Have you have any bad sexual side effects from Strattera?
>
> And - have you ever taken Wellbutrin? I may want to try Wellbutrin since it also works on norepinophrine but is not connected to hardcore sexual side effects...
>
> Thanks*****Reply: I am actually female, but my husband who is 40 years old also recently tried the Strattera for ADHD. He also experienced sexual side effects (sustaining erection) and so the doctor switched him to Concerta (time release Ritalin). My husband also takes Wellbutrin SR 300 mgs. daily. He has been on the Wellbutrin for over six months now with no impotence problems. It would probably be a good idea to try the Wellbutrin before going on to try stimulant medicaions. The Wellbutrin might be enough to relieve your symptoms and it is more maneagable to refill than the stimulants are. For example, our insurance will give us a 3 month supply of Wellbutrin at a time, but only a 1 month supply of any of the stimulant medications at a time. In case you aren't already familiar with triplicate prescriptions, they are strictly controlled. They can't be mailed to you or faxed over to a pharmacy. You have to have the original prescription from your doctor's office each time you fill/refill a controlled substance.
Good luck!
Posted by Lasagne on June 16, 2003, at 15:02:54
In reply to Re: Why are so many of us ADDers also depressed?, posted by cybercafe on June 15, 2003, at 23:38:45
To Everybody who has ADD and depression:
I recently read two books that explain this correlation very well.
They basically say that sometimes the depression co-exists with the attentional problems, but that a lot of the time, the depression is a secondary effect caused by the years of having to cope with your ADD/ADHD symptoms without any knowledge of why you struggle so much to do things that other people seem to do so much easier.
At any rate, I would highly recommend the following books. They have really helped me to understand so many things that have happened to me in my life. The books have really given me a sense of peace about my lifelong struggles.
1. Women with Attention Deficit Disorder by Sari Solden
2. Driven to Distraction by Drs. Hallowell and Ratey.
I was able to find both books at my local library and they are also available for sale on the Internet. They both were easy to read, something that I have struggled with my whole life. Somehow the pertinance of the subject matter held my attention. All the other authors of the above mentioned books also suffer with ADD/ADHD so they bring an interesting perspective to their writing.
Posted by Lasagne on June 16, 2003, at 15:13:06
In reply to Re: Strattera AND Adderall?, posted by reba on June 15, 2003, at 22:34:59
Feedback to questions:
1st: I take my 80 mgs. of Strattera at 7 p.m. at night. It helps me get to sleep and I don't have the problem with the daytime sleepiness like I did when I took the medication at two different times daily (morning, late afternoon).
2nd: My 10 year old son wasn't getting sufficient results from the Strattera alone so our doctor suggested we try Metadate (controlled release Ritalin, stimulant)in combination with the Strattera. The combination seems to work fine.
Final comment: I too have been on the Strattera for about 6 weeks or so. It wasn't until this last week that I felt a tremendous improvement in my functioning. At first I couldn't really see how it was helping me, but now I could write down a list of the improvements and also, over time my side effects have diminished making me more hopeful about this treatment. It is definitely a medication that you have to be patient with. With other SSRI's or antidepressants I got quicker results than with the Strattera, so I was a bit frustrated in the beginning as to why I wasn't responding quickly. All I can say is that doing the medication treatments is a lot of trial and error. I have done it for several years for my son and I would say he has been the most difficult case to keep stabilized with his ADHD symptoms and other co-existing problems.
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