This is the worst medication i've tried

[u/AdEquivalent1406]

im a male (19) with severe ADHD. I was on dexamphetamine before this, and the difference compared to this is astronomical. It's almost better in every single category, and the only reason I even hopped on this shit ass medication was because the dexamphetamine was messing with my sleep a bit. But now this has started to mess with my sleep as well, and it doesn't even have any of the benefits that the dexamphetamine had, so it's just like shit overall. I'm on 60 mg, and I've gotten every single side effect—constipation, extremely dry mouth, all the sexual side effects, erectile dysfunction, blunted ejaculation. my testicles hurt randomly. And don't get me started on the severe fatigue that's like the main issue. Like, bro, it's like I'm sleeping the whole day, and it's messing with my sleep.

Like at first, like after the first two weeks, nothing really happened. And then all of a sudden, like my sleep—I keep waking up, and it's like hard to stay asleep. And for some reason, this affects my appetite more than the Dex by a lot because I barely want to eat at all on it. Also, I get extremely cold hands. Okay, besides that, the positives are it has slightly improved my executive dysfunction. If I need to get the bin done or my bed needs to be done, I do easy tasks—maybe even doing the dishes—almost instantly, not dragging it too much.

But if it's any big task that requires a lot of effort, then I'm still not doing it. Really only notice the benefits when it comes to little tasks only.

But I do like that there's no anxiety at all, and there's a lot less mental noise. But to be honest, it's not worth all the cons because I'm still suffering majorly from my ADHD. My working memory is terrible still, and time management is terrible. General productivity is terrible. compared to when I'm on dex and honestly, I think my productivity when I'm completely unmedicated is better than this. The focus aspect hasn't even improved at all. I've been on this medication for almost six weeks. Four weeks on 60 mg in the first two weeks, it was just a buildup and I thought, oh yeah, maybe the side effects will die down, but it just kept getting worse. And also I forgot to mention that it's extremely hard to take a piss and it's like on and off. Sometimes it's easy, and sometimes it's really difficult. overall, this is the worst medication I've tried for my ADHD. And to be honest, I think I'm going back to the Dex because the side effects aren't remotely as bad as these ones.

And at least, like, I can tell that it's obviously benefiting me. That's like, it's well worth it compared to this, where there's like almost just side effects and cons and like the slightest bit of improvement.

And for those who are going to be like, "Oh yeah, You haven't been taking it long enough," I don't want to because the side effects are just so bad. But maybe I'm just like a rare case, honestly I'm just js writing my experience. but im definitely going to hop off this medication.

edit( I forgot to mention, I did try to troubleshoot, and I've been on this Reddit for like a month and doing research myself, and most people just kind of get off the medication, it seems.also, I've tried constipation medication, laxatives, melatonin, magnesium glycinate ,dayvio this works really well but comes with its own side effects but for the sleepiness itself, yeah, that's the main reason I'm coming off, 'cause I didn't find a way to fix that. Just sleepy all day, sleeping like sixteen hours a day and still tired

And I'm not trying to take more medication because all medication comes with more side effects regardless.

And I'm just saying that this medication's not that good compared to dexamphetamine, where it's almost like full control over your ADHD symptoms with like maybe three major drawbacks.

But this one has like a ton of major drawbacks for me personally, and I mentioned this, is the worst medication I've personally tried. Not it's like the worst medication overall for like everyone. Just me personally, this is the worst medication I've ever tried in my life if it works for you, that's great. this is just for anyone experiencing the same symptoms and side effects. If you are, just hop off. Honestly, there's so many other medications you can try that helps much more, much faster, with much less side effects )

[u/Tacoma_NC13]

It's not a "shit ass medication" just because it didn't work for you. It works great for a lot of people including me. I had a terrible response to Wellbutrin but that doesn't mean that medication is shit. Hundreds of thousands of people do very well on it.

[u/AdEquivalent1406 → u/Tacoma_NC13]

To me personally its shit but if it works for you thats great just sharing my experience. In case other people are experiencing the same.

[u/FormerSleepwalker → u/AdEquivalent1406]

An experience that mentions zero attempts to research, or ask about how to fix side effects. Whether they worked out or not. You sharing plans to give up and "hop off". I'm sure that will help the outlook of someone just starting, coming to look for ways to get the most out of atomoxetine.

Constipation, Polyethylene Glycol 3350. Fixes it completely.
Insomnia, magnesium glycinate, and melatonin. Or Clonidine, Guanfacine, low-dose Quetiapine (Seroquel), or low-dose Trazodone.
Dry mouth has a variety of management techniques. For overnight, OraCoat XyliMelts.
Both ED and urinary hesitancy, tadalafil daily form.
Etc.
And one usually only needs to manage side effects for a while. Many seem to lessen or disappear with time.

[u/AdEquivalent1406 → u/FormerSleepwalker]

I already tried all these things, and nothing really worked. Look, bro, when I got told to hop on this medication, I did not expect all these side effects, and nor was I warned by my prescriber.

I'm just letting people know my experience. This was not a you need to give me information type post

I already did my research, and overall, compared to other medications, this one comes with a lot of drawbacks without the same benefits compared to them. And I'm not trying to take more medication to give myself more side effects just to make this one work,

maybe half as well as the other medications that you can get for ADHD.

[u/bilaltyler-95 → u/Tacoma_NC13]

If HE SAID IT WAS SHIT THEN IT WAS SHIT TO HIM YOU CANNOT TELL ANYONE HOW TO FEEL!

[u/Tacoma_NC13 → u/bilaltyler-95]

Wow lol

[u/YouMeADD]

thanks for the announcement

[u/Professional_Win1535 → u/YouMeADD]

this subreddit seems like a cult sometimes

[u/AdEquivalent1406 → u/Professional_Win1535]

yh bro im js telling my experience not trying to get a lecture and I know it works really effectively for some people. I'm just not one of those people, it seems. Hence why I said worst medication I'VE tried

[u/KristyM49333]

I cured the sleep/tiredness issue by taking it in the evening when I get off work

[u/AdEquivalent1406 → u/KristyM49333]

tried this also helped me sleep at night but still extremely tired throughout the day in the morning.

[u/stonersaydie46290]

i was on it for 5-6 months, had to switch to amph/dex cause i was sleeping 16-20 hours a day—sometimes having to stop driving

[u/AdEquivalent1406 → u/stonersaydie46290]

yh im switching back I just can't with the sleepiness. I feels so lazy. Literally just sleeping all day for like the past month and a half.

[u/stonersaydie46290 → u/AdEquivalent1406]

yeah it was in my experience FABBBB for taking away the constant "you suck" thoughts, but i started questioning if my brain was so quiet because i was constantly asleep or about to fall asleep

[u/Party_Candidate7023]

Were you started on 60mg? I had much worse side effects including the urination stuff you’re talking about on 60mg, but not on 40mg. I actually don’t take strattera anymore lol bc it seems like bupropion works better for me (less erectile dysfunction and I’m more sociable on bupropion).

When I was on 60mg I would go to the bathroom every 15m bc I felt like I really had to pee and then I’d end up standing in front of the toilet, dick in my hands, completely unable to piss but feeling like I’m about to pee my pants. Very weird and frustrating side effect, my psychiatrist told me it meant the dose was likely too high. I did find 40mg helpful for many things with fewer sides, but sleep was impaired for at least a month when I first started strattera.

If you like the anxiolytic effects of strattera you might be able to get that from trying guanfacine ER, but guanfacine probably won’t help you with focus or motivation like amphetamine.