Strattera?

[Trailblazer20]

Ok tried Guanfacine medication for 4 nights but continued to feel it for two more days after stopping because of awful side effects. Starting on Strattera and am wondering are all these medications alike. I don't believe I can handle them if they're all like this. And with the shortage of stimulant due to missuse from what I keep reading. I'll never know if there is a better option!!!! Please tell me your experiences! Thank you!

[STEM_Dad]

Strattera is very different from most of the medications which treat ADHD.

A stimulant medication, such as Adderall or Ritalin, will leave your system the same day that you take it.

Strattera is an SNRI (selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor), and requires taking it day after day in order to build up to full effectiveness. It can take days or weeks to do so. Ceasing to take it can cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that might last for days or weeks.

[Strattera works very well for me with very minimal side effects, but many other people don't respond to it as well as I do.]

.....

The medication shortage is mostly with stimulant medications.

There are other non-stimulant medications which might be worth a try, including:

• Qelbree - viloxazine, one of the newest ADHD medications on the market

• Wellbutrin - bupropion, an antidepressant (also notably used to assist with smoking cessation)

• Guanfacine or Clonidine - which are primarily used to treat high blood pressure, they are also noted to help with the kind of emotional dysregulation that often comes with ADHD

I know that Wellbutrin and guanfacine have been reported to work well in combination in order to treat ADHD.

[Trailblazer20 in reply to STEM_Dad]

All I know is I need to be very careful because I'm hypotensive. I'll be getting a echo and a stress test with a heart monitor soon. so I'm kind of concerned about all this. I would rather have something I can take when I think I need it not take it everyday until it builds up. Now I'm really scared. Maybe more so of the unknown. Thank you for your recommendations if this doesn't work I will mention it to my prescriber.

[seatownmotosquid in reply to STEM_Dad]

Adderall XR 40mg + Wellbutrin XL 300mg + Intuniv ER 3mg is working the best of any treatment I've tried so far. Strattera was great until the side effects came on - I found them to be cumulative so they got worse over time.

[STEM_Dad in reply to seatownmotosquid]

Well, I'm glad that you've gotten into a combination that works well for you.

If you don't mind me asking, what were some of the side effects that you experienced on Strattera? I only get some nausea when it hits my stomach, but that only happens if I don't take it with food, or if I'm taking a higher dosage. (The nausea fades after 5-20 minutes.)

[STEM_Dad in reply to seatownmotosquid]

And welcome to the conversation seatownmotosquid !

[imakeyper in reply to STEM_Dad]

Through the FDA website for Qelbree it states this drug hasn't been tested on adults. It is a new drug, 2021, so I suggest research is in order for anyone over the age of 17 since that's the cutoff age of patients it was tested on.

[STEM_Dad in reply to imakeyper]

Thanks for that info. I suspected as much but hadn't looked into whether research had been done on adults yet.

[Alm751]

was on Adderall for years but had to stop due to tremors. Started on strattera. It literally did nothing so my dr stopped it.

[Trailblazer20 in reply to Alm751]

Took mine last night. Made me tired, and calm, then nauseous for about 5 Seconds, and my hands felt like pins and needles. However that subsided. I tossed and turned almost all night and this morning I cried to one of my favorite songs that usually uplifts me. Ooh ooh Child. I don't cry!!! Starting to get the dry mouth and kind of a dull headache in the back and top of my head..I am feeling focused enough to read now. Which is good I didn't really like reading as a kid which was one of worst subjects and math too....but as an adult trying to teach myself I started reading alot more and then I stopped again.... so I guess it has me back on track with the reading. We will see

[Mamamichl]

it depends on your area, and the docs would know if that’s an option or if there’s a shortage in your area for the stimulants. We haven’t had any issues getting vyvanse in Oregon or Michigan for my partner (other than him forgetting to tell his doc, update insurance or get the refill).

As for Guanfacine, it is originally a blood pressure med. my stepkid actually feinted and both him and his dad were light headed for a while. Not sure if stratera has similar origins or effects though.

[imakeyper]

Qelbree has not been tested for adults per FDA website. They were only tested on youth. My prescriber sugggested this also so I'm thinking there's a push from the drug companies.

As for Guanfacine, I tried it but my reactions were weight gain, bowel difficulties, as in the opposite of constipation. I'm older but I don't think that should make much difference as I work out regularly and am in good health. The drug website don't often list these reactions. But then that's me.

There are either stimulants or nonstimulants and then there are depression medications. Two very different approaches I think. I will not go back on anti-depressants if I can help it. The only problem is that depression is one of the biggest comorbidity of ADHD.

The stimulant shortage shouldn't be a factor in starting them. That is overblown in my opinion. Even though the immediate release adderall were more likely to be in short supply, the extended release is out there and you can have your doctor approve a smaller dose of the immediate release as it seems a couple of doseages are the only ones often out. I changed to 10 mg immediate release without any further problems.