Help strattera

There are several flairs that can go here but I settled on this one.
Doing my best isn't good enough. I failed three of my classes. Three classes I needed to pass to get my LPN. I was diagnosed almost 6 weeks ago. Happy fucking birthday to me.
I'm am trying so hard, and I still can't pass classes, I can't hold down a job, and I'm so used to being brushed off and ignored I can't ask help or let people know I'm struggling.
When I try to explain I get hit with unhelpful advice or told to try harder. Flash cards don't help. Because I don't have to focus to make them or even look at them.
I feel stupid. I've already tried Ritilin, (tried it for 3 weeks) which didn't help with anything. I'm now on Strattera for almost three weeks and nothing. No difference.
I also struggle with C-PTSD, GAD, chronic depression, fibromyalgia, PCOS, and IBS. I know there isn't a magic pill that will fix me, but it shouldn't be so difficult to find one that helps.

Does anyone have experience with the non-stimulant medication Strattera (atomoxitine)? I was just prescribed this med because I can’t have stimulants (I have a heart condition) and I’m trying to find out if it works at all. I was diagnosed at 13 and am now 32 and used to take Adderall before the heart condition was diagnosed. I am really hoping it helps me because I have been struggling both at work and home. Thanks in advance!

Hello all,
I have begun looking into medications that will work for me and have been able to try 3 kinds.
Strattera 25mg

• I tried this and on the very first dose I experienced the effects of the medication on the first day (2 hours in). As far as I can tell reading online reports, this is not normal but not uncommon?
• I experienced my internal monologue having the ability to turn off, and I was able to switch tasks effectively, wait my turn in conversation, and in general, it felt like because I had less focus on everything overall, I was able to focus my attention freely because I had more energy in the tank so to speak.
• I did feel a bit like a zombie in a way. I did get other side effects, like the random chills, sexual issue (weird ejaculation / orgasm syncronization issue) I stopped taking these.

Vyvanse 10mg

• I tried this for a few days before my medication was switched (insurance issue) - I still have these on hand and may need to continue taking them for reasons you will read later
• I experienced a very mild euphoria, but I noticed while it didn't really quiet my mind very much, I was able to effectively "stay on track" so to speak when performing work duties. My anxiety is a bit better
• Side effects: just getting a headache because of dehydration

Adderall 10mg

• I am taking this right now for a few days, and the experience is not great It feels like nothing is happening except the feeling of chugging 200mg caffeine on an empty stomach.
• My anxiety is pretty bad. I am not staying on track in work, I am back to living on the internet with 50 tabs open look random shit up with lots of distractions sadly.
• Side effects: dehydration

Here's my questions:

1. What the hell was going on with Strattera? I miss having the "no thought head empty" levels of focus, but the zombie feeling was a little concerning.
2. Should I tell my doctor that I will stop taking adderall and we can work out the insurance issue? Or should I stick with it for another week and see if it improves?

I know that I’m lucky to have survived my first covid infection that lasted 21 days despite taking two rounds of Paxlovid. I also feel lucky I was able to stay on one of the antidepressants I had already been taking. But I’m not sure if I can keep up with even a low activity life. I could use some encouragement. I’ve taken so much in my own hands and wonder when is the point at which someone in the medical profession helps or even anyone in society? No one in my family believes me so I don’t even bother asking for help.
When I got infected, I had already been diagnosed with autoimmune arthritis for which I take an immunosuppressant and mental illness for which I took both an SSRI and strattera. Because I was immunosuppressed, I was isolated socially during the pandemic but doing okay. The strattera was used to help my attention issues. After my infection, I started Paxlovid and discontinued strattera to protect my heart.
after I finally tested negative, I started getting abnormal heart rate alerts while at rest from my watch. I had chest pain. Although I had previously been a distance runner, I would end up in bed for days after even brief exercise. Needless to say, I wasn’t able to restart strattera. My HRV was shot.
I am allergic to NSAIDs so my main way of managing arthritis pain was increasing my pain tolerance through distance running. But I’m no longer able to run. I have trouble walking. My rheumatologist said I can only have prednisone if my knees swell to the size of grapefruits.
Separate from the fatigue and heart issues, I have brain fog. It’s much worse than my attention issues before covid. I’m sensitive to every day stimuli, have word finding and memory issues, and sometimes feel mentally exhausted. My doctors have not done the paperwork that can help me get accommodations at work and I’m getting tired of searching for doctors.
What I’ve done so far: - I had been having what seemed like allergic reactions to nothing. I eventually started taking Xyzal and quercetin. I had read about those on the internet. I also take vitamin D and turmeric.

