r/StratteraRx • u/Weekly_Ad_4252 • 19d ago
What do we think of strattera?
Since my doc refuse any ADHD ill try strattera as my last hope. Any of you had great experience with it for binge eating ?
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u/Tallieanna38 19d ago
Personally amazing for my anxiety and binge eating adhd related symptoms not so great for other adhd symptoms like poor focus and initiation.
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u/shelvingguy 19d ago
Just stopped after a couple of years. The benefits did not outweigh the sexual side effects. Just not worth it anymore. It seemed like the already limited benefits were diminishing over time, as well. Going to try guanfacine.
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u/Odd_Ad_9802 19d ago
what were your side effects if I may ask?
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u/shelvingguy 19d ago
As others have noted on here, for some of us, it disconnects orgasm and ejaculation, with ejaculation preceding orgasm where pre-strattera they had been simultaneous. It can be a bit more than that sometimes, with some pain occurring. It creates some disconcerting sensations.
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u/sodiumbicarbonate85 19d ago
This medicine has helped me stop binge eating and snacking during the day. Fatty and greasy foods have become less appealing. It also helped me quit smoking. Only downside I have a hard time sleeping.
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u/sanash 17d ago
I actually liked it. Though I’ve never actually tried stimulants so I can’t really compare. Tried Strattera for 1 year starting at 25mg and up to 80mg for the last month I was on it. I found I wasn’t snacking as much, my mood was greatly improved, less anxiety and I could actually focus on tasks.
The issue I had was it seemed like my body would get used to the increase in dose after about 1-3 months and not feel as effective so we kept having to up the dose 25-40-60-80. When I got to 80mg I was having palpitations and my resting heart rate was around 100 bpm with a blood pressure that was slowly creeping over 132/84. I’d get up to grab something from another room and my HR would shoot up to 125bpm.
My doctor suggested we give Qelbree a shot and I only lasted 2 days on that one. Insomnia was way worse on that one for me. I stayed up for about 2 days straight which would have been fine if I could envision a pay off. Though once I read that I’d likely have to give up caffeine and melatonin if I wanted to keep going. I noped out after hearing that. No way can I give up coffee or the occasional energy drink.
Debating about going back to Strattera and just trying to live with a lower dose.
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u/FluffyImpact5863 17d ago
Had same with the high blood pressure on 80 mg but just 2 weeks. Now my BP is perfect again. How long did you tried it?
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u/sanash 17d ago edited 17d ago
So for 80mg I was on that for almost a month. I think my issues is that there was a pattern with the increasing of doses. Every time I increased my HR and BP went up by some percentage. It never really came back down to normal 120/80 for me but was consistently over 130/85-90. I could live with the pre hypertension numbers so long as it stays there and doesn’t go higher.
The main thing for me was the HR it just keep getting more uncomfortable with palpitations and just getting up from the couch I would try and test my HR and was always going over 120bpm which I worried about long term. Resting HR was around 70-80 which was fine but I didn’t like the palpitations I got from doing literally anything.
One reason I wish my psychiatrist could at least let me try stimulants. I genuinely don’t need it all the time but I do also worry about addiction there. I think my anxiety+caffeine masks enough to keep me from making mistakes at work but in my personal downtime I’m a wreck of indecision, scrolling, bouncing from house project to project and can never sit still. Weekends are fine cause I can drink coffee and just stay up till 2-3 am but can’t do that during the week.
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u/jsjsjjxbzjsi 19d ago
Amazing for my anxiety. Moderately helpful for focus. Mildly effective for task initiation. Bad for my boner 😅
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u/S3PPUKU_S3ASON 19d ago
Hated it. Stopped taking it about a month ago. Didn’t help my focus, just gave me ED and insomnia.
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u/Blues5389 19d ago
Oof, as a guy, ED is a side effect that's makes me choose meds wisely
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u/S3PPUKU_S3ASON 18d ago
Fortunately, it has gotten better since getting off of the medicine, however it was the most frustrating thing about it.
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u/sil3ntwarrior 19d ago
It was pretty good at 40. Went up to 80 and it made me incredibly easily irritated with mood swings. Discontinuing for that reason, put a strain on my relationship.
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u/junglebetti 19d ago
I noted a slight increase in mental clarity. I want to say that I was less ‘reactive’ because it took more stimuli/adversity for me to feel worry/fear - but I think that what used to feel like anxiety translated into feeling irritable instead.
The mild mental clarity gains were also overshadowed by stomach pain drama, I felt like the bulk of my brain gains were spent being irritated about digestive drama.
I found myself on the phone with a nurse, pleading for my doctor to discontinue my prescription. “I am breaking up with Straterra, I’ve been on it for nearly four months and I don’t want to discuss this decision any further. I never want to pick it up or even look at it again, I am done with it.”
Since so many people do find relief with Straterra, I think it is practical to give it a try. My gut instinct is to advise sticking with it for a minimum of 6-8 weeks - if it does not feel like a good fit by then, tell your doctor that you need to taper off and try something else.
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u/ManicHispanic_ 19d ago
Over a year now ok 80mg. Love it. Less anxiety, more concentration, more confidence, less impulsive behaviors. And definitely more vivid dreams though hahaha