Straterra Part 2

So, I still haven't had a good night's sleep since starting Straterra about 2 weeks ago. I have been taking some sleep aids I picked up at the grocery store, but they don't seem to do much of anything to make me tired. I have another appointment later this week, and I hope the Doc has something better for me to try.

I am now at the 80mg dosage and for the first half of the day I was an absolute zombie. I take the meds at night to avoid the side effects, but since it has a long half life, it doesn't seem to make much of a difference. I feel disoriented, dizzy, and I think I can feel my brain freaking out a little.

The drug has done nothing to improve my life, and in fact I'd say I'm worse off than I was before I started taking it. I can't concentrate on anything and I find myself nodding off frequently. I should point out that the drug often takes several weeks to show positive signs, but from what I've been able to gather it works best at tempering the more "hyper" issues of which I have, but keep in check pretty well. I need help with the concentrating and attention part of the problem. I think if you were hyper this drug would bring you down. If you were a rampaging elephant this drug would bring you down!

Anyway, I have to go contemplate witting Eli Lilly a nasty letter.

Update-been a while

I went back on Straterra after the holidays and it has not been good to me. Straterra is a non-stimulant medication originally used to treat depression, but it didn't really work for that application and supposedly works for about 75% of ADHD patients. It is a stepped plan in which you take progressively larger doses up to 80 mg, I am on the third step of four and I have to say I am not happy. Apparently it take a while to begin to work (a few weeks) and in the beginning there is a higher likelihood of side effects until you level out so to speak.

I have been enjoying all sorts of fun side effects. It made me tired and spacey. I even had to go home one day. I changed from taking it in the morning to taking it at night as I had heard some people do better with the side effects (you sleep though them). Apparently it also causes insomnia. I haven't had a good night of sleep in 4 days. Last night was ridiculous. I was up most of the night, and had the weirdest dreams.

I'd like to say screw it and go back to taking something else, but I have decided to stick it out at least until my next appointment in a week or two in the hopes the side effects will wear off and maybe the actual beneficial part of the drug will begin to work! Right now, I'm a spaced out tired zombie.

On to a new med - Strattera

So, after a month on Rittalin, I talked to my Dr. and we decided to give Strattera a try. The reason we switched was that Rittalin didn't really do a very good job of treating my ADHD symptoms. It gave me an energy boost, but it was hard to focus that energy in a positive way. Addreall which I took before had better results in being focused, but came with a host of other side effects that didn't work well for me.

Strattera is supposed to be different in that it doesn't work as a stimulant, it takes a while to work too, so I haven't been able to form an opinion on it yet. The drug is a little unique in that you take an increasing larger amount of the drug for the first month. Each week is a more potent dose until you reach a point at which you remain indefinitely. I am hoping that the non-stimulant will work for me. Apparently some people just don't react well on them and those people do better on this drug. My fingers are crossed.