• Noticing that my hemoglobin MCHC and MCH were low and my RDW was in range but at the top of the range, I convinced a NP to order vitamin D, iron, ferritin, and TIBC. I found my iron was okay but ferritin and iron sat were low and TIBC on the high side of normal. The NP and my psychiatrist did not think these would be sufficient to account for my complaints but I thought why not knock out some low hanging fruit? And at least later no one could attribute my dysautonomia to being anemic.
  
• I have been having GI issues and can’t stand the iron pills. But I feel I have no choice.
  
• I stopped eating aged cheese. This was the only food trigger I found.
  
• I eat more salt.
  
• I thought inflammation in my brain might be making matters worse. I tried an induction course of ketamine as a sort of Hail Mary. It did help but it’s very expensive. My Gad-7 and PHQ-9 are no longer showing more than mild anxiety and depression but my brain fog and fatigue remain despite not being moody. And who wouldn’t be moody if they could no longer work, run, cook, think, stand up for a shower, or speak as they had previously done?
  

I couldn’t find anyone who would write for LDN so I tried getting it online. My appointments is at the end of June. I don’t know if I can make it that long.
I am so tired. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. I shouldn’t have to review my own labs and beg the medical field to do even simple blood tests that would explain fatigue. Vitamin D, iron tests, ANA…this would take the person almost no time to order. Sure, the forms that would allow me to get accommodations at work are much more involved.

I’ve been on lexapro 20mg for 5 months and nothing. My Wellbutrin is being upped to 150 to 300, and weaning off the lexapro to 10mg for the next 7 days. My doc told me 18mg of Strattera should help with my ADHD. 😭 does anyone take this along with Wellbutrin? Just want to know what I’m getting into

I'm a dude (M23) and i'm dating a girl (F24) and it's a long distance relationship. I live in the US, she lives in Mexico. My ADHD has been interfering with our relationship the past few months and I need help managing it. I was professionally diagnosed with it as a kid, and I used to take medication for it (Strattera) but I stopped a few years ago in college since I can mostly manage it. But in a relationship, it always creates hurdles and it has impacted my past relationships for sure (both long distance and girls who live here), and my current relationship definitely, but the girl i'm with right now is very understanding and doesn't have experience dating a guy with ADHD. I don't like it being seen as a "disability" because I don't like being lumped in with all the different conditions that word can pertain to. I have a job, I have a life, it's just that it impacts some parts of my social skills and thats what bothers me, I want to be normal and while ADHD cannot be cured, it can definitely be managed. I went to therapists and psychiatrists as a kid and it definitely helped mold me into a more "normal" (society's definition) person. I don't make it my whole personality and I am grateful that ADHD doesn't have the same stigma it has that other disorders do like BPD, schizophrenia, etc.
Some things that I realize I do and I know that upset her, as we have discussed them....

• I can often monopolize the conversation talking about things I like such as cars, Hot Wheels (yes im 23 and collect toy cars, fight me), history, food, which I know she does find very fascinating and enjoyable to talk about but I have also have a hard time making conversation talking about other things and theres sometimes long pauses when on call, or dry conversations on text, and she may only get a few more words in than I did, or vice versa.
  
• I suck at asking questions besides "How are you" and "Wyd" after i'm done answering her questions that she asks to me. This makes me come across as indifferent to her and rude as I know she expects me to mirror her questions to show interest.
  
• I can tell she likes and loves me but nevertheless sometimes I don't take much initiative to talk to her or make plans to meet. But when she initiates to makes the time, I right away want to spending many hours with her OTP on facetime or making plans to meet.
  
• I know I can be shy, soft-spoken, socially awkward, or very reserved.
  
• I know I can come across as quite “robotic”. I suck at showing my full face on Facetime simply because I don't like to but not because I don't want to. I know sometimes it's hard for her to read my mood or tell how I feeling, sometimes I show enthusiasm, or I text very very bluntly and dryly.
  
• I am very stoic and I seem to show no emotion at all, but I do get emotional when we argue or have a disagreement
  
• I suck at saying “thank you” to compliments, or “congratulations” to her when she does something awesome, I suck at give typical replies in response to things that would merit that.
  
• I am a stickler for accuracy and detail, almost pedantic. If she say something that’s factually not correct, even a little, even when it’s just in passing and i feel it doesn’t matter, I will often make a point of correcting her.
  
