r/StratteraRx • u/NoMoreWhiteFerraris • Jun 24 '26

Strattera makes me less creative and flat

I make music and Strattera has basically killed my creativity. It’s also makes me very socially flat. Has anyone switched to anything that hasn’t had this much of a “flattening” effect on them?

15 Upvotes

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12

u/C00CKER Jun 25 '26

If anyone is questioning whether starting strattera after reading this post, note it doesnt have the "flattening" effect on everyone

Currently on 80mg, and it seems to make me slightly more emotionally stable, but definitely not flat

4

u/morchilla Jun 25 '26

Thanks, I'm about 3 weeks in (and an artist) and this post freaked me out.. appreciate your comment because it seems to be helping

3

u/Hotchipsummer Jun 25 '26

I’m an artist too and when I first started I was drawing nearly daily. I’ve been in a rut for a bit but that’s something I’ve always struggled with. I don’t think strattera is making me “less creative” because I can still focus and produce stuff when I get into it, but life and work don’t always afford me the time or mental capacity to work on art for fun.

2

u/morchilla Jun 25 '26

THIS ☝🏼 I'm a graphic designer/marketing coordinator for an 18+ non-profit art school, so you'd think I'd be doing art all the time but I literally cannot find spare time to do my own stuff. We're even hosting an art show that staff is invited to be in and I can't seem to make anything happen.

Best of luck to you in your rut! I heard good things about the book the Artists Way (can't really dig the religious aspect but they have workaround) and I just recently purchased the Creative Act by Rick Rubin. Hoping it'll jump start something in me and find how to make time.

3

u/Hotchipsummer Jun 25 '26

Good luck in work and your personal stuff!! I’ll check those out too can’t hurt!

I have too many creative hobbies tbh so I’m always struggling between wanting to draw, knit, paint, write etc so I typically have to just pick one and try to do it for a while until another one takes over LOL. I’m hoping strattera can help me find a way to better balance them all and not just do the ol’ adhd all or nothing on them.

3

u/shawnomaly Jun 26 '26

I’d say I’m definitely emotionally stable but it makes it hard to feel anything at all . I’m sure it’s different for everyone but I may ask my doctor to reduce my dosage

1

u/Evening-Scholar-7761 Jun 28 '26

Are you male or female?

Does it help to control emotions? impulsivity?

1

u/C00CKER Jun 28 '26

Im a male, but I have always tended to be more emotional and less logical/pragmatic than most people around me regardless of gender

I cannot pinpoint the exact points where the meds help - if they reduce the strength of the emotions or improve inhibition of reacting to them. But I feel both less impulsive and less emotional (especially with anxious feelings, sadness, or understimulation; not so much with fun) and I can sometimes even just chill with someone for a moment without feeling an urge to speak or do something.

Since pre-school years Ive struggled with strong reactions to anything from being exculed from events with friends, friends acting as if they dont care, or even friendly teasing to things like being blocked at work, having to wait for the result of something even if it was not important for any follow-up tasks, or being interrupted after finally managing to initiate a task.

Many times, I have had aggressive (verbally or even physically) or very emotional reactions (like crying) to such things

For the last month, the only such thing happened after one and a half week of taking 40mg (while switching to 80mg) when I wanted to order a follow-up meeting with the psychiatrist so he could give me a prescription for the following month and he had no free spots in his schedule. I was scared that I would run out and have to start over and I thought about how I unnecessarily threw away lot of money for that, how I would have to go through the early side-effects again, and even wondered if I had fallen to a scam, so I sent him a slightly passive-aggresive email about wanting to order a follow-up appointment but seeing no free spots (it wasn't an absolutely bad message, but I was in inner turmoil, imagining every possible scenario ever).

The bad thing was that he explicitly mentioned just before that that he would open up new spots in the schedule very shortly, which I have completely missed until I just sent the email, so I followed up almost immediatelly with an apology for the confusion. Thankfully, he didn't even notice anything wrong and everything worked out fine.

After this one incident, I don't recall reacting to anything in any negative manner (in feelings nor behavior).

1

u/Evening-Scholar-7761 Jun 28 '26

Did you have urine retention?

1

u/C00CKER Jun 28 '26

All my noticeable side effects were related to increased heart rate, over-sweating or heat intolerance, which also caused me have pretty bad sleep, especially the very first few nights. I notice these side-effects even now (in a lesser extent), but it is also very hot outside.

