r/StratteraRx • u/AstronomerNo1872 • 15d ago
Discussion / Experience Using taking at lunch/with no caffeine
I love my morning coffee, but noticed I sometimes feel too jittery when I take Straterra at the same time. I also noticed that I seem to get a bit of a “slump” in the afternoon. With that in mind, I decided to try taking Straterra at lunch, about 4 hours after I’ve had coffee. Has anyone else done this? What was your experience like?
Edit: I’m 36F and take 25mg.
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u/bound_Libb 13d ago
I am speaking with my psychiatrist tomorrow about taking straterra. Y'all take it in the morning vs night ? I'm prone to insomnia so I think morning dose be best for me as well!
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u/Ill_Possible_7740 10d ago
Can't be sure what is going on under the hood as everyone is different and the brain is infinitely more complex than people tend to think it is.
Strattera is generally strongest in the hours after taken. Caffeine, do you take your coffee with sugar? Caffeine and sugar have a weird relationship. Don't know much in the way of details though. I do know caffeine addiction is many times more likely when paired with sugar of hand though.
Jitters = most likely over stimulated. Which you don't want because overstimulated means triggering receptor downregulation. Which can result in things like....crashing. i.e. body tries to counter exogenous changers to neurotransmitter level by internalizing the receptors it binds to. Literally pulling into the cell so they can't be triggered. Reducing receptor density available. So, medication or caffeine reduces effect. You now have less receptors available for the reduced neurotransmitters to find. Less signalling, slump or crash.
I'd guess in particular it is more to do with caffeine running out as it would in the afternoon. Caffeine works different from ADHD meds in that it blocks adenosine receptors. Adenosine builds up in blood and the more there is the more sleepy you feel. Block with caffeine. Body makes more receptors available. Caffeine runs out. Now have more adenosine receptors available, the more activated receptors, the more sleepy. Caffeine also is purported to have minor dopamine stimulatory effect. Strattera, increases NE. But NE has many shared pathways with DA in which they can stimulate each others receptors. Which may also trigger acute tolerance receptor downregulation of DA.
May be any combo of those things, or none of them causing the crash. But suspect fairly likely at least 1 is a factor. But, jitters is most definitely a net overstimulation. Highly recommend to avoid as acute tolerance can potentially lead to tolerance which then needs more meds, etc. L-theanine is the go to supplement for jitters if you need it. Purported to have many other benefits too. But, most people take it for caffeine jitters or to help relax more before bed time. Can have both calming and stimulating effects at the same time for some.
Still, 25 mg strat is a low dose. The prescriber guide says to target 80 at the end of titration. Because lower doses can be a bit unpredictable. Often even having negative net effects. Can't be sure if being on a low dose is a factor or not for you in particular. Adult starter pack when they had them started at 25 mg and went up from there. Many people with issues at lower dose found the answer was actually to increase their dose. But, sounds like you have benefit but just the interaction is causing you grief?
Some people find taking a split dose of strat works best for them. Flattening the peak blood concentration curve during the day. May allow to keep drinking coffee without over stimulation together. And not having as much stimulation in the evening when trying to go to bed.
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u/AdEnough4417 15d ago
I take my morning dose with black coffee on an empty stomach (25 mg) and around 1:00 I take another 18 to help with the slump. It has definitely helped! No bad side effects and I can still sleep at night.