• We sent each other a package a while back filled with stuff for each other and I know I sucked at showing appreciation for it. I love what she sent for me. I love all of it. She even made a painting for me which was incredible but I for whatever reason have a hard way of saying thank you. I feel awkward saying it. It's frustrating because I know what I want to say but the words just wont come out of my mouth. Its the first time any girl has done that for me.
  
• We have been talking about planning to meet for a while and I still live at home with my parents (apartments are crazy fucking expensive where I live) so I still live by some of their rules, even though im over 18. They wouldn't want me to just go to another country. But, she is coming to the US in a few months for a summer camp and were making plans to meet. She will be in another state but in the US. I suck at making plans. But I want to meet her. I really do. I would love to hug her. I just suck at making plans or taking the initiative sometimes, especially with something i'm unfamiliar with. I like it when everything is with certainty and not random but at the same time I stress about stuff being planned in advance and then having something else pop up and making me feel like shit due to a conflict.
  
• We will often plan to Facetime but sometimes I will either fall asleep while waiting or will forget to call her. Its not that I don't want to stay up, sometimes I just forget to call her and I hate using ADHD as an excuse but it sucks.
  
• Sometimes I will go hours without texting her, and either just remember to text her out of the blue, or after she double texts me or sends me a message on Instagram or Facebook. Now, I do work a lot and cant be on the phone much at work. But when i'm not busy, sometimes I just suck at texting. Its not that I dont want to talk to her, I do. I really do. I love talking to her. But I will just get distracted by something else such as a Youtube video, or something in my house, scrolling Facebook, what have you. Sometimes I just forget to text her not because I am ignoring her, but because I just completely space out and get focused on something else, it's not a conscious thing I do but I know it upsets her a lot and I feel horrible often because I truly am not purposely ignoring her or avoiding her at all.
  
• I often don't make moves romantically or sexually but I do respond well when she does. It's not that i'm not attracted to her, I am. She is beautiful. I just am awkward about that stuff and I worry about making her uncomfortable or thinking it's all I want which is not true.
  

Has anyone experienced the same or been in a similar situation and if so, can anyone offer some advice? I don't want to use my ADHD as an excuse for not communicating, that's not a good habit to make. I don't want pity from her or anyone, or to sound like i'm saying "woe is me", I am not defined by my ADHD. I don't consider myself "disabled" although I acknowledge that ADHD is technically a disorder as is it in the name, but I know that ADHD can be managed and I would like to know some things I can do that can help with that.

I have been diagnosed with ADHD since I was 8 years old, and I’m 19 now. I’ve been in special ed and always been a b average student in grade school. I don’t really think grades are relevant though? Anyways, I struggle a lot with emotional regulation, staying on task, executive dysfunction issues, all that jazz. I’m on strattera and that kinda helps 🤷
But yeah, I’m currently away at a trade school with all A’s, because I really enjoy what we’re learning and I finally get to work with stuff I actually know a lot about already. I got a new psychiatrist and now he’s saying that he thinks I don’t really have ADHD because I have straight A’s!!!! I still can’t stay organized and suck at planning and emotional regulation. Literally all the symptoms I had before, the strattera just makes them a little less severe, but the symptoms still impract my daily life. My brain won’t slow down!!
It made me pretty uncomfortable, I think is the best word. Has anyone else had someone say this to them? Should I get a new psychiatrist?? I’m mad 😕
edit: i probably should have added he just keeps giving me more mood stabilizers and antidepressants because he thinks that will fix it- this was our third session 🤦 he thinks all my problems are pretty much caused by anxiety and nothing to do with adhd

So I used to have a great method for keeping my to-do list straight which I really loved. Unfortunately I was recently terminated without cause from my job and literally my entire system fell apart. A lot of it relied on my time at work and my list synchronizing between devices and at home it just isn't working. I can't keep up with my to-do list at all. Every time I turn around to do something I get distracted or my toddler needs me or there's something more important, and I've been noticing I've accidentally let a lot more important tasks slip. The joblessness thing has been absolutely horrible too. I need to contact a lawyer about how I was fired, but again, that's another thing slipping my list.
Could really use some help or suggestions that are ADHD-friendly! ❤️ I've only recently started Strattera but my psychiatrist started me way below the usual starting dose so it's helped me literally not at all so far. I feel like I'm drowning!

