Anger

[NotAChevy]

To start, I have to admit that I'm taking Strattera and it's working well for me. It's working so well my boss can also tell if I miss a dose, or if I took it too close to the beginning of the work day- scary, huh? And, the way she can tell is how I respond to others and my anger levels.

Typically, I'm a pretty laid-back guy just wanting to get through the day without too much direct interaction with anyone. I especially want to skip any direct confrontations when someone is upset- angry. I will avoid that person to the best of my ability, but should they directly confront me, I will respond.

Without having taken my meds, I will respond very negatively and get quite angry. I attack the person on a personal level, and will say something inappropriate I'll later regret.

On my meds, I notice in able to keep my calm longer, and am able to have a decent dialogue even when said person is upset- angry. I still can feel the anger boiling up within me, but am able to suppress it enough to get through through the conversation.

So, I don't quite understand all the science between the non-stimulant meds, but I understand enough to admit that I need my meds. I need to be successful with my job, and as a person within our society, so I keep taking my meds daily. Do any of you have a similar story to me? Even if not, how does your meds change your anger levels, or does it? Please let me know..

[STEM_Dad]

That's interesting, because Strattera has a different effect on me. It is supposed to build up in the body over days or weeks to the therapeutic level, and continues working 24x7.• It's similar to an SSRI in this respect...it takes time to build up, it takes time to reach full effectiveness (and it takes time to wean off the meds without potentially very unpleasant side effects).

Missing a single dose shouldn't have that much of an effect. If I miss more than one dose within a week, I think I feel my attention control starting to become less consistent.

[STEM_Dad]

ADHD is caused by a deficit of dopamine and/or norepinephrine. Strattera acts on the norepinephrine deficit.

Strattera also acts as a mild SSRI. So, it might help with anxiety or depression a little bit. It doesn't work as well as a standalone SSRI, in my experience. But that might be contributing to your newfound ability to be more calm.

[starsallover]

I get that! I'm much more chill and able to control myself when taking Strattera (generic also, but my phone doesn't recognize when I say it and convenience wins here!). Something I said to a friend recently: when I'm not on medication and I'm trying to do something, I feel like a Junebug. Rushing around and ramming into stuff. On medication I feel more like a dragonfly. Smarter, more in control of myself. I know the intellect is there already, but being on a good medication makes it so much easier to express it. And I am generally sleeping better so that helps. I'm able to slow down my mind to take better care of myself. So, good stuff, hope the effects last. For both of us. And congratulations to you on finding a good medication and having an easier time at work. It's not easy on either one of those things. You're doing it, and you're awesome 🤩

[Mamamichl]

my partner is like night and day with his meds. If he doesn’t take hem, he sticks with fun activities and hardly gets anything done. He is a bit more agitated though.

[Mamamichl in reply to Mamamichl]

If I’m without my anxiety meds for 1-2 days, I get a headache and will get scary, snapping at people.