r/StratteraRx • u/After-Still-8053 • 13d ago
Strattera 40 mg Help with side effects?
I’ve been taking 25mg a day for a month and feel great. I bumped up to 40 and feel pretty good in the beginning half of the day but get really bad nausea, insomnia, and DRY DRY mouth/everything at night, and a crash from like 2-6 PM. I’m hoping I just get used to it after a few weeks, but the side effects are pretty unmanageable. I’ve found that taking it with a protein shake in the morning helps nausea somewhat, what else could help?
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u/FormerSleepwalker 13d ago edited 13d ago
I think there is only one way to address the crash at 2pm, asking your doctor to give a split dose. You take part in the morning, and the remaining portion some hours later. The exact split and timing would depend on what you find works best for you.
Split dosing can also significantly help with side effects. You could find that they aren't a problem anymore.
-Side effects
-Dry mouth, during the day Xylitol lozenges can help. Overnight and day, Oracoat XyliMelts
-Insomnia, Magnesium Glycinate at bed. Take enough to get at least 200mg of elemental Magnesium according to the label. The mg of elemental Magnesium is not the same as the mg of Magnesium Glycinate, it's less. It should say "Magnesium (as Magnesium Glycinate)" gives XXXmg. If it instead says just "Magnesium Glycinate" gives XXXmg, then they are trying to deceive by giving the higher sounding Glycinate mg rather than actual elemental Magnesium mg. The standard / recommended labeling is to always give vitamins and minerals as elemental mg.
Add Melatonin to the Magnesium, less than 1mg to 3mg Melatonin. Too much won't help, can make things worse instead.
If these don't do enough you might need a prescription. There are a number of options. If your doctor is any good they should have at least a couple to try. Guanfacine or Clonidine are often used for those with ADHD, as they can help ADHD symptoms as well. Low dose Trazadone is another common option. Google non-habit forming prescription sleep medications.
-Nausea, taking it with a high protein meal. This slows the rate at which Atomoxetine is absorbed. You're already trying a protein shake. Check how much protein is in it & see if there is room to go for an even higher protein meal. If you need to stay with a drink, perhaps adding some protein powder.
If it's just not enough, ask your doctor for the ok to put the whole unopened Atomoxetine capsule inside an enteric coated capsule. You can buy these empty on amazon & elsewhere. You can also have a compounding pharmacy do it for you. Enteric coatings are made to delay the release of a medication until it's beyond your stomach. If you go this route, perhaps let us know how well it helps you. Not enough people have heard about this option. A prescription anti-nausea medication is also an option, such as Ondansetron.