New to Atomoxetine & Clonidine - Feeling Restless and Distracted

[Wavewhisperer24]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this group and just started taking Atomoxetine and Clonidine for my ADHD (one day ago). I felt okay in the morning, but by midday, I got restless and left work to go home for a nap. After waking up, focus was still a challenge, although slightly improved. I'm feeling frustrated because I have a heavy workload with a tight deadline.

Does anyone else have experience with these medications? Is initial restlessness common?

My therapist suggested techniques for managing distractability, like recognizing distracting thoughts and refocusing on the task at hand, after writing them down. I tried using these techniques throughout the day, but I confess I forgot them somewhere in the middle and got caught up in distractions, ultimately wasting time.

Any tips on managing side effects while staying productive, especially when those techniques slip your mind?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[Vicster111]

Hi I'm considering atomoxetine as an.alternative to concerta as I'm really anxious. From what I have read atomoxetine takes weeks to settle down and to work. Also the first few weeks can be rough. I.am sure someone on here with experience will give advice. I'd like to know myself. Hope it starts to work soon and the side effects stop.

[VisualAid]

I’m on it now for 2 months.

The initial weeks you will feel sort of mildly carsick and have a nervous energy, around people you will feel a little more lovey dovey as if you’re on light dose of MDMA (that’s the closed reference I can think of)

This will become less imposing as your brain gets used to the feelings. I’d give it a couple weeks to feel it out. You will have a lot of new feelings so of course some distraction will be possible, but try to remember what where the key factors and challenges you had before (write them down now) and continually reflect on them and test yourself by asking how they make you feel later. This will help you have some reference of how things evolve, track both how it was before and the new things.

I’m noticing much more ability to change task with less frustration about doing so. I can change and get distracted, but I don’t sense the anxiety of not completing it right then… more balance.

For reference I’m on 20 or 40mg which ever is the lowest.

[Vcmusician66]

I started taking Atomoxetine about 5 years ago, as an alternative to Adderall, which was making me irritable. I remember being disappointed the first few days because I didn't feel any difference in my ADD symptoms, but kept at it. It eventually started to work a few weeks later, but the change was so subtle I didn't notice for a bit, but then I was like, "I'm calmer and more focused...when did this happen?" It's definitely not the same as a stimulant, which felt to me like a switch being on or off. So, my advice would be to give it some time. Btw, I've been on Clonidine much longer, as that was a way of offsetting the higher blood pressure driven by the Adderall, but I just kept taking it. I can't say how much of an effect it has on my other meds, but I guess it's doing its job.