History Of Strattera Facts

History Of Strattera Posts

Top Questions and Answers

What is better for ADHD: Strattera or Ritalin or ...? sometimes both strattera and ritalin can cause seizures with too high of a dose or with people with a history of seizures. Which one has less side effects such as seizures and which one is the best tolerated? I have adult ADHD and need to take something to help. Thanks! Tom

Tamara a replied: "I think it very much depends on the individual. I've used several types of meds for adhd. At one point one didnt work well at all but now, years later it works great. But I had to try different ones which can be costly and a pain in the booty."

MINUStheHEAT replied: "All ADHD medicines have side effects. Ritalin and strattera are very different. Strattera isnt an amphetamine so its good for people with heart problems. So if you dont have any heart problems i would probably look more towards the ritalin over strattera. I highly recommend vyvanse. Its a very new form of adderall, so its not the most known drug for ADHD, but its becoming very popular and almost all doctors now recommend it. It lasts longer and is much smoother so it doesnt hit you so hard and theres no comedown. Its processed in the body differently than any other medicine."

shaneris5 replied: "A previous answer follows: AD(H)D is addressed in sections 22 - 25, at Take 4 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily: (certified free of mercury) it is best if consumed with an antioxidant, such as an orange, or grapefruit, or their FRESHLY SQUEEZED juice. If vitamin E is added, it should be certified as being 100% from natural sources, or it may be synthetic: avoid it. They are not quick to act, but are very safe,and non-addictive. At * enter "adhd" in the searchbar, and follow the links near the bottom of the webpage. ADHD was unheard of, 25 years ago, and now it is making billions of $ profit for pharmaceutical manufacturers, who spend an AVERAGE of $10,000*, on manipulating doctors in the USA, with rewads, and incentives to prescribe. There is growing concern about the practice of medicating young people with powerful, and addictive central nervous system stimulants. Later on, when their parent's insurance coverage no longer covers them, due to age restrictions, many go on to abuse street drugs, with all the adverse consequences involved. The USA prescribes more of those stimulants than the rest of the world put together. If, despite the above, you opt to take them, check it first out at: and and and and at least be better informed about the risks than by the limited information risks and side effects in the enclosures, since the manufacturers are only obligated to warn about those effects reported. Many doctors fail to report such effects. Strattera belongs to the antidepressant class of drugs, but is probably the best choice, if you don't suffer from the side effects."

Axel D replied: "for seizures, give phenobarbital"

Jef Gazley, LMFT replied: "In my opinion based on specializing in ADD for 33 years Strattera is not effective for ADD except once out of a 100 so I wouldn't even consider that one. The possibility of seizures is quite small with either Ritalin or Adderall. I have never had a client experience one even though it is a possible side effect. Any drugs or for that matter even naturopathic supplements may cause side effects but in general the side effects of supplements are rare and mild if they do occur. I have had great luck with the stimulants, but prefer ADD-care because it has often been shown to be just as effective and is totally natural."

I'm currently taking Ritalin (LA) but I am considering switching to Strattera, any advice or warnings? I am a 23 year old female. Here is my shortened history on A.D.D. medications..Ritalin from the age of 8-18...Tried a few years of college unmedicated (BAD idea!!) Back on Ritalin around 22 ..however it would hit my system, peak and I would be a mess of nausea and anxiety. Last year I was switched to Ritalin LA..I like it okay..it certainly doesnt have that one heavy peak and fall off like normal Ritalin, however I am concerned that as I have gotten older my stomach can no longer handle stimulants very well. I have gastro-intestinal probs as it is. (Acid Reflux, Gastritis)..The moment the ritalin..or even things such as coffee, enters my system I am immediately nauseous. As it starts to go away I find myself having to go ( erm, #2) to the bathroom. This is like clockwork. Because of the nausea, my stomach probs, and the fact that I was very recently diagnosed with a heart murmur I am looking into Strattera because it is stimulant free. Any advice or warnings??

