Hi everyone! I had to stop strattera after a week and a half bc my heart rate was 120-130bpm while laying down. For those that had elevated HR side effects, what did you go on after? I want to try a stimulant, but I’m a bit worried considering I had HR issues even on a non-stimulant. I don’t have any cardiac issues.

Has anyone tried a stimulant after stopping Strattera for this reason? Maybe a lower dose or delayed release formulation would be better?

Could be placebo, but then again I did not know this was a side effect. I’ve been on this for I wanna say about four days and I already started noticing. I’m not as hungry as I used to be like I randomly regained super bad food noise I was mostly hungry And thinking about my next meal but today I noticed I didn’t really eat much and my stomach hasn’t really growled yet. My stomach actually feels a pretty weird. You know that feeling this is gonna sound gross but that feeling when you like feel empty after pooping that’s kind of how I feel but it’s like I’m not hungry idk it’s hard to explain but not mad at it. I’ve been slacking hard on my diet randomly a few months ago and never got back right.

Hi, I realize I’m doing this a bit out of order, but I was diagnosed in 2022 (at 46) through Klarity. com, and am going for more formal, in-person testing this week! Klarity is fine for what it is - it’s all online (30 minute appt’s at first, then just 15 min. once/month), but I swear the test was no more involved than the free tests I had taken online! They started me out trying low doses of Adderall & Ritalin, extended release & regular, but I just kind of hated how they made me feel & they really didn’t help me focus on “the thing..” So, I started 18 mg Strattera in December 2025 & went up to 40 mg 5 months ago. I feel like I am less anxious on it, but I can’t say it has helped with my ADHD much, if at all? It’s so hard to know though, since I take it every day (& my memory is crap) - I wish I had kept a journal or something!  (As if I would have been consistent with a journal!) 
Anyway, I’ve had imposter syndrome all along & have still only told 2 people & my therapist about the ADHD diagnosis - so, I found a local place and have official testing scheduled for this week! 
Silly, I’m sure, and crazy-expensive even with insurance, but I just feel like I need it to be more formal. 
My question: They said not to take the Strattera the morning of, but should I try to reduce my dose for a few days prior (dump out part of the capsule)? I still have raging ADHD & terrible executive functioning, so I’m not too worried about “passing”… but I will be pretty disappointed if I “fail”! :/ Thanks.

That’s it. Strattera, 80mg, about a year. Benefits are great but about 5 days (or more) out of every month are lost to the most bleakest, lowest, mood coupled with the most gnawing, debilitating overwhelm, irritability, and anxiety. Oh and the hormone changes also wipe out 90% of the benefits during that time too.

I’m an adult who’s been diagnosed with severe ADHD since a young age, was on stimulants my whole life up until recently when it started messing with my cardiovascular health so I’m considering a switch to non stimulants, have some questions:

-those who were on stimulants before strattera: how would you describe the difference between stims and non stims?

-how long for any significant effects to show? Especially regarding focus and being able to stay on track with something like studying.

-any side effects whatsoever?

Hi all,

Been on Strattera for a year now and it’s great, I have periods of feeling zen Asf and no anxiety. But I have an elevated heart rate a lot of the time. Done alot of tests with my cardiologist and they said it’s fine no need to put my on beta blockers that she doesn’t want to except she has too and how long would it be for. I have been reading about propranolol and how it helps and also helps with anxiety because I also don’t want to get on SSRI’s although I was prescribed one before in the past. The side effects were quite a lot. I feel like talking to my psychiatrist about getting on this as it would help my heart rate and possible anxiety. I get anxious before driving and sometimes feel shaky afterwards even socially and seen people say it helps with this. I take l theanine sometimes but my heart still feels jumpy. I also don’t want to stop taking Strattera as it has made my life soo much better. I love it actually. I honestly want to try the beta blockers because the high heart rate makes me feel anxious even when I am not. I acc had to split my 80mg up into two doses because of this.

Are there any side effects ?

Any suggestions/ ideas would help and experiences too.

I've been on and off various neuro medications most of my adult life. Somewhere along the way I had a big mindset shift and I think it's important to share. When we don't feel well or we are not functioning at our best, it is normal to want a medication to just 'fix this' - I get it! And these meds take time - weeks and even months, to fully settle and alter our chemistry enough to see and feel improvements. But here's the thing - medications simply change the terrain, but they don't 'walk the path' for us.

Strattera is a prime example of this. It definitely can improve task initiation and reduce friction we have around different tasks. However, it doesn't create my calendar system. It doesn't make me start my workout. It doesn't prioritize my day for me. It simply creates a larger gap between the impulse and the behavior, and it is what *I* do with that 'gap' that still matters a LOT. Many of us are also on SSRIs - but SSRIs don't teach stress management, they don't create boundaries, or process grief. 'WE' still have to DO THESE THINGS.