I have pretty severe ADHD and am on Strattera. The only thing it does is help me not be impulsive in tasks. My mind is still a busy mess, but stimulants are bad for me because I have anxiety. Those just make me obsessively focus on information or tasks that are not important and not prioritize what I’m focusing on.
So I have a problem with being on my phone and my brain tells me to click on something I’m not even doing. I was about to research something this morning and I click on FB instead. I see the top post and it was a very sentimental post my fiancée tagged me in. By the time I am finished reading (30ish seconds), I realize that I am supposed to be looking something else up so I exit out of the app and continue on my task. I told myself to go back and comment, but I’ve done 5 tasks since then so I’ve already semi forgotten about this other task. He sees that my FB app has been opened and I haven’t said anything. He’s mad and hurt because it was important. I totally understand why he would feel this way. I think he is done with my shit and making him feel like that. I feel like a total asshole because it should have been a priority. I’m so tired of being like this to other people and no matter how hard I try I can’t overcome it.

Hoping my wise goddesses here can help me figure things out!
Apologies for the length - feel free to skip. The TL: DR is possible depression with peri brain fog, AuDHD, and C-PTSD.
I'm having some challenges with my mood, but I am really uncertain about what to do. I have, like a lot of you, a few things I'm trying to understand - the brain fog that feels VERY tied to perimenopause because it was a unique thing starting about 2 years ago of feeling stoned all the time. It's been tough to tease out what is perimenopause, what is AuDHD (autism and ADHD), what is CPTSD (recent abusive relationship and longer-term trauma), and what is just a stressful thing like unemployment and relocation. I know a lot of us struggle with ADHD (I was not prepared for autism and ADHD and peri to be this hellish) so curious about how people are understanding emotional dysregulation and moods. I'm on a non-stimulant which IS helping, and hopefully I'll get back on a stimulant at some point.
I was a depressed teen and knew what months-long depression felt like, but most of the meds - including 'newer' ones like Wellbutrin - really had terrible side effects, including numbing me out - I spent much of the last part of high school zonked out because of too high a dose. I haven't been on any anti-depressants at least 15+ years, thankfully, and the ADHD meds I'm on do help a lot with emotional regulation. I also think a lot of my autistic burnout and sensory overload 'feels' like depression, but almost isn't. I almost feel like I haven't had a true depression for decades, thankfully, so right now's 'meh' mood worries me a lot. And I have a nurse practitioner who's decent and has suggested something like Wellbutrin can be added if I want.
But I don't quite feel depressed consistently (like can't get out of bed depression) and maybe this is where the peri comes in. I know a lot of us talk about this nameless 'despair without sadness' - I do have lack of energy, lower mood, lack of interest, sleep hell, but then a few days later I will be MUCH better. So it's almost temporary mini-mood dips (a mini-Chihuahua sized depression)rather than the idea of months long depression. The lack of interest is the one that makes me wonder if it's depression or when it's hormones ('maybe it's makeup, maybe it Maybelline Peri Hell'). It definitely isn't PMS related because the lack of interest is a newer thing the past couple of weeks. On the other hand, I'm taking a course full time and I'm completely attentive and doing the homework - so the 'lack of interest' isn't exactly true either - as you can see I am able to still right :D It's almost a hormonal cruise director changing the path of the ship every single day.
My question is, for folks who have these mini-depressions, how has your ADHD and autism and peri and CPTSD and *everything else* made you think of depression? Are you on any newer anti-depressants that don't have side effects and how have you made the case to your doctors you want the newer ones especially if you have AuDHD? What have you felt is the most effective for mood? For context, the Strattera I'm on is great - I absolutely notice the benefits and don't have side effects, but if I skip a dose I also don't fall apart. And it doesn't feel like dythalmia either - considering ADHD and autism and peri and CPTSD it feels like I'm just collecting the worst group of meh conditions and just am so tired of the weight of each of them.
I'm honestly terrified with the brain fog if I do have that side effects from anti-depressants side will make things worse, as some days I'm needing naps and the idea of doing the 'going on meds, tapering off, trying another med' dance is scary to me. The fact my NP defaulted to Wellbutrin makes me concerned about getting anything else. (I was on it and hated the side effects, told her about that and she STILL suggested it - yes I'm looking for a psychiatrist). I need to be applying to jobs and am pretty worried right now and my brain being at 75% battery life is no good.
Thanks for any thoughts! Gold stars to anyone who made it this far!

