Atomoxetine and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Fl ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2019

For ADHD "This atomoxetine is my first medication for ADD. I am already on 425 mg of Wellbutrin for depression and anxiety, this gives me energy, but that's all. Started on atomoxetine 40 mg for three days, then 60 mg for seven days. Made it about eight days before I stopped taking the medication. Immediate side effects: dry mouth, could not sleep, feeling tired, could not keep an erection, and burning orgasms. Tried to keep going, thinking it may go away, but it worsened after I started taking 60 mg, and I still had 80 mg and 100 mg pills to take after the 60 mg. Felt no difference in concentration and focus."

• TCa...
• June 12, 2022

For ADHD "50-year-old male. I've been taking 80 mg atomoxetine for about 3 months and it seemed to work for a while, then all I ended up with was side effects. I couldn't sleep, had zero energy, was terribly moody, had no desire to eat, depression was worse than ever. I would cry for no reason. Felt paranoid all the time and didn't want to leave the house or see anyone. Everyone could see the difference in me, and it wasn't for the good."

• Tpb...
• October 8, 2011

Atomoxetine for ADHD "The negative side effects were too much to deal with. I couldn't handle the irritability, agitation, depression, decreased libido and penis size, constipation, chemical odor in my excessive sweating. I couldn't remain in a deep sleep at night, feelings of helplessness and insecurities only when using Strattera. Sadness, and I can understand how suicidal thoughts tend to develop on this medication. There was a slight increase in my concentration. After discontinuing abruptly, the most intense nightmares and sleepless nights followed. Good luck, I hope you're one of the fortunate ones that this medication worked for. I am a 30-year-old male."

• Tes...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 20, 2023

Atomoxetine for ADHD "Strattera is awful. I am confident Strattera gave me an autoimmune disease and a lifetime of suffering from insomnia. I have not had any real or good sleep or barely any at all in the past 5 years because of this medication, and it feels like my brain is shutting down."

• Ann...
• September 8, 2016

Atomoxetine for ADHD "Was only on this for 4 days. I took 25 mg in the mornings. The side effects were bad and got progressively worse. My head felt weird and also headaches that lasted hours on end. Took extra long to fall asleep the third day. I barely ate the third and fourth day because the nausea was so bad. I would eat something small then feel like vomiting. The last day I tried to take it before bedtime as directed to try to sleep through the bad parts, but ended up calling off work because of severe insomnia. I would not recommend this stuff for anyone. Stay away from this stuff!"

• OhM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2018

Atomoxetine for ADHD "They said I could experience insomnia, constipation, and nausea, and that if I stuck with it, they may go away. I got all the side effects after 4 days of taking this and not sleeping at all, having absolute constipation on lockdown, and feeling like I just rode the zipper at the county fair if I so much as sat in a vehicle or turned my head too fast. I stopped taking this stuff! It took another 5 days to slowly get back to being able to sleep, being able to use the restroom normally, and once again experiencing no nausea. I would recommend rejecting any doctor who prescribes this and run if they try to use you as a guinea pig and push the medicine on you!"

• fma...
• January 17, 2016

Atomoxetine for ADHD "I am starting on a low dose as I was given a stimulant type at first, which made me feel sick and stopped me from sleeping. So now I am on Atomoxetine but just a low dose as I seem to suffer badly from side effects. At my recent assessment, the doc told me to increase the dose to 40 mg, then 80, but I decided to start on 20 mg, then 40 the second week. Only I am finding I can't sleep, so I am going to try to take it about 2 hours before bedtime, see if that helps. Not sure what to do if these don't work... Any advice would be grateful, thanks."

• fma...
• January 17, 2016

Atomoxetine for ADHD "I am starting on a low dose as I was given a stimulant type at first, which made me feel sick and stopped me from sleeping. So now I am on Atomoxetine but just a low dose as I seem to suffer badly from side effects. At my recent assessment, the doc told me to increase the dose to 40 mg, then 80, but I decided to start on 20 mg, then 40 the second week. Only I am finding I can't sleep, so I am going to try to take it about 2 hours before bedtime, see if that helps. Not sure what to do if these don't work... Any advice would be grateful, thanks."