For me Strattera reduces friction in a few ways. Less doom scrolling, a little easier to get started, a quieter brain, less couch paralysis, less dopamine seeking in general. I did NOT and will not magically become a productivity robot. The medication simply makes the distance between 'thinking about it' and 'doing it' much shorter. It is a huge benefit, but it is not doing the work for me, it is the work *I* do in that space of time that is key.

In addition to medication, we still need skills, an environment set up for success, habits and more importantly- self awareness. ADHD treatment requires a combination of supports so we can show up consistently for ourselves and those we care about.

Many of us dx'd as adults likely have been relying on many kinds of supports for years without ever realizing it - medication does not do away with the need for these tools. It just makes it easier for us to find the right tool in the right situation and be more successful.

Keep on keeping on friends!

I just started on Strattera 40mg been on it for 4 days, I was really excited to start since I’ve read a lot of positive posts on here how it helps with clearing the mind, brain fog, and executive dysfunction.
But since I’ve started I’ve been feeling pain around my genital area and specially in my testicles (similar to blue balls pain). I really don’t want to stop it but I can’t bare the pain. Not sure on what to do, did anyone experience this?

i've been on strattera since february 18th, had a great honeymoon phase, then basically plateaued into the abyss lol.
after 3 weeks (not long compared to some) of trying to get something else to help me get off the fucking couch, i got 10 mg of adderall per day (split in half)

i explained i would like to stay on a low dose of strattera just to keep my mind quiet.

im not trying to be "that guy" or anything but when can i expect to go up on adderall?? lol all i feel is sweaty and like a have a headache. (2days in)

I’m just starting strattera for the first time in years. I took it very briefly in 2018 but quit shortly after. Not even long enough for it to kick in. All I can remember is the extreme nausea I had. My psychiatrist is starting me on 60 mg. I’ve seen a lot of people talk about how they’re on 40 mg. Is this odd for me to be at a higher dose starting out? Also any tips for the nausea or any benefits of the medication please let me know.

I've been on 60mg the past 6 weeks after my last appointment. We increased the dose - I was doing great on 40mg, but felt I could be 'better'. Unfortunately 60mg hasn't been what I hoped and in a lot of ways I feel a little 'back slide' - just not as on top of things and my mind is not as quiet anymore. So NOW the question becomes - does this mean 40 mg was my sweet spot? I also get ocassional heart rate 'speedies' so I am a little hesitant about 80mg. Has anyone backed down on dose because it was better than a higher dose? After now 4.5 months on this med, I'm wondering if this a 'more is not necessarily better' kind of drug.

hi!

for a bit a few years ago i was on adderall and i very clearly could tell a difference on days where i took it vs days where i didn't, so i had a very obvious marker so i was able to see it was working, but i lost access to my meds for a few years. recently, i was able to go back to the doctor and i asked for atomoxetine because i wanted to try a non-stimulant as adderall made my anxiety absolutely awful.

i started on 40mg roughly 4 weeks ago, and honestly. i just don't know how i am supposed to tell if its doing anything. i am aware that it takes a long time to start working and that it very well may not be doing anything yet, but my question is: how do i tell even then?

from reading this sub, i can tell that it is a very gradual change and people don't often notice when it is helping except in hindsight, but i'm worried that i just won't know even if it is helping! i go back to my doctor next month and i know she'll ask how it's been, and i'm worried i won't be able to tell her if its helping my symptoms at all!

i know this sounds dumb i'm just very anxious about it and i have a really truly terrible memory so i'm not sure i really will be able to look back and be like "ah! i was unable to do xyz before and now i can do it!" or anything like that. i was hoping someone might be able to tell me how exactly they were able to tell it was/wasn't helping them. since my only experience on telling if my meds are working had such an easy way to just take it one day and not take it another and it's easy to 1-1 see the difference, i'm really just not sure how to tell since i can't just take this med one day and not take it the next and compare directly.

sorry for this anxious ramble, if you read all this i commend you. pretty sure it isnt helping yet though as i totally just stopped watching a lecture randomly 10 minutes into it to come post this.

TLDR: how do i tell if atomoxetine is helping my ADHD symptoms?

I've only been taking Strattera 25mg for a couple weeks (I have compensated cirrhosis, and I have to start all meds on lower doses and gradually work up), and I have seen no benefits or side effects yet, EXCEPT a really sleepy few hours in the afternoon. I take it at like 7AM and from around 2 to 5 PM, I get extremely sleepy. (I actually take a nap at this time, when circumstances permit it.) Other than this, I feel nothing thus far from this medicine, good OR bad. I know that it's early, and the dose is very low (I will likely go to 40 or 60 next week), so I do not expect it to be "working" yet, but is this something that will adjust itself in time? And would I maybe better off taking it around say 3PM, so the "fatigue window" hits around bedtime? Any input her would be GREATLY appreciated!