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UGH! Strattera!? I started Strattera 8 days ago. I am now on the 50mg dose. This medicine makes me soooooo very sleepy. I work throught the night ad this cannot happen. The doctor I saw put me on this med because I have had a previous history of drug abuse. After seeing my therapist for close to 6 months it has been determined that the drug abuse in the past was due to untreated severe ADHD. I guess some adults tend to self medicate. The brain needs a chemical and you start to do some very weird things out of poor impulse control. I am not a drug addict. I am VERY lucky though. Drug addiction runs in my biological family. My sister and biological mother both ere addicted to drugs. I have always just been able to discontinue any drug be it prescribed or otherwise ith no withdrawal symptoms. My therapist had reccomended ritalin, but the doc I saw wouldnt give that to me. I dont know if I can take this strattera anymore. How do I get a doc to understand that I dont want the meds to get high I want the meds to treat my ADHD. My therapist says that given the correct med in the correct dosage the need to self medicate will disappear. That is just one of the ways my ADHD was manifesting itself. I believe her. Ever since I started Wellbutrin and even the Strattera I have had no urge whatsoever to self medicate AT ALL! I never took drugs to get high in the first place. I took them because I was searching for something but I didnt know what exactly it was that I was looking for. So again. To anyone out there who has been in a similar situation, some advice ould be appreciated. I am even willing to have the doc rite out the script so that I would have to pick up my meds from the pharmacy daily to prove that I am using them for their intended purpose!

michele replied: "Strattera simply is NOT the right ADHD med for everyone (in fact, recent studies suggest that it is not nearly as effective as we once thought it to be). Sometimes, the "old school" medicines are the way to go. If your current psychiatrist is reluctant to prescribe stimulants, you may be wedged into an awkward position. It may actually be to your benefit (if your current provider still refuses to consider treatment with stimulants) to consider another provider. I really encourage you to discuss the matter with your psychiatrist directly. If the doc continues to refuse, move on to another provider. Hang in there, ~M~"

sdg-FNP replied: "Sounds like you're in a jam! Well, I think you're probably on either the 40 or 60 mg. dose of Strettera (it doesn't come in 50s), but it typically works more effectively at 80 mg. per day in divided doses. Now, this is not to suggest a guaranteed response either. I've been prescribing Strattera since it first emerged on the market, and it certainly doesn't work for everyone. I chose it mostly when I have patients who are past the age of 40/50, or if it's a child whose parents do not want him/her on a stimulant. You might want to talk to your doctor about a newer medication that has come on the market called "Daytrana." It's the first ADD/ADHD "patch" that has been approved. Relatively NO abuse potential! Once you take the patch off, it can never be re-used. Because it's new, it does cost a bit more, but it allows the user such profound control of the dose. Put it on in the morning, and take it off in the afternoon. Very cool. If your doctor is still hesitating or refuses to prescribe and alternative for you, then you must consider moving on. You may also want to see a Psychiatrist or a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner for medication options. Best of luck to you!"

Does Strattera have any addictive qualities? My fiance is on the Suboxone program for opiate addiction. His doctor recently lowered his dosage, and he has been doing fine. The only complaint was that he had difficulty concentrating on the lower dosage, so the doctor prescribed him Strattera for ADD. Firstly, my fiance doesn't feel he has ADD or, if he does, it's a very mild case of it. Secondly, him and I both have a history of addiction, particularly with amphetamine ADD meds such as Adderall and Ritalin. We would fake our way through tests and doctor-shop to obtain the drug, and we wound up in some pretty bad places. Both of us are in recovery now, and working strong programs, but I worry that the medicine may trip him into old "addict behavior", or have some sort of mood or mind-altering effect that will either lead him to become dependent on the drug, or craving something stronger. His doctor assured him that Strattera is safe. I think his doctor is a bozo, and prescribed it unnecessarily. Please share your experiences with Strattera- does it have potential for abuse? Obviously, the Strattera website doesn't admit to anything like that, so that's why I'm asking for personal stories. We have come a long way, and we can't afford to mess around with sh*t like this.

madworld replied: "i am a recovering opiate addict. 4 years, as of september 15. i also struggle with add. i am on strattera and to answer your q, no it is not addicting... this is why my psych prescribed it for me. i can't take the others because i am a recovering addict and the stimulants are potentially addictive (ritalin, focalin, concerta...) but, not strattera. strattera works for some and for others it doesn't."