so at the start of the year i started taking this ADHD medicine Strattera (atomoxetine), and it had all kinds of weird side effects (like making me so sleepy all the time), but one of the nicer ones was that my ibs symptoms just completely went away. my bloating went away, i became a lot more regular and there was no undigested food in my poop or loose stools.
turns out atomoxetine somehow affects a chemical called acetylcholine in a body which, if there's too little or too much of it can lead to ibs symptoms (sorry if this information is incorrect, i may have misunderstood and i'm not a medical professional so take it with a grain of salt!). for me the drug helped with my particular ibs symptoms and when i googled "strattera and ibs" i found out i'm definitely the only one.
so my question is, is there something similar that i can ask for from my doctor? strattera was otherwise fine but it numbed my feelings a bit and made me sleepy to the point i wasn't functioning :( but i just miss not having issues with my digestion, my version of ibs gives me constant discomfort and i feel like right now i can't even eat my safe foods anymore without feeling like shit

After one year on Elvanse, at the highest dosage 100mg. Even though 70mg is the highest recommended, but in certain cases, like mine for example, my tolerance level has completely diminished, the efficacy of this med is very weak, some ADHD Doctors are able to increase the dosage, depending on the country and the Doctor. A few months ago we added bupropion but that was not good, I got awful side effects brain fog, migraines, and felt so tired. It's totally cancels out all the effects of elvanse in my personal case, the aim was to extend the active period and avoid midday crash. I started to take half the the max dosage of Bupropion before bed soon after to avoid side effects I'm terrified of coming off Bupropion, I heard the side effects are even worse than when starting, even if I miss a couple of days I get insane migraines which no amount of ibuprofen can cure. I am going to ask my Doctor to fade out this as I feel no benefit. Next we tried 70mg on awakening at 6am then 30mg at noon for a while that was perfect, but conditions keep changing. I'm a woman and for around 1 week to 10 days a month, a week before my period and during the first few days, my hormone levels totally f*@k the efficacy. So 1/3 of the month is Elvanse is null for me, even at 100mg.
So there's my issue. The solution? That's why I'm here, I have been reading studies on combination therapy - Bupropion is NOT my other half, however it may work for others. If you have tried combo meds for ADHD with Vyvanse/elvanse + ....... what second med worked the best add to increase efficacy? (Also boys/men please answer and don't feel excluded by the hormone issue LOL!
The top 3 combo's I have been reading about are:

• Elvanse + strattera
• Elvanse + guanfacine (intuniv)
• Elvanse + concerta. (Strattera and Vyvanse do not have a direct drug interaction, but it is not common to take both together. However, there are some situations when someone might be taking both. Strattera has a delayed onset of action, and a person might take Vyvanse to help bridge or treat their ADHD symptoms while the Strattera takes effect. Once the Strattera has time to start working, the person would stop using Vyvanse and continue only taking the Strattera, in some cases their continue both with a reduced dosage of Elvanse.)

All combos report the ability to reduce dosage of Vyvanse and extend the hours of effectiveness with less painful crashes because they enhance performance and concentration combined with Elvanse. What are your experiences, best combo / worst combo med therapy?
Please be kind, I'm struggling today so only helpful, not judgemental comments please. I want to be the best version of me and I am on a mission to find the perfect treatment to my ADHD, so I be a better person. Everyone's experience is different.

Hi everyone,
Good to be here. I've dealt with anhedonic depression for the better part of a decade and I turned 22 last week.
Hopefully, this sad-but-true example helps everyone understand the depth of what I'm going through. Four years ago, I got a full scholarship to college and I didn't feel anything. I also got a fantastic job that gave me financial independence and freedom from my abusive household.
Again, I felt nothing and it scared me because I wondered if I was incapable of feeling excitement, joy, satisfaction or contentment.
That's when I realized that I had a severe chemical deficiency. I've also tried and failed 10+ medicines (four SSRIs, Strattera, Pristiq, Abilify, Buspirone, Gabapentin, Seroquel, Lithium, and most recently Wellbutrin) so I began taking Parnate the other day as a last resort.
I'm augmenting with 150 mg. bupropion XL and I dropped down from 300 mg. bupropion XL before starting the Parnate. I took 10 mg. the first day, 20 mg. today, and I will take 20 mg. tomorrow. I feel a bit calmer than I have in a while, and I feel like I'm able to concentrate a bit more easily (also a miracle because I've been using Modafinil on-and-off for months to get through work and school).
My goal is to not need the Modafinil anymore, and hopefully Parnate does a good enough job at modulating dopamine that I can be 100% stimulant-free aside from caffeine. I used to have a serious issue with amphetamines, but I haven't taken Adderall since Biden first got elected.
I plan to stay at 20 mg. for 10 days before increasing to 30 mg. and staying there for 2 weeks (or until I notice orthostatic hypotension upon standing). My other goal is to use as little Parnate as possible to minimize side effects.
Instead of boosting to 30 mg. in a week or so, I'm wondering if it might be a good idea to instead go back on 300 mg. bupropion XL and remain at 20 mg. Parnate for a while longer to see if the combination is more helpful.
Insomnia hasn't become an issue for me yet, but I'm also on Seroquel and Gabapentin, so YMMV. I'm treating myself as a guinea pig at the moment because I have truly reached the end of the line.
If Parnate doesn't work for me, ECT and ketamine are the only options left. I'm hoping for the best and would appreciate any advice/personal experiences you guys can share with me.

