Concerned about how Strattera is making me feel

I started Strattera a couple weeks ago. My doc gave me week sample bottles 20, 40, 60, and 80mgs. I see him for a follow up right before I finish the 80mg. (Currently halfway through 60mg.)

I am diagnosed both bipolar and ADHD. I've taken Adderall off and on for several years but have been off of it for a year because it was magnifying my anxiety terribly. I was then diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, finally, and getting help with that. I started Focalin in the summer and it was AMAZING (even at only 5mg - it was all I needed)! But then I lost insurance and it's almost $300 for me and I can't afford that.

After some trial and error with a couple antidepressants and antipsychotics, I'm now trying Strattera for the second time. I tried it about a year ago and quit it ASAP because of awful side effects: burning pee, painful orgasm, genital pain, etc.

So far, I've had some pretty bad days for about 3 days after upping the dose each time. Intense body sweats and chills, nausea, dry heaves, burning pee. But they dissipate. So far none of the previous side effects, which is strange. But I'm not complaining! HAHA

Unfortunately, I noticed about a week ago it's making me kind of "on edge." Like a nervous energy. Not necessarily full blown worrying anxiety, but just a feeling of strange energy. I feel rushed to do things. Like I feel it's important to finish folding the laundry as fast as I can, or the dishes, or anything. I know it's not making me manic because I don't have that energizer bunny energy running through me. And it's still largely hard to get motivated. I also sometimes feel, just sitting around, like my heart is going to pound out of my chest, like even worse than Adderall which is nuts. I take my pulse and it's not really that bad. I don't get it. I know it takes a while to build up but I'm wondering if this feeling will go away.

I'm not sure what's going on. Maybe it will go away soon. I don't want to quit it because I've tried 8 meds in the past 1.5 years for one reason or another. I've been talking 300mg Lamictal for 3 years. I started 30mg/day Buspar a couple weeks ago and I think it's already helping beautifully. Between that, therapy, and lifestyle changes… my crippling depression and anxiety and panic attacks has gotten SO MUCH better. In fact, I hadn't had a full blown panic attack in over a month, but last week I was right on the verge of having one a couple times for no real reason. Just built up anxiety. Now suddenly I feel strange and I'm pretty sure it's the Strattera?

I should perhaps add that my life isn't entirely stable either, so I know that plays a large part in everything.

I lost my job and moved back in with my parents. I'm trying to work on packing up my things to get ready to move. And also do job applications, interviews, and apply to go back to school. My brother got deployed right before Thanksgiving and I had a relationship end.

So I have been all over the place emotionally. Sometimes I wake up as many as 6x per night with bad dreams or just sudden anxiety so bad I throw up. So sometimes I just feel kind of "out of it." But so far I can't say the Strattera is doing much.

We'd kind of hoped the Strattera would act more as an antidepressant, and also me gather myself and be able to focus and follow through and get things done. I have good days and bad days, as expected. But I'm having more good days than bad days now. But sometimes even with the meds it's hard to get out of bed before noon and feel good and positive about my life. I just kind of felt like things were headed in a better direction prior to this.

I have ADD, anxiety, depression, schizo...I've been on several meds like strattera, dexidrine and others. I'm on adderall right now. One ADHD like med that gives some antidepressant boost without as much anxiety as the other meds is provigil (monofil.) It does not help the ADHD as much but it is better that being too anxious on the other meds. And, it did help with my depression a little.......D.

Thanks for the input. I had discussed all the typical and atypical meds with the doc. He told me he wasn't wild about Provigil yet because there was weak statistical evidence and it's expensive.

What was your experience with Strattera?

My wife is on Strattera but her pdoc said it wouldn't help with mood but might help with her fibromyalgia pain. I don't think it is helping, but she's also not having problems from it. She is usually very sensitive to meds. She has bipolar and will not take a stabilizer.

So far I really like strattera and it has helped me with my school work tremendously. I'm currently on 120mg a day and it's been going very well. It took several weeks for it be effective and I'm glad it kicked in during finals week

Wills, strattera did not work for me. It seemed like it did not help my ADD or my depression and I also had side effects from it. Although, the meds like Dexedrine and adderall can cause anxiety (usually if you aren't ADHD/ADD) I've found them to be extremely helpful with my depression. It was important for me to work out the right dosage and combo of other meds I take with it.

Docs are starting to look at monofil a little more. Here is a link to a new article about it:

Sleep Apnea Drug Helps To Fight Depression | The Healthy Mind with Dr. Zafirides

Sorry to hear! Strattera is very similar to Cymbalta so as I'm sure you know, it needs to be taken with plenty of food, can be taken anytime of the day, can be stimulating or can drowsiness, helps with depression and takes about 2-4 weeks to work. In the meantime the side effects should where off by then. I'd double ck with a pharmacist if you're still experiencing problems!

I couldn't tolerate Strattera, personally. Extreme nausea, headaches, and full-blown panic attacks every single day that I took it. I only lasted a week and a half on it before giving up. I felt very strange and out-of-it while on it, which would build up to anxiety and eventually a giant meltdown while at work.

I had a very similar experience with Strattera. For the first four weeks, when I was on 20mg and then 40mg, it was ok. As soon as I upped to 60mg, my world flipped, literally. I wanted to rip my skin off, I was constantly agitated, my ADHD was worse, my OCD was flaring, and worst of all, I was suicidal to the point where I locked myself in my house for three days and freaked my few friends out. As SOON as I stopped the Strattera, literally, within two days, I felt a zillion times better.

Just wanted to say I stuck out all the bad stuff and I've been on 100mg Strattera since mid-December.

No more nausea, headaches, elevated heart rate, etc.

However, like other guys have mentioned…. I have complete random issues with orgasm and ejaculation and urination. I won't go into detail unless requested.

I feel great, other than that. But I can't say how much is the Strattera itself or the others finally kicking in or the TONS of lifestyle changes I've made. I can't really pinpoint ONE thing where I can say, OH it has helped me TONS with that.

But I'm gonna stay on it for at least another month and see what's going on. I don't think all the "man" problems can be all that healthy in the long run :-/