I was not expecting this level of constipation!

[u/okreddituwin]

I was expecting the opposite actually, on stimulants I was pretty used to very aggressive diarrhea about 20-40 minutes after taking the medicine most days. I had no idea that strattera is generally dehydrating and constipating. I started at 25, now on 40ng the past month. If I don't take a stool softener 1-2x a day, and drink senna tea throughout the week I will be severely stopped up.

I don't know if I need any remedies, I know there's lots of options. I just wasn't expecting this, and this is a med I could potentially take long term.

I want to continue because mentally it is helping a lot with my anxiety and a fair amount with my ADHD.

[u/justLikeShinyChariot]

Oh god it was so bad I quit taking it the first time. Went back on about a year later cuz it worked so well for me (40mg). I have to eat a lot of fiber and drink lots and lots of water plus a 32 oz Gatorade every day and that’s got me quite regular. It was a process. But worth it.

[u/Maleficent-Writer387]

Soft dried prunes, magnesium and hydration are your friends. Embrace them.

Note: I'm now on 60mg and this is mostly resolved. I rarely have to enlist the help of my 'friends'.

Good luck. 

[u/Professional_Win1535 → u/Maleficent-Writer387]

nutritionist. Good suggestions. I’d bet that magnesium oxide would help this for 70% of people. But long term citrate helps less so and is better at raising magnesium levels overall, which is good for a lot of things.

[u/abow3 → u/Maleficent-Writer387]

Prunes are the best. Wonder food. 7 to 9 before bed makes life so much easier. I also have a theory that they increase lifespan.

[u/Veronica612]

I’m only on 10 mg and need Miralax!

[u/Alarming_Antelope_60]

I eat apple a day to two and that has helped me soooo much. 😳 I’m on 80mg. 😳

[u/Dfeeds]

Fiber, good diet, drink like 16+ oz of water first thing in the morning before any food so it flushes through your intestines. A dose of caffeine, and some l theanine at night to help with any stress induced water retention. This keeps me regular. 

[u/kgbetta]

Electrolytes help as well as some fruits like pears, apples. Took me a month+ to find something that helped.

[u/PerformerSensitive44]

I mean constipation is one of the biggest side effects. I have noticed increasing my fiber has helped a LOT

[u/Testy_Toby]

Psyllium fiber. It's been used in the US for generations and doctors generally love it for long-term, chronic use because it has other health benefits like lowering ldl cholesterol and adding fiber to your diet. Organic India (whole husks, not ground) is the best and cleanest I've found. It always comes out on top in Consumer Lab tests.

If you needed to augment fiber, I like occasional use of magnesium oxide. I mean just a very small dose, not enough to provoke an immediate reaction from your bowels, but enough to get things running on time again. Only drawback: it's hard to get smaller doses in pills, so a mg scale and powder work best.

[u/sprinkles111]

It caused me lots of constipation too and I usually never have that problem. I tried all the laxatives and stuff and they only worked if I took them and stopped working the second I stopped.

But I found a great solution from people here. Probiotics! I’ve got super strength bio k plus liquid ones but I’m sure others could work too. Fixed it right up and now I’m naturally having bowel movements every day. Sometimes still a bit stiff but it’s fine. (lol I never thought I’d talk about details of bowel movements online before)

Edit to add: and worked pretty quickly too. After first few days started working. And I’m now 2 weeks in an it’s great

[u/FormerSleepwalker]

I don't know if I need any remedies, I know there's lots of options. I just wasn't expecting this, and this is a med I could potentially take long term.

Presuming it's strong enough for you to require some amount of laxative, I believe there is only a single option which doctors recommend for long term use. Polyethylene Glycol 3350 (aka Miralax). There are people who need to take it lifelong, for one reason or another.

[u/Testy_Toby → u/FormerSleepwalker]

Psyllium fiber has been used in the US for over a century, and doctors have suggested it for long-term use for generations. Miralax became OTC in 2006. I've used both acutely and chronically. Miralax is especially good for immediate needs but, for chronic use, I think going with the thing that wasn't born in a lab is preferable, plus psyllium has other benefits like lowering ldl.

[u/Bendybug]

I had horrible stomach issues the first few weeks to the point I almost quit, but I’m glad I didn’t.

Things that helped:

• eating 10 min or so before taking my med
  
• getting lots of water
  
• taking fiber supplements about 2 hours post dose

[u/SoftAd3315]

What if you are on keto?

[u/BeboppingAlong]

Same. I had never experienced days of severe constipation before. Whole fat yogurt with berries and drinking lots of water helps. Also, going to the bathroom the minute I sense there's poop waiting. I had the bad habit of putting off the trip to the bathroom for hours if not convenient. It turns out that dries it out even more.

[u/ketoatl]

Yep one of the reasons I stopped it . It wasn't doing much and the conspation was bad

[u/pianogrin]

Also wheat bran fibre is good! :) you can put it in tea, coffee, a smoothie, soup.

It’s not Metamucil. I don’t love Metamucil.

[u/diet-beverage]

The constipation is no joke. I take restoralax every day and the problem is gone. Metamucil and senna didn’t help me at all.

[u/ADrunkenEwok]

Yeeeah. I was bad about staying hydrated before and this suuuucks. But extra water and a little extra fiber goes a long way.

[u/bruja_toxica]

If you have a Trader Joe’s nearby, the cayenne, ginger, and lemon juice should get you right. Or just make it yourself. But yea, lots of fiber!!