For those of you with ADHD on lexapro, does strattera help with the fatigue and mood regulation? Or do you take both wellbutrin and strattera on top of lexapro? Right now I'm on wellbutrin to combat the fatigue from lexapro, but I don't want to be on three medications at once. From what I've read strattera seems to act similarly to wellbutrin, so I wonder if they can be used in lieu of each other.

So I, 25M, have been taking Strattera for almost 5 years. Long story short, I am stopping Strattera and switching back to Concerta. Doc said I could just stop Strattera cold turkey or take my dose every other day for a week before stopping completely instead of weaning off. I’ve experienced brain zaps from Zoloft and Brain zaps from Strattera. Yes, they are different, Zoloft brain zaps are in my head, more visual and feel like an electric shock. Strattera brain zaps are in my shoulders and back of my neck, affect my sense of balance and feel more tingly. Both are very brief and triggered by missing a dose or discontinuing the meds.
Questions:

1. Has anyone had experience with stopping Strattera cold turkey or taking your dose every other day for a week before stopping? A. Which do you recommend? B. What was your experience like?
   
2. Anyone had experience with stopping or taking Strattera while on Zoloft?
   
3. Has anyone experience brain zaps with Strattera? A. Is this normal or should I talk to my doc about this symptom?
   
4. I have made it about a day so far without Strattera and I am beginning to experience the brain zaps more prevalently. Should I keep going without Strattera or take a dose to begin taking it every other day for a week before stopping completely?
   

Full Story:
I quit vaping about 8 months ago and have been struggling to focus and manage my ADHD ever since. I increased my dose of Strattera from 60mg to 80mg about a month and a half ago. This barely improved my ability to focus and made me feel very disconnected, zoney, dizzy (literally felt like I was on a boat on rough seas 24/7 but this went away after a few weeks), made me have almost no thoughts, like responding to questions became a struggle at times. Because of this, I am discontinuing Strattera and switching back to Concerta at a higher dose than I was previously prescribed. I am currently also on 100mg Zoloft for anxiety. I have experienced lots of side effects with Strattera, but due to taking 100mg Zoloft simultaneously, I can’t rule out the cause being due to the combination of the two.
Side effects with Strattera: -high heart rate (usually within an hour after taking on an empty stomach) -dizziness (only on 80mg dose, this went away after a few weeks) -sexual dysfunction (most prevalent 1-2 hours after taking but can happen anytime) -extreme drowsiness (most mornings after taking Strattera) -Brain Zaps (when I have missed a dose) -Dry mouth
Side effects with Zoloft: -Heartburn -Brain Zaps (when I missed a dose or got really angry)
Ultimately, I am wondering:

1. Has anyone had experience with stopping Strattera cold turkey or taking your dose every other day for a week before stopping? A. Which do you recommend? B. What was your experience like?
   
2. Anyone had experience with stopping or taking Strattera while on Zoloft?
   
3. Has anyone experience brain zaps with Strattera? A. Is this normal or should I talk to my doc about this symptom?
   
4. I have made it about a day so far without Strattera and I am beginning to experience the brain zaps more prevalently. Should I keep going without Strattera or take a dose to begin taking it every other day for a week before stopping completely?
   

If you made it this far, I really appreciate you and thank you for being such an amazing, helpful and caring person!