Sydney III replied: "Strattera is not supposed to be addicting and doesn't have the same reaction on the body as the amphetamines. As a matter of fact, for all the kids that I have seen on it, it did nothing. The doctor still sounds like a bit of a quack."

2gd2b4rl replied: "No, don't worry it is not addictive. I have one of the best psychiatrists you could ever have. I took it for quite a while, and I was not addicted at all. Believe me, it is not addictive! It will not show up in a urine test, I had one while on it. It works great, don't doubt your doctor."

Az R replied: "Nope. Strattera has the abuse potential of table salt. No addictive potential. A couple things to note though: essentially all addicts display certain traits of ADD. And when they get sober, or closer to sober they tend to have trouble focusing, and some of these traits become more pronounced. Strattera is well-loved in the addiction medicine field because it actually works well for these symptoms and has no abuse potential. And if it doesn't help you, you can always just stop it. The fact that you're worrying about the abuse potential of your medication, that you're checking it out is a good sign. That's an excellent instinct. Congratulations. Keep with your programs, keep with your sponsors, keep with your doctors, and best of luck. It always makes me warm and tingly to see someone actually recovering."

Jilibean replied: "Non addictive and not regulated as a controlled substance like other ADD meds are. However, If he does not have ADD..why the heck would he take it?! A strong cup of coffee will basically mimic the same effect (caffeine stimulates the brain, much like ADD meds do). I'm a big fan of Dr. Amen and his work on ADD and any kind of brain issues like that. Interesting stuff. Personally, I 'd ditch the meds, have some coffee and get aerobic exercise, and follow a low glycemic index diet.....you're gonna get much the same effect as the meds."

can Strattera cause urination problems? so my doctor put me on Strattera about a week ago, and i haven't peed for the last like two days. is this normal? it is actually getting really annoying i feel like i have to go, so i get up to the urinal/toilet. whip it out. and.... **drum roll for the big show** ... ...... ......... NOTHING i'm just wondering if i should tell him this it is getting to be a bit uncomfortable, and as i said rather annoying. he just diagnosed me with ADD and Strattera was his first pick of drugs since he didn't want to put me on stimulants because of the high blood pressure history of my family. but it seems this may be a side effect that will keep me from being able to use it? any help is greatly appreciated!!! but what i'm wondering is, should i talk to my doc about it? or just continue to see if it stops?

Kelsey replied: "Urinary hesitiation and urinary retention are both side effects of strattera. Urinary hesitation is when you have difficulty starting the stream, and urinary retention is when you can't go. You need to speak with your doctor about this. He may be able to adjust your dosage, or put you on something else all together. You shouldn't let this go because urinary retention can become a serious problem. It puts at risk for UTIs. If the urine backs all the way up the ureters (the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder) you can get a kidney infection, which is extraordinarily painful and can be dangerous. I would give the doc a call and talk to him and see what he thinks the plan of action should be."

Will psychiatrists prescribe DEA controlled stimulants for adults with ADD who are recovering addicts? My sister has a history of addiction to opiates, not stimulants. Sober 6 months. She was diagnosed with ADD as an adult and given Strattera. I think her problem with ADD is worse than her addiction ever was, and Strattera doesn't seem to be working.

startrektosnewenterpriselovethem replied: "I doubt it as the medicines for ADD are basically Meth packaged legally. Ask the Dr though he might"

Fred replied: "Hi, hope this answer can help..It has been my experience with psych patients that are recovering, that the use of a stimulant like Statera, Concerta, or adderrrall in the treatment of ADD, takes a liitle longer to achieve becasuse of the past addiction abuse especially to the opiates. For some reason, some of the chemical receptor sites stimulated by the opiates to depress mood and relieve pain, are also the ones affected by the stimulants. You dont mention how long the addcition to the opiates were. If it was a long time, it might take a while for the desired effect of the Statera to take effect. And to be honest with you, if the addiction to the opiates was long standing, a good therapeutic response to the Staterra may never be fully achieved. It could very well be that the doctor may need to supplement the Staterra with something else to help effectively treat the ADD. It is good to stay in frequent constant with the doctor regarding these and other concerns. Continued best widhes to you. Hang in there!!! Fred, RN"

