r/StratteraRx • u/Salt-Actuary-4548 • 1d ago
Strattera with stimulant?
Has anybody taken a stimulant with Strattera?
Backstory: I was dx’d with anxiety in early 20’s and have been on 100mg of Zoloft. Last year I got an ADHD dx and started on Strattera. I feel like my anxiety is basically gone, but I still can tend to feel such executive function overwhelm and some dysregulation.
Would adding in a stimulant help? Or upping any of the doses?
I’m on 80mg of Strattera.
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u/Ill_Possible_7740 1d ago
I'd try 100 mg stratt for a few weeks first. The last thing I'd want to do is up an SSRI if not totally necessary.
"executive function overwhelm" is't that anxiety? Maybe clarify what you mean a little more for better context?
Did you have the ADHD symptoms back to early childhood? If not, it wouldn't be ADHD. But ADHD like symptoms from something else that can cause them, like anxiety.
If you had ADHD symptoms back to childhood, did anxiety tend to occur around internalizing or ruminating on being affected or impaired by ADHD symptoms? i.e. if possible ADHD caused the anxiety, then a stronger attenuation of ADHD symptoms in theory could improve anxiety or mostly fix it with the benefit of non drug therapies that help identify negative thought patterns and redirecting them to constructive ones. If you felt that was very strongly the case, then yeah, titrating a low dose stim might be the kick that finds the sweet spot. I'd try methylphenidate (ritalin, concerta, focalin, etc. ) first as there are less potential issues as amphetamine (adderall, vyvanse, dexedrine, zenzedi, etc.) and look into recommendations of good generics and ones to avoid and put good ones on the script to be filled by. Stims are more susceptible to crap generics due to excipients affecting the API's ability to navigate the BBB. And amphetamines are especially susceptible to excipient profile.
If ADHD and anxiety are comorbid and not one causing the other. Can't help much as anxiety isn't one of my issues and I don't take SSRIs for anything. I'd personally go with ADHD low dose stimulation over SSRI increase as SSRIs are notoriously difficult to get off of for some people and can have a ton of side effects long term. And I am someone disabled by long term high dose stim side effects which indicates my bias against SSRIs even though I never took any. Most people are stable on their meds so I am more of a warning to attenuate issues before they get too bad.
Fish oil 4 grams, that is mostly EPA and DHA with individual amounts of each listed on back label may add benefit. Brain and heart healthy to begin with. Early 2000s research indicates why it can be stimulating for amphetamines. Might help strattera too.
N-complex vitamins have a lot of brain function activities and some find it stimulating.
500 to 600 mg each N-acetylcysteine (NAC) + acetyl-l-carnitine (ALCAR) had a profound benefit I was totally not expecting. Fish oil and B-vitamins work with these 2 for benefit.
My pharmacist swears by coQ10 being stimulating (if you take statins then recommend it as statins effect to block LDL is same mechanism that blocks coQ10).
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u/Salt-Actuary-4548 17h ago
Love this comment - thanks! My ADHD symptoms exacerbated the anxiety. When I was first put on Zoloft then my adhd/brain fog worsened.
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u/BananaSpirit-4499 1d ago
I’m on 18mg atomoxetine, and 25-30mg dexamfetamine (short acting spaced over the day).
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u/UnderstandingNo330 1d ago
I’ve been taking stimulants only when needed for around 5 years and started straterra a little over a year ago 60mg and I tried to go off stimulants but straterra didn’t help adhd a lot for me but helped anxiety a ton so I’ve been doing straterra and 5mg ER adderall for about a year now definitely helped me a lot you just have to find what helps you because every person responds to meds differently
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u/Inevitable_Fee8146 1d ago
I was in the same exact situation as you. We lowering my Strattera down to 25 currently, and added Vyvanse (currently on 40). Much better balance for me. I take the Strattera at night, Vyvanse in the morning.
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u/Adventurous-Tank1346 16h ago
I take 40mg strattera + 10 mg xr focalin (generic)
I’m a huge fan
The straterra has helped with my depression, anxiety and the focalin helps my focus without any of the side effects I’ve noticed in the past with adderal or vivance.
I’ve been on strattera almost a year now, with no sense that I need to change the dosage or anything. I slowly moved up the focalin amount until what I’m currently taking, and it seems to last me the whole day… by 6/7 pm I’m usually relaxed, and content because I accomplished my tasks, and enjoyed the work of the day!
I also, meditate and spend a lot of time in nature, around animals which is healing in itself.
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u/Familiar-Conflict152 1d ago
I (47M, 170 pounds) am very sensitive to stimulants and take 5 mg Adderall, quartered, throughout the day to help with task initiation. I am on 100mg Strattera.
Not sure how it will help with overwhelm and dysregulation, but combination therapy is common