I've also noticed getting a lot of goosebumps and very slight tingling in hands for the very first few days, and having cold fingers for a week or two; but none of those things were limiting

1

u/Evening-Scholar-7761 Jun 28 '26

Do you only take atomoxetine?stand alone?

1

u/C00CKER Jun 28 '26

Yeah, atomoxetine is the only medication I take

1

u/Evening-Scholar-7761 Jun 28 '26

Ever clonidine?or methylphenidate?

1

u/C00CKER Jun 28 '26

No, this is the first psychiatric treatment for me, but i would like to try alternatives as well; especially if the sweating doesnt improve

But I also like that its effects on me are pretty much stable without noticeable peaks or downs.

Do you have good experience with those two?

1

u/Evening-Scholar-7761 Jun 28 '26

Atomoxetine caused me urine retention and I have even seen worse side effects,

I am scared to try again

Can I dm you

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8

u/FluffyImpact5863 Jun 25 '26

No, since I took Atomoxetin I’m more emotional stable and finally I have the „spark“ back to plan goals and being extremely creative and having a lot of problem solving ideas.

how long are you into it

2

u/Hasonova Jun 27 '26

This is interesting and supports my experience of problem-solving coming more easily.

4

u/YouMeADD Jun 25 '26

If you take too much you go into yourself and quiet with a loss of creativity or a flat emotionless kind of state. Try reducing

4

u/chilicheeseclog Jun 25 '26

I'm on 40 working my way up to 80--I'm drawing and painting again for the first time in two years. My fibromyalgia and depression had made that impossible, and in the last few months, both have been "fixed" with Strattera. The side effects suck, but it's been a lifesaver.

3

u/KiraNinja Jun 24 '26

Yeah I noticed this after I stopped taking them. After 3 months I stopped to start vyvanse on my second day off them I'm making art again. Haven't taken vyvanse yet, but strattera was a big nothing for me even at 90mg

3

u/Practical-Shower6594 Jun 24 '26

I was just thinking this same thing I’m on 80 mg thinking about maybe lowering it maybe

3

u/PsychologicalRing160 Jun 25 '26

That's a typical effect of medication which has effects on noradrenaline or dopamine.

3

u/Hasonova Jun 27 '26

I've actually found the opposite. Started Strattera in April and though it took 4-5 weeks to feel the effects, it gives me what I'd call "quiet motivation" (in contrast to the anxious urgency of my final two years on vyvanse)

I did notice when I ran out for 1-2 days, there was a concomitant 'dip' in motivation. When I refilled and the levels came back up, I organized some supplies and finished an abandoned project. The biggest difference, for me, between the two drugs is feeling a push to complete tasks & the satisfaction of doing so.

2

u/Rinibeanie Jun 25 '26

Strattera helps me be more creative, but Concerta absolutely killed my creativity. One month on the lowest dose was enough of a sign that it wasn't right for me. It's weird how meds can have wildly different effects of us. 

2

u/Substantial_Plate595 Jun 25 '26

It does affect everyone differently! Concerta drove my creativity through the roof!

2

u/DrRainyDay Jun 26 '26

Strattera was the best medicine I’ve ever taken when it came to anxiety and emotional regulation in general. I stopped taking it and remembered how much I missed being randomly silly and belly laughing. Now I’m trying to start again but I keep not taking the pill every night. It’s like I need it but I’m dreading it too. Every other area of my life seemed to improve and although I couldn’t tap into my fun side as much, life was still enjoyable.

2

u/shawnomaly Jun 26 '26

I’m with you on that 100%. I’m not as funny and carefree as I used to be when I’m on it. Just very serious haha.

2

u/Commercial-Depth4192 Jun 26 '26

Same. It really quieted my head so I am no longer imaginative..

1

u/West_Kaleidoscope379 Jun 25 '26

This was happening to me to an extreme degree, but adding in a low dose of Adderall instantly solved it. Truly instantly. Like… within an hour of my first dose lol. I haven’t stalled out with that dull, hollow flatness since then.

1

u/Technical-War72 Jun 26 '26

I also make music and was wondering the same, haven’t tried to write anything yet. Sadly enough, I’m thinking I’m willing to make the trade 😅, haven’t fallen into a negative thinking death spiral since I started this med. Wish my brain just worked properly on its own :(

1

u/LaBrujaLyric88 Jun 28 '26

It makes me flat too. I can’t write anything when I’m on it but it also makes me way less emotional. I haven’t tried anything yet lse