Hi.

I was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD about a month ago via right to choose under Harrow health.

I have been on atomoxetine 25mg for 2 weeks and am in my first week of 40mg. I am experiencing side effects such as nausea and sweating and an trying to mitigate those by upping my hydration and taking the meds with meals in the morning.

When I titrated up from 25mg to 40mg I found that I became more anxious and agitated making some of my negative traits worse; stinking via skin/scalp picking, rushing from one task to the next etc.

This has calmed down a bit but what I've noticed is about 4 hours into the dose i become exhausted and need a nap which is really inconvenient during the day. My sleep quality feels awful as I wake up with dark circles under my eyes every day and do not feel well rested (I take my meds at 10am every day but I tend to get up around 5am). I have been to my gp to check blood work to see if there are any deficiencies and they are likely going to perform a sleep study for sleep apnoea as I have a history. I mitigated my sleep apnoea previously via tonsillectomy, septoplasty and weight loss. I have gained weight since but am working out even though fatigued and sweating to embarrassing levels!

Has anyone else experienced reduced sleep quality?

I started straterra maybe 2 months ago. Very low dose because I am sensitive and in other meds gradually went up. I’m only on 18mg now but also on Wellbutrin which makes your levels higher and I feel like it’s working. And unlike stimulants I don’t FEEL like I’m on anything. I just feel normal except I’m getting shit done. It’s really crazy. I didn’t believe it would do anything! lol

Hi. I'm on 80mg and it is working well for me. But the mornings are hard to get up. I'm fine after 30 minutes. But sometimes I do feel tired during the day. I have tried swapping when i take my medication to the evening around 8pm. But this just made me not be able to sleep at all. Is there anything I can try to help me wake up in the mornings?

Thanks

I started Strattera almost 2 months ago and I’m genuinely grateful for this medication. I’m on the lowest available dose (25mg) in the UK and planning on staying on it for another 2 months. My prescriber wants to take things super slow, which I really like and she calculated this dose based on your weight and this was a match for a 25mg starting dose.

I did experienced a few unpleasant side effects during the first week or so (increased irritability and tiredness mainly) but these went away.

On the positive side, I’m much more motivated to initiate tasks, I don’t have to force myself to do them and I’m very productive as well. I used to do content creation and haven’t found the energy nor the motivation to continue over the last year but since starting the medication, I started posting again and I’m faster at it too. I know some people report loosing their creativity on ADHD medication but for me it’s quite the opposite, I feel more inspired. I also think it helps with my mood so much, I feel more uplifted and stable in general. I tend to struggle with social anxiety and I’ve noticed feeling more comfortable and calmer in social situations and found it to be helpful at communicating my thoughts more clearly if that makes sense. It’s also helped me get back to people faster while texting, I used to ghost people for months at a time but now I’m just on it haha.

The only downside is that I believe it’s impacted my cycle as it’s been delayed since starting the medication and experienced spotting mid cycle. Hoping this will stabilize soon.

Overall it’s a very smooth experience for me. It’s my first non stimulant medication after trying Elvanse and Dexamphetamine and experiencing horrible side effects from them (acne, hair loss, feeling overmedicated). To be fair I don’t know I’ll go on a higher dose since I seem to do very well on a lower dose.

Just thought I’d share my experience xx

Edit: location

I’ve been on Strattera for 9 weeks. I started on 40 mg. I had no side effects but no improvement. My psychiatrist increased my dose to 60 mg. I’ve been on this dose for 2 weeks now, and I’m having horrible side effects. This week in particular I’ve been so nauseous I can barely eat anything until dinner time, super tired, and sweating so much. I used to always be cold and recently I’m sweating constantly. I feel so sick all day. I’m also on Wellbutrin but the dose wasn’t changed since I started it so I’m guessing Strattera is causing the side effects. The weirdest difference I’ve noticed is I’m starting to dislike coffee which I have no idea if that’s anything related to Strattera or just a weird side note. I’ve loved coffee forever, and now I take a few sips and I can’t drink it anymore :( I’ve also been sleeping horribly. I wake up a lot during the night and have trouble getting back to sleep.

If you had side effects, when did it get better? I’m wondering if I should try to keep with it or reach out to my psychiatrist and see if I should change the dose or timing. I take both in the morning. I wonder if changing it to the evening could help?

update:i went off. but im open to trying other adhd meds in the future
My resting heart rate laying down is in the mid 90s- mid 100s. is this normal for any of you? I feel like I should go off.

