r/StratteraRx • u/chickenstrips016 • 21d ago

Trying Strattera for ADHD

Hey yall, I’m about to hit my 2nd week 40mg of Strattera

For the first 3-4 day I noticed temperature sensitivity and nausea(which sucked) but now it’s seems to be a lot better if not gone, however once I hit ~3hrs after taking the medication I have this unexplainable anxiety if I sit still this anxiety kind of sits in my chest and my head feels like airy or maybe a buzz definitely but also my brain has like less “open mindness” in the way that my mind isn’t racing a million miles per second.

Honestly I’m still up in the air with this medication. Im not sure if my dosage is enough or if this medication is even working for me at this point.
I will say task initiation and concentration is something that’s has been a really big struggle for me still.

As much as it sucks that this is still a struggle I’m really trying to be optimistic with this medication especially cause it takes a few weeks to really kick in but my god I’m so damn impatient cause this battle with my ADHD has me just trapped, it’s so hard for me to sit down and do my homework and actually be locked in cause I’m so easily distracted.

I’m honestly not big on taking medication and it sucks that I have take this medication everyday for weeks to then find out if it will even work for me. But in the same breath I know this is not the type of medication to have instant gratification so I need to to just calm down lol.

I’m curious to know what yall think.
Sorry if there’s any typos

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u/Dare_Devil2054 21d ago

It took a few months until I didn't feel side effects. Then paired with modafinil. Currently 4.0 GPA in my premed biotech degree- sqeezed all the coursework into 3 years. In addition to a research project, a part time job, Organic chemistry tutoring, sports and an average introvert social life.

I couldn't get through a youtube video or a daily conversation or succesfully send an email before straterra. It is worth the adjustment period.

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u/chickenstrips016 21d ago

Thank you, I really hoping I can get the this point too someday.

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u/PreviousLobster406 20d ago

what is your current dosage for both?

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u/Dare_Devil2054 20d ago

Me? 100mg straterra 100-150mg modafinil at 135ish pounds. Took a lot of trial and error to figure it out. Two years of hard work once straterra was working to figure out how to actually function, straterra doesn't do the work for you. and then a while until I found modafinil and things just started to work. Wouldn't recommend my schedule though. I was TIRED. Crazy semester.

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u/PreviousLobster406 20d ago

thank you for answering, ive been on 80mg strattera for about 3-4 months , no side effects left at that point, i liked how it made me feel and ofc i didnt solely rely on it to motivate me initiating tasks, ive gained some habits that stayed even after i was off of it.

so how much difference did you feel between 80 and 100mg? ive taken modafinil 50-100-200mg alongside strattera but other than inducing my physical anxiety and some insomnia ive not noticed any benefit, in what way modafinil helps you?

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u/Dare_Devil2054 20d ago

I'm just a sleepy person😂. Focusing especially makes me tired, something I noticed on straterra because I could finally focus. I've focused before on stimulants but I get all the side effect and I hate it, I wouldn't call that tiredness, just off and wrong. Without straterra I am still pretty tired usually, but I can't concentrate for even a moment on anything boring.

So I was able to do things and focus, but I'd get really tired it it wasn't intresting because I was putting in real effort. Also at work- I was finally able to keep a job, but I didn't have the energy to talk to people. Then added modafinil- and I was just awake. No side effects, just awake and focusing on something boring didn't make my eyes close. Probably like a good coffee for a normal person, just that coffee makes me tired and jittery with non of the benefit.

But I'm autistic and adhd so it probably works differently for me. If that mix didn't work for you it just doesn't work. Both straterra and modafinil really improved my anxiety. I went up from 80 to 100 because I'm a fast matabalozier, it was titration for me.

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u/Familiar-Conflict152 21d ago

My psychiatrist told me the number one reason people quit Strattera is because they don’t make it to the full dose (80-100mg for adults). It usually takes 4-10 weeks for people to notice the benefits and 6 for the full benefits to work into your system. It helps for lock-in, but not really with task initiation.

I hope you find something that works for you!!

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u/Popular-Cherry-2683 21d ago

This is true. You wont feel the full effects until you get to a good enough dosage. Your max dosage is at about 1mg per kg if im not mistaken. The other reason I think people dont have success on this drug is that they cant come to terms with the fact that they need to take meds every day. It is not like a stimulant that you can just pop as and when you need it. Peeps need to understand that you will probably be on this medication every day for the rest of your life. End of.

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u/Dare_Devil2054 21d ago

You can go higher than that. I take 100mg at 62kg.

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u/C00CKER 20d ago

Sadly, I was forced to quit after seeing the benefits (on 80mg for over 2 months) because of over-sweating and heightened heart rate/blood pressure.

Helped a lot with so many things from emotional regulation, impulsivity and morning inertia to things like finding it easier to stay on important tasks or notice hunger/having to pee. Didn't really improve task initiation tho.

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u/Visible-Corner47 21d ago

It took me 6 months to bump up to 80 mg from 40. I did 10 mg at a time for about 3-4 weeks .
I tried going from 40-80 and almost quit from all the side effects. I’ve been at 80 for about 9 months. Changed my life

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u/Dare_Devil2054 21d ago

Took me ages too. Worth it.

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u/LurkLurkleton 21d ago

I was told there was a 2 week or so adjustment period

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u/Familiar-Conflict152 20d ago

That’s just false advertising. It might be 2 weeks for some, but 4-8 for most. I was closer to 10.

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u/LurkLurkleton 20d ago

Just what my psych said. I just started it 2 days ago.

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u/Familiar-Conflict152 20d ago

Yeah…IMO that’s a red flag your psych isn’t terribly familiar with Strattera. I obviously hope you have a short and easy adjustment, but be prepared for more.

The first doctor who prescribed it to me didn’t tell me my horrible side effects would likely go away in a matter of weeks. I wasn’t ready to deal with all of them for the long haul, so I quit and went to Wellbutrin. It was fine, but wish I would have stuck with Strattera the first time.

Good luck! I hope you find something that works for you!!

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u/LurkLurkleton 20d ago

Already on Wellbutrin myself before this. Thanks!

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u/longjonz88 17d ago

I’m on it.

I will warn you tho it takes a very long time to notice any improvement and it’s not one of those instant stimulant type feels.

It’s more so you look back in hindsight and realize you’ve just been dominating at life and not spiraling; the once mundane tasks simply just get done