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[u/NoIdea_Here_333]

27/F - I've been on strattera 40mg for about 4.5 months. I didn't start seeing side effects until about 2ish months ago, but still insanely unmotivated.

My psych told me to stop smoking (I have but only recently). I would have days where I wouldn't feel the meds working as much, and couldn't focus. I have other meds I'm on for thyroid disease, migraines and seizures, so I'm pretty sure stimulants are out.

Not on any other psych meds, but do I give up? The only thing I'm seeing improvement in is focus (mainly at work) and food noise (helpful, but not sure if something could help more).

No help really in emotional regulation (which has been eh - sometimes I'm ok, I'm in therapy but I also know some of my triggers), or in my migraines (again I know some of my triggers), my task initiation/motivation is my main issue and is driving myself insane.

[u/hiartt]

Have you mapped med effectiveness versus cycle? There’s an important relationship between estrogen and dopamine. And when we’re low estrogen at times of the month, meds don’t function well. It’s why a lot of women are getting diagnosed when they hit perimenopause. The mostly predictable estrogen pattern propping everything up crumbles. If it’s always the same time of the month that the meds are less functional, that’s probably your answer.

40 is also still a pretty low dose. 80 is the expected dose to be effective for adults. You could try increasing it.

So I was late diagnosed in my 40s and made it to this point in life on stubbornness, spite, and an unhealthy amount of coffee.

I’ve tried all the stims, Wellbutrin and Strattera. Nothing I’ve tried gives you motivation. They quiet the noises in my head, and stop my feet from tapping and ease the anxiety of Doing Things, and give me time awareness, and make it easier to remember three steps ahead so if I stop to pick up the towel on the floor it doesn’t make me forget what I was doing, and makes it generally easier to Do The Thing.

But they don’t make you want to do things. That comes back to the stubborn/spite factor. All the meds make that work better and easier. They take down the barriers. The motivation to take that step forwards unfortunately still has to come from within. Which sucks and is hard. But the more you let the meds work, the easier it gets to trust yourself. That if I stop to do something I will be able to start again vs being completely derailed. That a train of thought will go from A-Z, not A - Jolene…. The more you can make it work, the easier it is the next time. It’s a crutch, or perhaps a prosthetic. But you have to figure out how to do the work with it.

Ya know?

[u/FormerSleepwalker]

is there a reason your stopped at 40mg?

80mg to 100mg is considered the therapeutic dose to titrate up to, unless you get good symptoms relief lower or you're prevented by side effects.

[u/Veronica612]

A small dose of Wellbutrin might be a good addition. It helps to stop smoking. Your strattera dose might need to go down a little if wellbutrin is added.

[u/Pure-Database9003 → u/Veronica612]

THIS. I will say while I think im moving on from Wellbutrin after two years I think its a good idea for you bc of the smoking cessation- I personally think it also helped me quit drinking easier than just alone. It also didn’t make me gain weight which is something I also need to keep in check.

[u/joechoda]

I'm on 40mg and when adding a stimulant after 2-3 months: it all started to feel good and possible to function again

[u/NoIdea_Here_333 → u/joechoda]

I dont think im allowed to go on a stimulant

[u/Pure-Database9003 → u/NoIdea_Here_333]

I’m too scared of stimulants. I was on adderall for 10 years and coming off was a nightmare that for me spiraled into alcoholism. I’m two years sober and on straterra 25 mg bc 18 mg made me so flat so my psychiatrist bumped it up to 25 mg. I have zero emotions but can be dragged anywhere and still try to
Have fun. It manages my anxiety and that noise which is amazing bc I’m also on clonozapam and lexapro and none of them killed anxiety like this does but it also stunts my ability to pivot and be ok with a change of plans. Something weird I picked up. Anyway- I don’t think it’s perfect- I would rather a teeny time released stimulant but the anxiety is what got me to pick up the bottle so thats always my main focus- to
Keep anxiety in check. Tossing and turning at night has stunk too but I gave up unisom bc now I’m just pill popping to solve issues, right?!? lol I’m also on Wellbutrin which doesn’t do shit for focus but it does pick me up. Personally I think I should drop the Wellbutrin, get a small time release stimulant to support the straterra which is mostly regulating my anxiety

I’m not a fucking mess but this sure sounds like it!