Michele M replied: "Just because I person is addicted to one thing does not mean that she won't find addiction in something else. When I was in graduate school I specialized in addiction. I am a firm believer that addiction can often mask an underlying issue such as depression, anxiety or even ADD. People suffering from these disorders often find a substance that they believe makes then feel better when really all it does is exasperate the issue. If Strattera is not working for her then she obviously needs something else and anything that may be remotely addictive needs to be monitored by her doctor."

barbieisthe1 replied: "In short, yes a psychiatrist will prescribe a controlled stimulant for adults with ADD who are recovering addicts. In essence, the psychiatrist will weigh out the benefits of the medication against any potential risks. As someone who has taken stimulants to control rapid cycling bipolar (which has very similar symptoms to ADD/ADHD,) the effects of a stimulant were opposite (calmed me down, focused my concentration) of what they would be in someone who was taking them for stimulation (sped up.) What this meant was that I was not getting the same 'enjoyment' from the drug as someone who was taking it for pure stimulation. It is my belief, that because of the lack of stimulation or 'high,' that this reduced potential of the drug becoming an addiction drug, one for which it was taken for the stimulating effects. If the Strattera isn't working, then your sister needs to see her physician and discuss trying other medications which may work."

flight physical disqualifications? Okay, so I'm ready for all of the haha answers I'll get to this question, but maybe I'll get a real one in here somewhere. Anybody know if a history of ADD treatment is a DQ in a flight physical? I know I know, pilots with ADD right? Haha But seriously, I was diagnosed and have taken strattera for ADD, my flight physical for Army aviation is this weekend. (obviously I'm high functioning ADD or I wouldn't have taken the AFAST)

Tom M replied: "Fail to find the humor you expect with your question... I am no expert...however have many friends on flight status Anyway...short answer, With the amount of people treated with ADD/ADHD it is no longer a disqualifying reason. Not long ago it was even to get in the service... Now it depends on if you are still medicated...that would drop you Good luck"

Salvia With medication Help!!!!!? im 16, i take strattera and risperdal and me and my friend are gonna smoke some 10x salvia tomorow for the first time. could the salvia affect my mediaction? i have a history of depression what could happen?

Steven L replied: "That sounds like a terrible idea i wouldnt advise it."

Jul replied: "not so smart! OH and MAKE SURE that only one person does it at a time.. it gets serious and can be a little scary.. its a trip that lasts 3-8 minutes. you probably won't be able to understand the person that is trippin.. make sure you all dont do it at once tht could lead to something terrible. becareful and have fun!"

Dreed12 replied: "While you are supposed to be 18 in most states where Salvia is legal,Im not going to tell you not to do it. I am not sure how Salvia will effect your medication, but regular use of Salvia could make you no longer need your medication. It is a natural anti-depressant, I remember like the 1st time I actually used enough to feel weird, (I've never tripped out strangely...) I felt good all that week. Same with the next time I used it. I believe the Savinorum A releases the good stuff in your brain. =D"

Should I tell my doctor that I have been tampering with my Adderall XR? Hi, Im 15 years old and have been diagnosed with ADHD about almost 2 and a half months ago. I was prescribed strattera a year before without even being fully diagnosed(I was about a hosptial for young people with a drug and alcohol addiction, yes i have a drug history =[, im better now though!)so I think they just thought I was trying to complain of focus and concentration problems just for more drugs. Strattera made me depressed so I had to stop it. I was put on vyvanse and it was working great except that I was having horrible chest pains so i was switched to adderrall xr 20mg. because of it not really working well,putting me in a bad mood,tired,sad, i decided to do different things with it because I havent seen my doctor in a kinda while(i see her in two days now though). Anyways, I just got way off topic with all that stuff lol, wooo ok back on topic,anyways for the past 5 days i have been taking out the beads, putting them in a shot glass and crushing them with the butt of a screwdriver and drinking it down with a shot of ginger ale and two tums to get the most duration and effectiveness. This method works great, im not angry or sad anymore, i focus better and even longer, and the crash is so much lighter. Should I tell my psychologist and other doctor this? I know I have a drug history past but im done with that and I think she understands that a just want to get on with life normally. Im still a bit iffy though. Will she think Im abusing this? Will she think Im just trying to get Adderall IR? Adderall is actually working but would she switch me? Someone help me! I do not snort pills or inject btw, i didnt even really abuse adderall because it gave me a different effect than my friends(i was chill instead of hype)

sara replied: "call your doctor."