• bin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2021

Atomoxetine for ADHD "I was recommended a non-stimulant ADHD medication by my psychologist because I have tics that a stimulant would make significantly worse. Strattera worked for about a month and a half on 50 mg before I had to go up to 100 mg due to the medication not working anymore. Once on 100 mg a day, it did little to help me get everyday tasks done, and on top of that, it came with terrible irritability and insomnia. As someone with bipolar disorder, this medication only extrapolated my mood swings. I’m now off the medication after 6 months and taking Lamictal to treat the bipolar symptoms that I feel Strattera made worse. In my opinion, Strattera could work for an individual, but personally, I absolutely could not get over the side effects. The increased heart rate from the medication also caused regular fatigue and chest pains. I let out an audible sigh of relief when my psychiatrist told me I should stop taking the medication. I definitely would not recommend Strattera."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 22, 2021

Atomoxetine for ADHD "I've been on 25 mg of Strattera for almost two months now. It's hard to tell if it is really working. I mean, here I am writing a review on it when I'm supposed to be doing university work. I think I noticed a slight improvement after a few weeks, but lately I have been very stressed, so maybe that is negating the benefits of the Strattera. The only side effects I have had were nausea in the first week and random chills during the first week as well. Both are long gone now. I also have been having trouble sleeping, but I'm not sure if it is from the Strattera, because I've had some good nights of sleep here and there. I also think that Strattera has helped improve my anxiety a bit along with my Viibryd. I might increase to 40 mg soon. If my sleep gets worse, then I'll know it is from Strattera. I'll keep taking it and see how I feel. Aside from the sleeping issues potentially being from Strattera, I haven't noticed any side effects, so it is not a hassle for me to continue trying it."

• Mad...
• August 23, 2021

Atomoxetine for ADHD "I started taking this at the beginning of April. I initially took a 5 mg dose. The first week or two had deplorable side effects such as stomach cramping, stomach aches, constipation (I already have constipation, but even laxatives wouldn’t help this time), and insomnia. However, after a week or two, these side effects, for the most part, seemingly subsided. I went off this after a couple of weeks of seeing no result and switched to something methylphenidate (Concerta), which also didn’t work and caused me worsened anxiety. After a few days of trying that, I decided to go back onto the Strattera and take it for a few months and see how it went. My dose was increased to 10, 15, 25, 40, and just recently to 60. I tried Adderall while on Strattera, which also didn’t help me focus. I’ve tried Strattera, Concerta, Adderall, and none of which have worked to help me focus with even slight amelioration. It did, however, improve my mild anxiety."

• sas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2021

For ADHD "I started this medication about two weeks ago, and it is so 50/50 for me. In some ways, it helps, but in other ways, it is just awful. I feel like I have a stronger ability to stay focused, and I feel more motivated, which is a plus! But everything else is just horrible. I went from fatigued all the time to so much energy that I can't fall asleep, and when I do, I can't stay asleep. I have GERD and IBS, and it's so harsh on my stomach that I lost a few pounds. I don't have a strong appetite, and my bowel movements are more active than normal. My body is so out of whack that I don't even know if it is worth taking anymore."

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2022

For ADHD "31 years old, and I was just diagnosed with having ADHD. I never had a clue that ADHD was a cause for all the “issues” I’ve been dealing with for well over a decade. Doc prescribed me atomoxetine. I started off with 40 mg for the first 7 days, and then on the 8th day, it was increased to 60 mg. Literally, the first day I could feel it. I was incredibly focused, my mind was able to process things easier, I had barely any anxiety, all around, the first day felt like a breeze. No stress at all. Felt like an entirely different person. I felt like this for the majority of the 23 days I was on this medication. The negatives to this drug were it made my insomnia even worse, and I eventually broke out in hives! I was barely sleeping, but somehow I was still feeling okay for most of the day, even with the lack of sleep. That’s the weird part. I stopped it cold turkey and experienced a horrible headache and cloudy brain for 5 days."

• I...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 6, 2019

For ADHD "I was once on Vyvanse, then I was taken off. I was prescribed atomoxetine (Strattera), and my first impression was an improvement in mood. While it did help with ADHD, I found it still harder to concentrate compared to a stimulant. A little insomnia did happen, but it was nothing one couldn't manage. I did, however, experience discontinuation shock syndrome when I missed doses, and especially when I had to go cold turkey because I couldn't afford my $15 co-pay. I really knew if I missed a dose if I kept getting dizzy, dizziness was all that happened, though, really. Regardless, I am now back on Vyvanse because I need it."

• Zir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2019

Atomoxetine for ADHD "Kept me from sleeping deeply enough to be restorative. Ended up getting severely ill due to lack of rest."

• Anonymous
• March 4, 2008

Atomoxetine for ADHD "I had mild trouble sleeping and developed Raynaud's after 2 years of taking this."

• Kit...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 18, 2016

Atomoxetine for ADHD "All it did was make me feel like a zombie. I personally don't recommend this drug, as it only makes you get nauseous and very tired and causes insomnia."

• Anonymous
• November 18, 2009

Atomoxetine for ADHD "Taking it for adult ADHD, and it doesn't work. Still focus in my classes, no appetite, and very moody, coupled with insomnia."