Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 356582

Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Effexor and Strattera not working--suggestions?

Posted by zefdie on June 14, 2004, at 12:48:20

I was put on Effexor a few months ago and have found it to be very helpful, though I do have that "AD apathy" thing going on with it. Oddly enough, it's increased my libido quite a bit! I've been having serious problems focusing for a long time--and horrible fatigue--so my pdoc put me on Strattera. The results: eh. I found it a bit energizing at first, and it did help me focus somewhat, but now, at 80 mg, I can't get out of bed (I literally slept all weekend) and am having traumatic nightmares. My doc said that Strattera would be energizing, but after reading this board I'm wondering if he just served me up the "newest" med in his cabinet. I'm headed back to see him today. What should I do? I desperately need focus and energy. I haven't gotten any work done for months!

Ideally, I would go on Adderall, but you can't take that with Effexor, right? HEEELP y'all!

 

Re: Effexor and Strattera not working--suggestions? » zefdie

Posted by King Vultan on June 14, 2004, at 14:10:22

In reply to Effexor and Strattera not working--suggestions?, posted by zefdie on June 14, 2004, at 12:48:20

> I was put on Effexor a few months ago and have found it to be very helpful, though I do have that "AD apathy" thing going on with it. Oddly enough, it's increased my libido quite a bit! I've been having serious problems focusing for a long time--and horrible fatigue--so my pdoc put me on Strattera. The results: eh. I found it a bit energizing at first, and it did help me focus somewhat, but now, at 80 mg, I can't get out of bed (I literally slept all weekend) and am having traumatic nightmares. My doc said that Strattera would be energizing, but after reading this board I'm wondering if he just served me up the "newest" med in his cabinet. I'm headed back to see him today. What should I do? I desperately need focus and energy. I haven't gotten any work done for months!
>
> Ideally, I would go on Adderall, but you can't take that with Effexor, right? HEEELP y'all!


I was on a fairly low dose of Strattera, and it made me blasted sleepy. I dumped it after a little more than a week because I just felt worse and worse, and I was starting to get a negative attitude.

Yes, Adderall would be one thing that would improve focus and energy, as would Ritalin. Another stimulant that might help is Provigil, which is only Schedule IV, but it is quite expensive. Desipramine is a tricyclic that has a therapeutic effect similar to that of Strattera, but for me it actually was activating and did not make me sleepy (I went as high as 200 mg/day). Blood plasma levels of desipramine can also be monitored to make sure you are in the therapeutic range.

Todd

 

Re: Effexor and Strattera not working--suggestions?

Posted by PoohBear on June 14, 2004, at 14:29:22

In reply to Effexor and Strattera not working--suggestions?, posted by zefdie on June 14, 2004, at 12:48:20

> I was put on Effexor a few months ago and have found it to be very helpful, though I do have that "AD apathy" thing going on with it. Oddly enough, it's increased my libido quite a bit! I've been having serious problems focusing for a long time--and horrible fatigue--so my pdoc put me on Strattera. The results: eh. I found it a bit energizing at first, and it did help me focus somewhat, but now, at 80 mg, I can't get out of bed (I literally slept all weekend) and am having traumatic nightmares. My doc said that Strattera would be energizing, but after reading this board I'm wondering if he just served me up the "newest" med in his cabinet. I'm headed back to see him today. What should I do? I desperately need focus and energy. I haven't gotten any work done for months!
>
> Ideally, I would go on Adderall, but you can't take that with Effexor, right? HEEELP y'all!


When my pDoc and I were trying to find something that would help with my ADHD, she ruled out Strattera, saying that it was a bad combo with the Effexor. I'm taking Ritalin and it has helped where Adderall did nothing.

Tony

 

Re: Effexor and Strattera not working--suggestions? » zefdie

Posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 15:16:10

In reply to Effexor and Strattera not working--suggestions?, posted by zefdie on June 14, 2004, at 12:48:20

A while back I was on Effexor and Adderall and LOVED the combination, I too have periods of accomplishing nothing, when on this combination and was happy (a nolvelty, able to concentrate and got things done. I was done because the above effect was taken as being hypomanic and not good. I want to go back to that combo. I was switched to lithium and I am a zombie.

 

Aren't Effexor and Adderall contra-indicated? (nm)

Posted by zefdie on June 14, 2004, at 15:38:50

In reply to Re: Effexor and Strattera not working--suggestions? » zefdie, posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 15:16:10

 

Re: Effexor and Adderall contra-indicated?

Posted by psychosage on June 15, 2004, at 3:48:31

In reply to Aren't Effexor and Adderall contra-indicated? (nm), posted by zefdie on June 14, 2004, at 15:38:50

serotonin syndrome is possible in some with adderall {d-amphetamine} and effexor:

http://www.currentpsychiatry.com/2003_05/0503_serotonin.asp

 

Re: Effexor and STRATTERA not working--suggestions

Posted by psychosage on June 15, 2004, at 3:52:19

In reply to Re: Effexor and Strattera not working--suggestions? » zefdie, posted by littlep24 on June 14, 2004, at 15:16:10

http://crazymeds.org/strattera.html

apparently, becoming sleepy from strattera means you are on too much or have too little norepinephrine to inhibit.


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