jharpe21 replied: "no...dont tell youve been experimenting with adderall...then she will stop all medications and put you through behavorial thearpy( a form of treatment of ADD/ADHD). just tell youre doctor the symptoms....youve been depressed...or its not working anymore...ask her for her advice on trying others medications. you have to be patient....you cant expect your dr to prescribe you adderall after you confirmed that you want to change meds. i had to try 3 different types of medications until i finally got put on adderall (like you, i was taking my friends med for months before i got my own). also...since youre only 15, adderall is like 2 times stronger than strattera...even ritilin. just be patient:)"

jamiet757 replied: "Since your question deals with addiction, you should check out this site, it has lots of helpful info that might help with your question: This site has a lot of great resources for people dealing with addiction or recovery, and those who know people who are dealing with it. It is worth a look in my opinion."

Any hope for treatment refractory bipolar disorder? I'm 20, been depressed/anxious my entire life, diagnosed with Bipolar when I was 12. Seen upwards of 7 psychiatrists, 5 psychologists (DBT, CBT, etc). Diagnosed with Treatment Resistant Bipolar 1 Rapid Cycling Not Otherwise Specified. Lithium's pretty good with the mania but nothing has ever been able to treat the depression. It's taken over my life and I just want hope that one day this illness will not dictate everything I do. My doctors are just blindly guessing at this point and a lot of them will just decline to treat me because they don't know what to do. Here is what I am taking currently: Lithium Lamictal Abilify Klonopin N Acetyl Cysteine Here's what I've taken in the past: Zoloft, Trazodone, Zyprexa, Neurontin, Inositol, Depakote, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Lithium, Xanax, Valium, Seroquel, Lamictal, Lorazepam, Prozac, Ambien, Strattera, Lunesta, Melatonin, Abilify, Cytomel, Cymbalta, Provigil, Fish Oil, Effexor, Lexapro, Buspar, Rozarem, Geodon, Emsam I try so hard to fight this. I'm educated, knowledgeable, read books and medical papers about anything relating to my illness. I want to be better; there are periods when I think I am but then I cycle back down. There is just something messed up in my brain and I don't know what it is. Can anyone give me any kind of hope? Has anyone been through this? Does anyone know of something that could help me? I want to be able to go to school and have friends and get out of bed. I'm smart, I'm creative, I work hard, but the only thing that I ever get to talk or think about is medication. Please don't tell me to go off my medication, I've tried that and it doesn't have good results. I need SOMETHING. I'm willing to give you copies of my med records, lab work, detailed accounts of my history, med reactions, anything. I know this is sort of a stupid way to go about this but I feel like I've exhausted all my options. Please help me. I am desperate. I don't know what to do. I've tried ECT but I have to go off of Lamictal and Klonopin to do it and I end up much worse off than I was before.

Nike replied: "there's one called Electroconvulsive Therapy(ECT) but this has a side effect, it might cause memory impairment."

me replied: "If there is nothing left for you to try do try ECT, i knw someone who had it and it helped them a lot. I know its a scary decision to have this but they knock you out and you wont feel anything. You have to have a course of treatment like one a week for a set time. but its good a treating treatment resistant depression, in clinical depression and bipolar. good luck"

