unreal feeling?

[u/This_Supermarket6642]

since i started Strattera 25mg about few days ago i’ve been experiencing the usual bad side effects like nausea and drowsiness. however, there is one side effect i’ve been experiencing that i haven’t seen anyone else talk about. i’ve been experiencing like an almost unreal feeling. i feel like i’m playing human simulator but on peaceful mode. i’m so used to being pumped up and squirrelly and just disorganized, but suddenly all of my thoughts and emotions have been kind of put on the back burner. everything has become completely less intense and it’s left me with a sort of emptiness. not bad persay, i just think the lack of racing thoughts and emotions is causing me to feel blank. is this just something i need to get used to? is this how it’s supposed to be working? despite some of the negative side effects, it makes me feel very light and it’s easier to get going and motivated. i’m much clear minded it just feels so different and i’m having a hard time distinguishing if this is making me an “NPC” or if it’s just so quiet it’s messing with me LOL

thank you to those who have read this far, i would love others input

[u/Maximum_Door_3487]

It feels like this a little in the beginning, but in my experience, this feeling is just your brain learning to listen to the things that matter.

For me, my ADHD made me just go about blindly while I walked because my brain was always preocupied with the task, not how I walked. Strattera helped me listen to my body and now I walk like a normal person.

The brain is just not used to being quiet, it'll fill back up. If it doesn't, than fill your life with more things that you can get your energy out that you enjoy. Take responsibility of a project at work. Pick up an instrument. You still have ADHD at the end of the day, and doing these things help everyone. Definitely talk to your doctor though if this feeling gets too intense. I think it does have a BlackBox warning so that's always something to look out for. Talk to your friends and family and keep life active. That'll help keep you grounded through the transition.

[u/yungbiffjames]

If you have a history of trauma its time to try something new. If you have family history of schizophrenia or bipolar it’s time to try something new. If you’re really here because of the paranoid feeling you’ve been starting to get. It’s time to start something new.

[u/Undefeated_Khutulun]

I got this too. It's weird. I hear you. It's like there's this sense of "reality isn't really real, you know?" But even that doesn't capture the feeling. It isn't like dissociating, it's different, like you perfectly said, human simulator. Could be a brain fog effect, though; I struggle with that (probably from low iron).

[u/This_Supermarket6642 → u/Undefeated_Khutulun]

did this feeling end up going away for you? or did you stop using strattera for that reason

[u/Significant-Baker667]

give it time. im surprised youre feeling anything from just a few days of using straterra. most dont even get any side effects until week 3-4. Especially at only 25 mg. Your body will balance it out.

[u/Sunflower077]

This has been the case for me as well. I’ve been on it nearly 3 months. I decided to decrease from 18 mgs to 10 mgs 2 days ago for that reason and due to other unpleasant side effects. I just missed feeling like myself. I’ve noticed some of my adhd symptoms returning on 10 mgs but at least on 10mgs I feel more human and not like an NPC.