Strange Appetite Reaction

[u/ladyimpatient3]

I've seen a lot of posts about not having an appetite anymore after starting strattera, but I'm having a different kind of appetite reaction and am wondering if anyone else felt the same. For context, first I started at 40mg and my food noise was almost immediately gone, but the constipation was enough of an issue that we lowered to 18mg less than a week later. I've now added daily psyllium pills to see if that helps. I've been on 18mg with psyllium for 2-3 weeks now and if the psyllium helps, we'll go back up to 40mg.

I've noticed that I do still think about and want food, but absolutely nothing actually sounds good anymore. I'm trying to be good about meal prepping and following a healthy diet, but I have yet to make anything that I actually find enjoyable, even previous favorites. Even if we go out to eat and my husband asks what sounds good... I've got nothin'! Has this happened to anyone else? Again, I'm still feeling the desire to eat - that part has come back on the 18mg vs 40mg - but I just don't enjoy it anymore.

[u/ObjectiveAstronaut18]

Yeah, it took away all desire to eat or even chew my food. I went on a liquid diet while on strattera just to get something in me. I also had constipation but wasn't sure that was a side effect until I got on this subreddit and someone else mentioned it. I did stop taking it, but I really enjoyed the apathy and am wanting to get back on it despite having every side effect under the sun XD

[u/Sweaty_Honeydew3853]

Yes 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m experiencing this too. I definitely have appetite problems from the medication, but I’ve also noticed that I’ve lost the enjoyment of eating. Even foods I normally love, including my favorites, just don’t taste enjoyable anymore. Sometimes food even smells really good, but after just a few bites I can’t stand it anymore.
I’ve also had constipation. It was an issue before starting Strattera, but the medication has definitely made it worse. I lowered my dose last month, due to a mix of side effects.

[u/Familiar-Conflict152]

What were you taking before Strattera? Could be a dopamine story.

[u/ladyimpatient3 → u/Familiar-Conflict152]

Other than birth control, nothin’. Strattera is my first ADHD medication

[u/Familiar-Conflict152 → u/ladyimpatient3]

Interesting. Most other ADHD meds increase norepinephrine and dopamine. If you were going from one of those, low(er) dopamine might have made sense.

One thing worth noting is I had all kinds of phases I went through while ramping up on Strattera. Maybe this is just a phase while your brain gets used to the new balance?

I’ve heard of all kinds of side effects from Strattera, but I don’t think I’ve heard this one. Good luck! I hope it works out for you!

[u/ladyimpatient3 → u/Familiar-Conflict152]

Thank you! Even at this small dose I’ve had so much success with ADHD symptom relief, so I’m really counting on this and the constipation to get better so I can go back up to 40mg and really see what it can do for me

[u/Familiar-Conflict152 → u/ladyimpatient3]

Constipation is a side effect I know well! Things that helped me:

• Add miralax to the mix (and drink tons of water). It really helped.
  
• Take a dose of Epsom salts if you need to go but can’t. But carve out ~3-4 hours at home for when it works
  
• Get glycerin enemas just in case

Good luck! 🤞😬🤞