LyssaLady replied: "I'm in your shoes right now. I'm 22 and have been sick since I was 12 too. I'vfe tried pretty much all of the meds that you just listed. I am taking Lamictal, ambien and oxycodone right now for pain from gaining weight, bones hurt, back problems and really bad panic attacks. The oxycodone, even though an opiate get's rid of most of the times that i cycle and decreases the times I cycle. It's hard to find a doctor that would perscribe a person with a mental disorder painkillers but the key is to be very honest with the person and tell them how much pain you are in. I went to a neurologist tell him that I knew that oxy was an opiate but it kept me from cycling when I needed it so I could live my life and still work on finding other means of keeping me under control. I haven't completed DBT therapy yet and I am going to try again and also try ampthetamines for my hyperactiveness and my inability to concentrate. For some reason on journals I've read that people like us take adderall or Wellbutrin and that seems to stop the cycles(both are ADD medications). I'v ebeen on countless meds too to get myself to sleep. I take 2 10mg ambien a night to get to sleep because that's how bad I worry about the future and I'm always wired. Also I found out that there is brain surgery that exists for people with mood disorders. They do the operations in China and it is actually a law over there that people our age need to get brain surgery in order to fix us. Problem is over there, the patients come out partly and permanantly brain damaged. I don't know what the procedure is called but all I know is that you need a neurologist, family doctor, and phsychiatrist to give a doctor permission to have this surgery done. I'm looking into this surgery and can't find anything yet. I'll let you know when I find some information? I hope this information helped. -LyssaLady"

Eagles Fly replied: "I can hear your desperation. Most of the MDS. you mention I've heard about because my daughter, now 37 yrs. old has bipolar, her 10 year old daughter has bipolar and her teenage 15 year old daughter has bipolar + plus other issues that I can't remember them all. So that leaves me at the head of the line. I'm currently taking lamictal, ADD medication and anxiety medication and will no doubt be on lithium by my next appointment. I held off this long, but have to admitt, being first in line does say something like haredity or it's in the genes. Yes, there is a difference in the brain cells just with ADD alone, which seems to come right along with depression and bipolar. My sister has had depression issues all of her life and I suspect if she would see the right doctor, she too would be diognosed with bipolar. She also has ADD. An old friend of mine and my sister sounds the same as you. She too recycles. Since using new MEDS she has come a long way from how she was before the new MEDS. She's now taking a writing class and slowing getting up enough courage to drive her car again. She even sounds much better as time passes. Between my sister and me (I visit with my sister in Michigan) when the phone rings and it's our friend I seem to be the one to answer the phone. I can hear the difference every time I get to talk to her, as we all have something in common and try to learn from one another. You probably should be taking to my daughter. She too has read everything there's to read about bipolor and other mental illnesses. Her 15 year old daughter has many, many other issues to deal with. She's also is complexing to her doctors. How do you over ride depression besides taking MDS I don't have the answer. I know I've been told to keep busy, do exercises, eat a fish a day, you name it. I'm sure you're familiar with that routine. Bipolar is still hard for me to understand. It seems to have so many niches and cracks. With most mental illnesses it's a quessing game. You keep trying new MEDS until youthey get it right. The you can expect adustments in MEDS so they may work even better. My daughter just asked today when we had a bite to eat, "I wonder how other people would handle the things I have to do on a daily basis?" I think you're part of her answer. If you want to do pass the message maybe we can find a way for the two of you to talk ... contact me Take care"

jackie replied: "That is entirely too much medication in my opinion. As you probably well know by now that everyone is different and medications react differently from person to person. My son took every bipolar drug out there from abilify to zyprexa. While in the mental hospital for the seventh time in one year, my son met his girlfriend who had more what you have. After a long trial and error period, lamictal and seroquel is what she is taking. Did you ever try that combination. There are limitless combinations of drugs you can take. Your combination is NOT working. I suggest you start from the beginning. You are already on the lamictal so, no doubt, you ramped up slowly. Talk to your pdoc about limited your drug usage. Klonopin is usually prescribed to get to sleep but with that combination of drugs, I wouldnt think you would have any problems sleeping. You dont say how many milligrams of each drug. They prescribe different amounts of drugs for different illnesses. So the dosage is very important in getting an accurate diagnosis. My question to you is have you ever tried seroquel and lamictal? What was your reaction? Good luck. I wish you the very best in getting the answers you so desperately ask for."