toodeloo Strattera

[starsallover]

I’ve been taking atomoxetine since the beginning of 2024. I've been Slowly working my way up from one 10mg capsule/day (and now back down). At 25mg/day now. When I start taking a higher dose I like how I feel for about 2 weeks then it starts becoming less effective. I was taking 20+20 for a week but just felt too groggy/bland/DGAF..... I get little spurts of energy and motivation these days, but mainly not.

4/1

I had a good start with atomoxetine, but 2 to 3 weeks after starting a higher dose, it seemed like many of the positive effects faded away. Generally a bit calmer and a tiny bit more focused but most of the time I just didn't care about doing anything. My doctor suggested I try a low-dose of a stimulant, wrote me a prescription for 5 mg Adderall immediate release.

I tend to be sensitive to medication, so I was wondering if anyone had cut a 5 mg tablet in half? healthline.com says that it's safe to split or crush the Adderall tablets. I just thought that I would ask here also to get information from real people. Not like the writers on that site aren't real people, you know what I mean lol.

I'm going to try this and see how long it stays in my system before I start with a slower release stimulant. I just want to be able to sleep this time. I tried a stimulant late last year. Concerta 18 mg. Lasted less than a week. What a trip. At least I know what to avoid this time.

[STEM_Dad]

It's best to check with your doctor or pharmacist.

If it's the instant release form of Adderall in a tablet, then perhaps you can split it. But in a case like this, it's best to get advice from your own doctor or pharmacist. They will know what form and formulation of Adderall that you have, and whether it would be advisable to cut or crush it.

You could also ask if there is a smaller dosage available.

~~~

I'm also on atomoxetine, and it helps me pretty well with everything except motivation. I've actually been thinking about asking my doctor to try a low dose stimulant to help me get moving in the morning. (My lowest motivation is in the morning. I keep getting to work late, and it's hard to get started on work first thing, unless someone has an urgent need for me to address.)

[STEM_Dad]

I forgot to address my own experience with Adderall. I was only on the extended release, Adderall XR. It was the first ADHD medication that my doctor tried me on. (After about 4-5 months on different dosages, I asked my doctor to switch me to atomoxetine, which works way better for me overall, and I've been on it ever since. But as I mentioned in my previous reply, I struggle with motivation.)

At the initial 10mg dosage, it partially treated my ADHD symptoms. That would be the equivalent of taking two 5mg instant release doses each day.

• In my first month on Adderall, at 10mg, my ADHD symptoms were moderately well treated. (The effect was about half of how well atomoxetine works for me.) I had no side effects while on the medication, as long as I took it with food. I did develop mild to moderate irritability when it wore off each day, which often lasted until bedtime.

• In my second month, my dosage was increased to 20mg. I noticed no additional benefits whatsoever, but I did notice that my heart was beating faster. When I told my doctor at my next appointment, he had me track my heart rate for a week, and it was consistently about 104-110 beats per minute "resting" (sitting and working at a computer) while on Adderall, and about 92bpm after it wore off. ~ A resting heart rate above 100bpm is a tachycardia state.

• My doctor took me off Adderall XR for the next month, to track my heart rate. It averaged about 92bpm resting. My work effectiveness dropped, of course.

• I asked him to put me back on meds, so he put me on 5mg Adderall XR. That would be the equivalent of 2.5mg of the IR (instant release) taken twice daily. [That's the strength that you'd have if you cut your 5mg tablet in half.] ...It did almost nothing to help my ADHD symptoms. It was only slightly more effective than drinking coffee does for me.

... Keep in mind, I wasn't on atomoxetine then. Just Adderall XR. So, maybe the combination would help me.

• My doctor put me back on 10mg for a month or two, until I asked him to try me on atomoxetine, instead.

Atomoxetine is my "wonder drug". It's been life-changing! I still have some struggles, but for working memory improvement alone it's been a miracle!!! (But it also helps very much with my inattentiveness, distractibility and time sense... although lately my time sense has been more of an issue, but I think that higher anxiety levels have been a contributing factor. Would changing to a less stressful job that brings the anxiety down help me? Maybe.)

~~~~~

I did recently start taking an amino acid supplement called l-dopa. (It's what the body makes dopamine from.) I seem to do slightly better with it. At least I feel better, but only ever so slightly.

So, I wonder if a low dose of a stimulant would help even more.

[Greenbeeps in reply to STEM_Dad]

I’m about to start on Atomoxetine…Elvanse causing too much angst x

[busterini]

I've been on 100mg of Strattera for more than six months, and during that time I have seen a difference in the fact that I can sit and focus for longer periods of time, and I have actually been using a daily planner for about five months. But I'm probably much different a case than you. I'm elderly with heart problems, so I can't take stimulants. I'm sure you doctor is helpimg you. If you have doubts about your doctor, always get a second opinion. Read as much as you can about your ADHD. Understang can really help. Good luck