Strattera and Irritability: What Users Say (Page 2)

• M R...
• April 27, 2016

For ADHD "My doctor put me on basically the fastest titration. 40 mg for 4 days, then 80 mg after that. The first 4 days on 40 mg were awful. The worst of the side effects being insomnia. I had to call out of work for a few days to catch up on sleep. I could not fall asleep at all. The doc prescribed Trazodone to sleep. That helped after being sleep deprived for a few days. I've heard of people upping their dose and having the side effects lessen and positive side effects increase. Wrong. First day on 80 mg I had crippling nausea, body aches, massive headache, off-the-chart irritability, burning urination (with white discharge), and thoughts of suicide. No joke. I've read of people having this happen to them, but it's a rare side effect."

• Taw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2018

For ADHD "The first 2 months on it are awesome... focus, drive, energy... but I need a nap 5 hours after I take it. Then there’s a shift. I’ve done this twice: taking 80mg for 2 months, then all of a sudden, I’m angry. Agitated. Outbursting. Cannot focus to save my life... and exhausted. I’ve never tried Ritalin, but I may now."

• One...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2017

For ADHD "I am a 27-year-old male, on this drug for 3 weeks, so I can't really comment on its efficacy, as it takes 2-4 weeks to start working. All I can say is it didn't help me. I took 40 mg for 7 days, then went up to 80 mg for 2 weeks. I had to stop taking it because of the side effects - I was getting severe irritability to the point where I was yelling at the top of my lungs at people for minor mistakes and generally grumpy. Based on this and other side effects - needing to urinate far more regularly than usual, heart palpitations, feeling down for no good reason, and insomnia - my doctor decided it wasn't right for me. This is a rare reaction which is unlikely to happen to you, but if you get it, tell your doctor."

• Sha...
• August 25, 2016

For ADHD "This stuff must've been brewed up by a demon in the depths of hell, 'cause it was awful. I can't explain the feeling when it kicked in other than I wasn't prepared, and I could definitely feel it kick in. Also, it was too much for me to really be helpful. I felt a lot like I did when I tried to take Vyvanse once, and it was so bad I threw the stuff away, and years later I'm just trying to get back on meds. Well, it also makes me really tired and agitated, but it's difficult to sleep after it kicks in because for the next three or four hours, it just hits me in waves. A week into taking it, I started getting so bummed I eventually started feeling suicidal. Will never take this stuff again."

• Dri...
• April 7, 2021

For ADHD "I went on Strattera doing high school upgrades as a mature student and not being keen on stimulants. Doing trade work, I found meds unnecessary as the physicality helped mitigate my ADHD. I slowly went up from the lowest dose to 80 mg. I stayed there for two months and then went to 100 mg. What a disaster. Up to 80 mg, I experienced minor irritability, fatigue, and low mood, but all quite manageable. Within a week of 100 mg, my sanity was wrecked. Irrational hostility, aggression, disorientation, crippling fatigue, confusion, and mood swings. At my lowest point, I was nonfunctional. I had to drop one of my distance courses and may miss my program deadline. I avoided stimulants as I was worried about insomnia. Big mistake. Doctors tell me it'll take a month to wean me off this stuff. YMMV, but if you don't have serious addiction issues, heart problems, or another stimulant contraindication, I suggest avoiding Strattera as a first choice."

• Sca...
• February 2, 2016

For ADHD "The first month on Strattera, I did not feel well. It made me tired and grumpy. Then, after it stopped being a nuisance, it started being nothing. No help, ZERO. Waste of time, money, and liver. I quit cold turkey after my 6th month script ran out. Too expensive to continue paying a lot of money for ZERO. (I no longer had the same insurance that had a copay. I do not know how much it would have cost with my new insurance.)"

• Ste...
• April 6, 2015

For ADHD "I had a bad reaction from Ritalin, so I was given Strattera. Strattera gave me, and still gives me, a nauseous feeling. I always take it with food and after driving to avoid this side effect as much as possible. At times, it gives me headaches and irritability due to me feeling off. It is very effective in controlling my hyperactivity. I am much more attentive. Its benefits outweigh its current side effects. I recommend talking to your doctor and to keep trying new medicines to find out what works best for you. I gave it a 6/10. It's expensive, around $140."

• Gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 19, 2015

For ADHD "I have been looking for a medication that will keep me at a stable pace all day, not with the several ups and downs I experience on Motiron and Ritalin. I have tried Adderall, Ritalin, Strattera, and more than 3 other medications. But of all the medications I have tried, Strattera gave me the worst side effects by far. I felt sick to my stomach, irritable, toxic, I had a headache for 3-4 hours a day, and the come down was terrible. I went through extreme periods of depression and anxiety while on this medication for only 2 weeks! I know some people can feel the effects after a few weeks, but for me, it just wasn't worth it to continue. Hope it works for others, but this non-stimulant was all side effects and no help for my ADHD."

• Mat...
• October 31, 2019

For ADHD "I have always struggled at school with attention, disruption, hyperactivity, and just generally focused. Into my teens, much the same, but more intensive. In trouble with the law, kicked out of high school. My parents struggled to control my impulsive behavior. Fast forward 25 years, I was finally diagnosed with ADHD. Strattera 40 mg was prescribed to me straight away along with an antidepressant. I was hoping to start stimulant medication, but I was recommended this non-stimulant. I am currently taking 100 mg for a period of about 8 weeks and have found it to help a little with focus but has made me very impatient and irritable, mood swings. I find that my impulsive behavior is still there, I'm constantly looking to fill my day with some activity that gives me a rush of adrenaline or anxiety. I haven't tried stimulant medication, so I'm curious as to the effects it might have on me. Overall, I feel Strattera helps a little, but I can't say definitively."

• Bec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2021

For ADHD "I was okay at first. Then, 4 weeks into taking this, I'm tired, sluggish, itchy, irritable, constipated, nauseous, headaches, and having horrible, crazy dreams. This drug needs to be taken off the market with all the side effects. I can't believe doctors actually prescribe this drug, and I'm in the process of looking for a new one after he put me on this. Don't take this medication unless you don't want to poop or you want to call off sick because you think you have COVID or the flu due to the horrible side effects. I would give a zero for the rating. But that's not an option."

• SA1...
• February 11, 2021

For ADHD "After half a year on Strattera, there’s no denying it takes some time to feel the overall benefit, and for me, it was a few months into taking it that I really started to feel the effectiveness and overcoming side effects-irritability/nightmares/mild GI discomfort, etc. I started on 10 mg and am now on 50 mg, although I reckon that might be a tad high as I found it remarkably beneficial at as low as 10 mg. That being said, though, I have found personally that whilst a good medicine, it does have its limits to what it can offer for ADHD. I find it has helped more with my accompanying depression overall, and whilst still better than zero medication, I think I will now explore the first-line ADHD treatment-stimulant medication-and see if there’s any I find useful. I could be wrong, maybe it is helping my ADHD in a different kind of way, but I won’t know for sure unless I try them all. Best of luck! Hope it clicks for you!"

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

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."

• Tpb...
• October 8, 2011

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."

• Tpb...
• October 8, 2011

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."

• Anonymous
• July 17, 2011

For ADHD "I am a 31-year-old female, and I tried Strattera as my first ADHD medication. I have been on an antidepressant for years as well. I liked the way this medication made me feel so much calmer. However, it gave me miserable heartburn, to where I would lose sleep and be so uncomfortable at other times as well. I also felt a little agitated, but my anxiety level did go way down on this medication. I also had to take it at night because it made me very sleepy. Upon my doctor's advice, we decided to change to Adderall ER."

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

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."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 17, 2015

For ADHD "Since I've been on Strattera, I've felt tired and listless -- I can't even work up enough energy for essentials like laundry and dishes. I've been on it for 5 months. My worst side effects are nausea, fatigue, irritability, and strange dreams. It feels like I start dreaming before I even fall asleep, and it's driving me crazy. In typical ADHD fashion, I forgot my meds at work over the weekend and had to go without -- I woke up at 4 am to the worst headache I've ever had. I have an appointment on Wednesday and will be doing my damnedest to get my doc to switch me to a different med. I think it did a little for my ADHD, but I also upped my coffee intake while I was on this med."

• Kyl...
• April 14, 2016

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."

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

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."