Last Monday, I believe, I broke the top shelf of the dishwasher out of anger and resentment for my parents, as well as anticipation for the next time they might criticize me or order me around. And I felt so much anger built up inside of myself, that I called my psychiatrist about these emotional issues. So he suggested to me to take Fanapt eight milligrams each morning. I took it, and it helped me calm myself down so much more so than previously.
As for drugs I take right now, outside of just the Fanapt I said, I'm also currently taking Strattera 60 milligrams each morning, an additional 18 milligrams of Strattera each afternoon, and two 40 milligram Fluoxetine pills and two 8 milligram Fanapt pills each night. And the reason I do so is because my psychiatrist diagnosed me with bipolar disorder, ADHD, and OCD.
I then shared it with my therapist recently, and he said that I'm using these drugs as a crutch to control my behavior better. That I don't need to take my drugs to help me control my behavior better, that I can use coping techniques like deep breaths and counting to ten ti calm myself down.
And to me, it was incredibly disingenuous for him to say that to me. I have autism and can meltdown way too easily. So I need my drugs to help me control and contain my meltdowns. And him telling me that I don't need my drugs to control my autistic meltdowns almost emotionally hurt me.
Like how do I deal with this stuff? Do I continue taking my psychiatric medications, like my psychiatrist prescribed to me? Or do I just cut down on my drugs and control my meltdowns on my own without them, like my psychotherapist told me about about?

I gave it a try because of the stimulant shortage. Strattera did nothing, might as well been a sugar pill that made my head feel funny if I forgot to take it. I'm allergic to bupropion. But with guanfacine, I got so incredibly sleepy off of just 1mg. I was falling asleep while working, doing daily tasks, driving (!!!!), and could sleep for 20 hours a day if I had nothing going on. Got a bunch of hives on Wellbutrin, so I'm probably allergic to that. Are there any other non stimulants I should ask about? My psych seems very averse to prescribing stimulants, so I might end up going elsewhere. I've spent a year trying drugs that didn't help and ultimately hurt.

I hate how social anxiety impacts me. I’m super social and extroverted, full of ideas and conversation. I love talking to people but nowadays, I shake and have really bad anxiety symptoms like excessive sweating, racing heartbeat, etc when speaking to people at first. This is really affecting me negatively, I miss talking to people and not having to feel like I’m in a life threatening situation. In about to start STRATTERA, doc is starting me on 18 mg. Has STRATTERA helped anyone with social anxiety similar to mine?

I am(16m) I've started with 80mg (I know it usually starts with 40 mg or less) But I didn't notice strong side effects I am on strattera 4 days now and I didn't notice any thing How long it takes to start notice focus improvement And I heard a lot that strattera doesn't help a lot with focusing aspect but it's decrease anxiety and depression and I don't have these tow
All whit I want is improving my focus and I stop racing thoughts and calm down If strattera doesn't help these so it useless for me

I am (16m) I've started with 80mg (I know it usually starts with 40 mg or less) But I didn't notice strong side effects I am on strattera 4 days now and I didn't notice any thing How long it takes to start notice focus improvement And I heard a lot that strattera doesn't help a lot with focusing aspect but it's decrease anxiety and depression and I don't have these tow
All whit I want is improving my focus and I stop racing thoughts and calm down If strattera doesn't help these so it useless for me

