Atomoxetine and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• liv...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 27, 2012

Atomoxetine for ADHD "I have been on Strattera for 6 years. I take one 18 mg a day. When I take it, I don't feel like myself. I feel depressed. I feel tired all the time. So for me, I don't like it, but so far, they haven't found anything else that will work for me."

• Ato...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 6, 2015

Atomoxetine for ADHD "45-year-old woman, 138 lbs, 5'7''. Started at 25 mg and titrated slowly. Noticed within a week my stress responses improved. Continued to increase as there was no change to organization, memory, or attention. Felt okay even at 100 mg. Then since I started 120 mg, I feel quite unwell. I don't think I can sustain this dose as side effects are strong: nausea after 1 hr of ingestion, tiredness, feeling as though I've had too much strong coffee. The side effects are definitely more pronounced if I'm not doing anything, so I try and stay active and never take this on an empty stomach! I'll give it 2 more weeks at 120 mg (which will be 6 weeks total), then gently titrate down. It gives me palpitations, too, which make me unhappy. I get this free on NHS in the UK."

• Lui...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2016

Atomoxetine for ADHD "I am just starting to take this medication. I'm 54 years old. I was diagnosed with ADHD in 2006 but never took this medication. I hope I'm not making a mistake. For now, my insurance pays for it 100% because I met my out-of-pocket max for the year. I have Harken Insurance, which is phenomenal insurance if you can get it. It's not offered in every state, but Georgia is one. It sounds very expensive, but the main point is that it helps my ability to focus and be more productive and not feel tired or irritable."

• 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."

• Han...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2020

For ADHD "I was on atomoxetine 25 MG for 2 weeks and couldn’t take any longer. I am also on 25 MG of Lexapro (over a year now), so these two meds combined were horrible for me. The two weeks on atomoxetine I was so tired, nothing felt real, my dreams were terrible and scary. The side effects were just not worth it for me, so I just can't keep taking it. I just felt so lazy and like nothing matters, lol. Not sure if I’m alone in these side effects, but just wanted to share my experience."

• And...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 4, 2021

Atomoxetine for ADHD "I tried this medication on several different occasions for at least 3-4 months each go-around, all at the 80-100 mg dosage level. Not only did I quite literally not notice any positive benefits, but I had loads of side effects. Side effects like severe irritability, foggy brain, and lethargy. Combine that with the horrible withdrawals after stopping the medication, or forgetting a dose, and it is an absolute NO GO. In short, this medication is a dependence-forming placebo with side effects. I'm back on Vyvanse and will never try non-stimulants ever again."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2023

Atomoxetine for ADHD "I'm currently on day 12 of Strattera, it is making me feel terribly tired during the day. I'm on 40 mg of Strattera, and I've had to take 100 mg of Modafinil to get through my workday. I'm feeling less impulsive and confident in myself. However, I'm still struggling to get through the day, I get fatigue bouts during the day, and if I can take rest, I will. Can anyone give me advice on how long this tiredness will last?"

• Kyl...
• April 14, 2016

Atomoxetine for ADHD "I have had ADD for several years now (I'm 24). I was taking Adderall for a while, but it flared up my anxiety. I am now prescribed Strattera, and so far, no good. I'm only on day 3, but I feel absolutely exhausted and irritable. Considering giving up on it because it's the end of the school semester, and I can't afford to feel this tired with all the work I have to do."

• 123...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 17, 2021

For ADHD "I have been on medications for years for ADHD and have tried every single one. This medication is the one that works best for me, however, it makes me extremely sick and makes me even more anxious. The medication also keeps me up all night long, so I’m exhausted during the day. Stay off the medicine if you can."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2015

Atomoxetine for ADHD "Well, it worked. That's about all I can say. You'll be able to focus, and if you don't mind the fact that the ONLY thing you'll be able to focus on is how tired, nauseated, and occasionally slightly mad you feel, this is the medicine for you. Despite that, it's worth noting that I'm only 17 and ~130 pounds, which is really close to the minimum weight on the box. Based on what I've seen, it seems to work better for ~30-year-olds who aren't underweight. Not a professional, obviously, though, so take this with a grain of salt."

• Fir...
• February 15, 2015

Atomoxetine for ADHD "I just started taking Strattera a little less than two weeks ago. I was taking Adderall for two years, but my doctor took me off it because he was concerned that I suddenly began losing weight rapidly. I haven't noticed many side effects from Strattera, but I have been a little more tired than usual. I still haven't seen any increase in my ability to focus, but it seems like it could take up to a month or so for the full effect. However, I also have epilepsy, which might possibly make my experience with it much different than others. Here's to hoping it works out!"

