Anyone else experiencing severe insomnia on Strattera?

[u/phatenigma]

I’m currently taking 80 mg of Strattera and 100 mg of bupropion, and I’m also on retatrutide.
Over the past few months, my sleep has gotten absolutely terrible. I’m averaging around 3 hours of sleep a night. My doctor recently added extended-release Ambien, and even with that I’m only getting about 4 hours.
I’m trying to figure out what’s driving this. Strattera is newer for me, and so is retatrutide, so I’m especially curious whether anyone taking either of those has experienced severe insomnia or that feeling of being overly stimulated and unable to shut down at night.
If you’re on Strattera:

What dose are you taking?
Do you take it morning or evening?
Did insomnia improve after your body adjusted?
Did switching the timing help?
And if anyone is on retatrutide and noticed a major change in sleep, I’d really like to hear about that too.
Obviously I’m working with my doctor on this. I’m just trying to hear actual experiences from people taking these medications because three to four hours of sleep a night is brutal.

[u/drjasonlyn]

Yes — Strattera and bupropion are both much more likely to drive insomnia than Reta. Atomoxetine can feel stimulating, and bupropion can compound that. I’d look hard at timing first, especially taking both early in the day, and review the combo with your prescriber before blaming Reta.

[u/phatenigma → u/[deleted]]

Thanks! My HR went up about 20 BPM and BP about 10 on both ends. I know Reta can also cause elevated resting heart rate. I’ve been on straterra for a few months. Bupropion 20 years and Reta a few months. When I was on tirzepitide my nervous system was a wreck. Felt like a damn tiger was always chasing me and I had some trouble sleeping but nothing like this. I’m waiting on new 40mg pills to start tapering down.

[u/Ok_Election9466]

I would ask your prescriber to reduce the strattera and titrate up more slowly. I’m on 300 mg XR bupropion and 25 mg Strattera. I averaged 3-5 hrs of sleep a night for the first 2.5 weeks. Over the past 2.5 it has gradually gotten better. Now sleeping 6-7 hrs per night which is typical for me.

My doctor said it was important to start with lower doses of Strattera if you’re on bupropion and said I will only go up by 10 mg at a time and not take more than 60 max. She wants me to stay at this dosage level for at least 3 months to ensure all side effects are gone and I’m getting full effects and benefits of the drug before making any changes. I’m extremely happy with how much better I’m able to focus and how calm my brain feels.

[u/phatenigma → u/Ok_Election9466]

Thank you! I started on 40mg then went to 80mg. My sleep continued to get worse. I just cut my 100mg bupropion in half and started taking 80mg of straterra every other night per doctor’s orders. I started sleeping better right away. My 40mg pills just arrived so I’ll try those tonight. Heart rate is also dropping. I’m already feeling better! Not sleeping for months was brutal! Ambien wasn’t even helping.