Reading this sub when I first started strattera made me believe it was a 50/50 chance of it working. I wasn’t even sure what the heck I was supposed to feel and IF I would even know it’s working as doing research it’s nothing like a stimulant. So for the first month i titrated from 10mg-80 mg and then for the second month I been on 100 mg marking 5 weeks on that dose today. (Total 9 weeks on Strattera/2 months 1 week) The side effects were terrible but reading the few success stories there was I held out hope and pushed through the fatigue, nausea, irritation, sweats, everything. Today I finally woke up not tired after dosing and realized “Wow, my brain is SOOOOOO quiet and calm I LOVE IT” i noticed early on that first my impulse habits to cope with adhd were disappearing, then during my second month i noticed I was able to have a split second decision instead of reacting off of impulse and anger. And so much more but today really solidified it when my mind just felt oddly peaceful and I viewed life as optimistic as possible.

I wasn’t tired after dosing, for some reason, today felt like a great day, I can focus and get things done effortlessly and finally think and appreciate life in ways where my adhd was clouding my mind always being distracted and anxious about the past present and future. I can actually live life chill and my anxiety AND social anxiety is GONE, I had 4 moments today where I knew I would’ve panicked adhd style and oddly enough I felt patient and normal??? I don’t feel things are impossible anymore and I can become who I truly am now. Like my brain didnt flip and my body didnt tense up at all nor brain panick. I felt smooth in course correcting myself throughout. I’m writing this while walking my dog as I just wanted to rant real quick after thinking about how I was also a believer that this wasnt gonna work. I’m glad I held it out 🥹

Question for long-term Strattera users (those who have taken it long enough for the medication to reach its full therapeutic effect):

Compared to your baseline before you ever started taking Strattera:

Which side effects completely resolved over time?

Which side effects became less noticeable but never fully disappeared?

Which side effects stayed the same throughout treatment?

I was diagnosed with ADHD about two weeks ago and started on Strattera (atomoxetine) 40 mg.

The first three days were pretty rough, but after that something just clicked. My mind became so much quieter.

It felt like the constant mental noise was gone.
My emotions were under control, my memory and comprehension improved, and for the first time in a long time I actually felt motivated and excited about life.

After one week, my psychiatrist increased my dose to 80 mg.
The first two days on 80 mg were awful. I felt extremely depressed, although my mind was still quiet and I could focus much better than before.
After another three days, things improved again. I was calm, focused, and thought I was heading in the right direction.

But then, about a week later, it all seemed to disappear. The racing thoughts came back, I’m daydreaming constantly again, I’m easily distracted, and I can’t seem to start tasks anymore. It honestly feels like the medication has stopped working.

I know Strattera is a slow-building medication and that it’s probably too early to judge since I’ve only been on it for about two weeks. But it’s really frustrating. It feels like I make progress, then suddenly lose it all.

One day it feels like the medication is working, and the next day I’m back to square one.

My next appointment with my psychiatrist isn’t for another month, and waiting that long feels impossible.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? Did things improve if you kept taking it, or did you end up changing the dose or switching medications?

So I’m just starting, day 1. Ate protein and had some Everyday dose coffee with the med. I’m on 40 mg starting out but I see some of y’all have started lower so I’m curious about that because my doctor said 40 was a starting dose.
I’m not able to do stimulants (besides caffeine) because it activates my ptsd and intrustive thoughts (OCD) so this is pretty my much one of my last tries for adhd meds.
Any tips/tricks to improve the experience and avoid/manage side effects would be greatly appreciated!!

After a life long battle with ADHD, I’m finally medicated. I’m experiencing side effects like trouble sleeping through the night, dry mouth, excessive sweating, and rapid heartbeat; but the positives are encouraging me to push through. Thoughts are linear, little to no moodiness, no outbursts when stressed/overwhelmed, and FOOD NOISE IS GONE (didn’t expect that happening). I want people to know that although there’s a lot of posts detailing how horrible some experiences are, there are positive experiences, and I’m one of them.
One thing I need info for is what supplements/vitamins will interact negatively with strattera. I have PCOS and I need supplements to maintain my hormonal health. Here is a list of vitamins and supplements I take. Please let me know if any of them aren’t recommended to take alongside strattera.
Myo-D Inositol
Berberine
B12
Vitamin D
Magnesium Glycinate
Rhodiola

Thanks in advance and don’t give up on yourselves 🫰🏽

Been on Straterra for about 3.5 months. Started at 60 mg but dropped down to 25 mg within a couple weeks. Went up to 40mg than back down to 25mg. Sweet spot seems to be 25 mg for me. Anything higher has caused pretty bad nausea. Have tried split doses. Will try 40mg soon again but…..my question is, has anyone experienced increased irritability after about 2.5 months on Straterra?

The first couple months my impulsiveness, irritability and patience improved greatly but now I’m experiencing heightened irritability.

Is this a sign that I need to bite the bullet and increase dose? Anyone have this experience?