Combinations - Adderall and Strattera / Anyone Been On Strattera?

[Chrispy]

My friend, Swim, has been on Adderall XR 40mgs a day for months, prescribed for the depressed side of bipolar disorder and ADD symptoms. Her new med Dr. is taking her off Adderall XR and putting her on Strattera cause it’s a non-stimulant, but does pretty much the same thing. Swim was NOT happy about this, so she took what was left of her Adderall, put the beads in a container, and filled the rest with sugar so no one would know. This way she can have it when it gets taken away.

I don’t know much about Strattera and neither does my friend. If anyone here has been on it, that’d be cool if you could tell me what it’s like, what it does, etc. I already looked it up, so anything besides what it says on like Wikipedia. I want to know Swiy’s experience on it.

The other thing is this. She saved up her Adderall so she can take it WITH the Strattera. Swim is obsessed with her mania and hopes this will induce a manic episode. I don’t know if it’s dangerous for her though.

Is it okay to take them both at the same time and what will if FEEL like is she takes them both? Can Strattera even induce a manic episode, if you know? Oh, and is Strattera addictive like Adderall? One more thing. How hard is it to come off Adderall? Will the Strattera help with the depression from coming off it?

Thanks,

- Chris

[staples]

Originally Posted by Chrispy

My friend, Swim, has been on Adderall XR 40mgs a day for months, prescribed for the depressed side of bipolar disorder and ADD symptoms. Her new med Dr. is taking her off Adderall XR and putting her on Strattera cause it’s a non-stimulant, but does pretty much the same thing. Swim was NOT happy about this, so she took what was left of her Adderall, put the beads in a container, and filled the rest with sugar so no one would know. This way she can have it when it gets taken away.

I strongly suggest finding yet another doctor. I currently see a psychiatrist who specializes in ADHD. I was once interested in atomoxetine (Straterra) but was a little confused about it in light of what I understood about ADHD. I remember very clearly asking my doctor how atomoxetine worked in treating ADHD, and almost before I finished asking my question her immediate response was "it doesn't."

She elaborated, of course, but atomoxetine was originally developed and submitted to the FDA as a treatment for depression, but it failed to show enough efficacy over placebo. As a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI), Eli Lilly realized the potential efficacy in ADHD and succeeded in showing such efficacy with clinical trials. However, unless there were any particular issues or side effects to Adderall, it seems a little illogical to me for the doctor to justify switching SWIY from Adderall just because the doctor prefers to prescribe non-stimulant medication. If switching doctors is not an option, I would kind of hope that atomoxetine is not effective or causes side effects so that the doctor is forced to reconsider such an arbitrary decision.

Originally Posted by Chrispy

The other thing is this. She saved up her Adderall so she can take it WITH the Strattera. Swim is obsessed with her mania and hopes this will induce a manic episode. I don’t know if it’s dangerous for her though.

This doesn't sound like very healthy behavior, if Adderall induces manic episodes, it may be best to at least lower the dosage.

Originally Posted by Chrispy

Is it okay to take them both at the same time and what will if FEEL like is she takes them both? Can Strattera even induce a manic episode, if you know? Oh, and is Strattera addictive like Adderall? One more thing. How hard is it to come off Adderall? Will the Strattera help with the depression from coming off it?

Atomoxetine is not considered addictive like amphetamine-based medications. Both amphetamine and atomoxetine increase noradranergic activity and could potentially have a synergistic interaction, so SWIY should certainly be careful if SWIY chooses to combine them.

[BA142]

SWIM has taken Strattera on one occasion. SWIM can safely say that Strattera is a huge waste of time and any medication that isn't a stimulant can't really efficiently treat the symptoms of ADD or ADHD, or be used recreationally.

[illusive21]

SWIM thinks straterra is a good way to be tired and depressed.

[BA142]

Originally Posted by illusive21

SWIM thinks straterra is a good way to be tired and depressed.

SWIM thinks that strattera could potentially be used as a comedown remedy for amphetamine use

[BoyzNoize]

The thing is though strattera is not a one pill wonder drug most people have to be on it for at least a month and yes the initial effects are sometimes unpleasant and people have to sometimes bear through the initial effects. Swim has had great success with it and likes it a lot more than stim meds. It provides 24 hour control so when swim wants to do some late night work and still be focused he does not have to worry about being up all night and being even worse in school. Why only have windows of focus? ADHD is also a lot more than just the inability to focus. It can be being impatient, destructive relationships and not being very social. So why take a drug that only is a temporary fix and makes you adhd worse on the comedown with sims? Not to mention the added benefit of heart health and the neurotoxcisity associated with dopamine releasing agents.

[laws0n]

Strattera wont do "the trick" for SWIY like adderall does.

Adderall helps with ADD because its an amphetamine which works like an "upper" basically it helps people focus more because it well any upper will help anyone focus more. It works for ADD but also it works for people who dont have ADD, its an amphetamine so of corse it has potential for abuse, and it has other side affects, sure it helps ADD but all it really does is "pep people up" so their all speedy and can pay attention more. For SWIM it makes the boring things seem more exciting so therefore SWIM is more into it.

Strattera is a newer technoligy medication that claims to help with ADD but dosent have all the side effects that Adderall does. It doesnt make people hyper, infact SWIMs friends have told him that it makes them more tired. Instead of an upper SWIM thinks that its suposed to work in the brain with the receptors and correct the flow of seratonin (SWIM thinks its that), sort of like anti depressants. That could be why it claims "best results within 1 month of continus use" just like anti depressants.

Since it seems like SWIY isnt happy about this she could tell the doctor next visit that its not working, SWIYs grades are falling, she feels groggy whatever works and SWIY's doc should put SWIY back on adderall.

As far as a combo, just forget the sttratera and take the adderall if SWIY isnt going to give it an honest try. It wont get SWIY "high" or "speedy" so theres really no use in taking it.

SWIY's doctor probly has recently heard about the addictiveness and recreational use of adderall and is trying to get whoever he can to switch to Sttratera to reduce the possible side effects and missuse. Remember SWIYs doc thinks that SWIY just has ADD, and dosent really notice the "speedy" effect and dosent know their amphetamines blahblahblah, so hes just trying to see if something would work for SWIY thats less of a risk.

Good luck =).

[staples]

Originally Posted by laws0n

Strattera is a newer technoligy medication that claims to help with ADD but dosent have all the side effects that Adderall does. It doesnt make people hyper, infact SWIMs friends have told him that it makes them more tired. Instead of an upper SWIM thinks that its suposed to work in the brain with the receptors and correct the flow of seratonin (SWIM thinks its that), sort of like anti depressants. That could be why it claims "best results within 1 month of continus use" just like anti depressants.

It targets norepinephrine instead of seratonin, but it was indeed originally intended to treat depression, not ADHD.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Great info clarifying what SWIlaws0n wasnt sure about

[aaronitotheburrito]

I am about to be put on Stratterra im very excited. I have a chemical dependency problem and am in outpatient. A big part of my drug usage is self medicating my ADD and Anxiety to get studying done.

I may get Welbutrin. I just don't want any Amp related meds id eat them bitches up.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Eventhough ur script use SWIM to prevent self inc of missuse of meds