(TLDR at the bottom)
I’m almost convinced methylphenidate just doesn’t really work for me tbh, but I have no other option if it doesn’t, every other type of meds (even non stims like strattera) is unauthorized here, so I’m still trying to hold onto some sort of hope lol.
These past few weeks have felt like NOTHING is working, neither my at the time prescribed 30x2 Medikinet XR, nor the leftover 10-30s mg Ritalin XR I had, nor the leftover 10s Quasym (30/70% release) a (also dx) friend had lent me to test at the beginning when I had only tried Ritalin IR and I was having side effects…
Last appt I told my doc I felt like it wasn’t doing much again, and he put me on concerta because I told him about the early crashes, and being bored out of my mind and falling asleep at my desk at 3pm. He was/is hoping the longer acting will help, but I haven’t found much improvement.
It’s kinda weird and hard to explain, but I feel like, until I upped my doses of medikinet (I went from 15x2, to 20x2, to 30x2) it was working then! like it wasn’t perfect and I never had the amazing obvious focus but I could see looking at things I’d done the past days/weeks/months give a hint about it "actually working a bit". But when I went onto medikinet 30x2 I started feeling nothing anymore. So eventually I decided to try just 30 (as I knew too high of a dose could be worse) and I feel like it worked again? So I tried another day, and it did too! But then on the 3rd day it was back to nothing.
Summary of meds I tried: Ritalin IR (10mg, upped to 2-3 per day I believe) — because of jitters and agitation/anxiety I went to Ritalin XR, 10 and 30s (I was taking 30 or 40 depending on how jittery I felt) — then the jitter wasn’t getting better, so I went onto Medikinet (twice a day, totaling 30, then gradually 40 and 60), and the jitters had lessened but that’s when I started realizing it almost felt like I took nothing. Sure the jitters were gone but any effect whatsoever was as well, I was maybe lucky to, 1 day out of 3?? feel somewhat focus 1h after taking it, and for maybe 1h, but it didn’t help anything because it was short and unpredictable. — So now recently I went onto concerta, easing with 36mg first for side effects, and we’re planning to try 54 next (probably). I feel like it helped a bit the first day but the next days I wasn’t feeling much again.
It’s been really hard because I’ve been doing this for 7 months now and I get so easily obsessed with "if it works or not" and I KNOW it’s not the way to go, and I’m also wondering if that isn’t playing a part in me thinking I feel nothing but… yeah, I can’t help it. I feel stupid and impatient/like a brat, and also when I try with leftover meds, like I’m not doing it the way prescribed and it’s eh and I’m "playing around" with it (and kind of a « well of course you feel it doesn’t work you keep switching duh!! »), but I’m just so desperate to find something that just. works. and doesn’t feel too much like a sugar pill 🙁
Before thinking about this (what I’m asking about below), I was almost thinking of asking to go back to IR multiples times a day, even if it caused me jitters, because even if the anxiety was annoying I feel like I could at least tell when it helped me focus despite that. But I also felt bad obviously because what if the jitters are stronger than I remember and it’s unliveable so I have to switch back to ????god knows what and my doc is at its wits ends annoyed with me.
TLDR: my issue is, since concerta is releasing slowly at first, I’m having trouble initiating anything and end up still pacing around for 3+ hours before managing to get my body to my desk (and cross fingers I don’t get up in 2 min again). Would it be logical to take an IR booster WITH the concerta? So that it would help me until the concerta does its (more peak) job? Does anyone else do that? Decided by yourself or also approved by your docs?
I’ll ask my doc what he thinks next time, but tbh I’m asking for your experiences first as I’m afraid of his reaction, like thinking I’m doing too much or asking for too much or IDK (plus it’s hard since the prescription is very strict, he can’t just be like @ pharmacy "so X pills and oh uh yeah 5 or 10 or idk 23 of the IR ones! maybe they’ll need em maybe not. huh? overdosing/abusing risks? oh yeah not my problem. yep, thanks!"
I hope someone can relate… (also sorry about this being so long help)

20M
So I ended up having random bad anxiety that absolutely stemmed from nowhere. I had bad bad lightheadedness and attacks almost daily. I kept getting my heart checked out and went to the hospital twice. I kept telling my doctor I was never an anxious person it just randomly happened recently and nothing has ever been the same. Well I went back to the doc and he actually asked me myself why I'm so anxious. The appointment before, he ended up prescribing me celexa 10mg to hopefully get rid of my anxiety
It started working for a bit, then it got worse again not like before I started the meds, but I was having the lightheadedness episodes again. When I went back to the doc just recently, he thought of a different approach. Since I have ADHD, he thought maybe somehow my ADHD could be linked to the anxiety. So what he did was told me to quit the celexa cold turkey, then he prescribed me strattera 40mg daily.
Low and behold, once I started taking the strattera, I instantly felt very energized and motivated, and my anxiety was at an all time low. The lightheadedness is gone, the groggy feeling of being in a dream after taking celexa was gone, etc. I do still feel weird attacks, but the lightheadedness is minimal, and the attacks actually come in waves of happiness and motivation. It's so weird it's like the bad anxiety turned to good anxiety.
I'm making this post in effort to let people know if you have ADHD and you're unmedicated with constant anxiety, I suggest reading this post to your doctor or letting your doctor know you want to try an approach you heard. It's what fixed it for me. If you aren't sure you have ADHD (never been diagnosed) and you have constant anxiety with ADHD symptoms, I suggest you bring it up to your doctor. I know this won't work for everyone, BUT it worked for me and if it helps someone else, of course I'll put it out there.
Medication: Strattera (Atomoxetine) 40MG Amlodipine Besylate 5MG (Not Related)