• fre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2022

For ADHD "Been taking atomoxetine for 17 days for ADHD. No side effects except for tiredness during the day. I take it on an empty stomach with no problems. Started off on 20 mg, now on 40 mg. Will get upped to 80 mg in 7 more days, but I feel no effect on my ADHD so far. Took stimulants for 2 days and thought no way would I take that crap full time, but did notice calmness by taking stimulants, so I have some idea of what normal should feel like. Will follow up in a couple of weeks."

• tay...
• May 4, 2009

Atomoxetine for ADHD "The first day I took an 18 mg pill. I was tired during the day, so I stopped. My doctor suggested I try again, this time taking 5 mg before bed. After a few days of feeling tired all day, I realized something was very wrong. I also read that there is a possible interaction with Wellbutrin XL, which I am also taking. I stopped the Strattera and am back to 'normal' again."

• 27 ...
• February 8, 2022

For ADHD "I started taking this 2 weeks ago for ADHD. I take one in the morning and one around 2/3. They make me feel a little loopy and extremely tired by the end of the day. Not sure if that’s normal or not. But I’ve noticed that I stop daydreaming in class as much, and I have more motivation after I take them. I do get a little hot-natured on them though."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 5, 2016

For ADHD "I've been on Strattera for 5 days now, 40 mg in the morning and 200 mg of Wellbutrin SR 2x a day for depression. So far, I think for me it's been good. Only side effects are tiredness during the day, headaches, and loss of appetite. I believe the worst of the side effects happen in the first month of use, so I'd like to try 80 mg in a month to see how I do on that amount. More irritable at times throughout the day, but since I know that can be a side effect, I try to control my mood when I notice it becoming bad. I've not taken it on its own, so I don't know if that's why I am doing good on it, Wellbutrin and Strattera together, but so far so good."

• Do...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2019

For ADHD "I took atomoxetine for about two months, and the only changes I noticed were: very high blood pressure readings for the whole time I was taking it (I usually have low to normal blood pressure, and the readings I was getting were in the 130-150s), extremely tiredness, I took naps all day. I felt angry fairly often. I did take a Teva generic, so maybe that plays something into it, but seeing as many people here who don’t respond to this drug have similar experiences, I doubt the generic made any real difference. If stimulants don’t work for you, then try it, but I don’t think this drug has very much of a success rate."

• San...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 26, 2025

For ADHD "11/10 - this drug has changed my life!! I used to have crippling anxiety, so bad that I could barely leave the house. I got scared of my own heartbeat, scared of feeling dizzy. Was scared to look at the moon. This drug was prescribed for ADHD, but I was so, so, so nervous to take this medication. Side effects on day 1 were not super fun. I felt nauseous, got sweaty, very tired. Essentially zero side effects after that, aside from waking up in the night sometimes. I am a NEW PERSON!! I cannot experience anxiety anymore. My ADHD is manageable, and I have a new lease on life. I am so eternally grateful to have found this medicine."

• Jac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2023

Atomoxetine for ADHD "Pretty rough experience on 50 mg. Had intense stomach pains and indigestion, extreme tiredness/lethargy, and overall felt spaced out."

• Jac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2023

Atomoxetine for ADHD "Pretty rough experience on 50 mg. Had intense stomach pains and indigestion, extreme tiredness/lethargy, and overall felt spaced out."

• Flo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2024

Atomoxetine for ADHD "Working, but not to the degree it did when I was younger. I am experiencing extreme fatigue and lethargy. I was experiencing a runny nose and dry mouth, but those have subsided."

• Sta...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 21, 2018

Atomoxetine for ADHD "I have been using this for 7 months, starting at 40 mg and slowly increasing to 80 mg. I have had no side effects other than tiredness, but also no impact on symptoms."

• Uma...
• February 18, 2014

Atomoxetine for ADHD "I am a 48-year-old woman in good health. I did not notice a difference at all. The only side effects I had were some tiredness and loss of appetite. Good luck."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 10, 2017

Atomoxetine for ADHD "Strattera made me feel like a zombie. It did not help me focus. I actually focused less. I was always incredibly exhausted, and I was sleeping 16 hours a day."

• Anonymous
• November 2, 2009

Atomoxetine for ADHD "It makes me calm, but I'm tired all the time."

• AdD...
• November 6, 2009

Atomoxetine for ADHD "It makes you sick, doesn't work, impossible to eat when you're on it, and makes you tired."