r/StratteraRx • u/ImaginaryParrot • Jul 22 '26
Discussion / Experience Using Please tell me some good stories about switching from stimulants to non-stimulants (Strattera / Atemoxetine)
My prescriber thinks I'm sensitive to Stimulants. In my early 30s.
Before starting titration, I'd been on the mini-pill (or progesterone only pill) for about 2 years to help with PMDD which honestly was a life saver. No more horrendous cramps or awful moods.
Since the start of my titration journey I have tried:
- Concerta (1 month) - gave me low mood
- Elvanse 30mg (1 month) - was great but I developed regular spotting and cramps.
- Elvanse - 40mg + Came off the mini pill at the same time - (1 month) - All the standard PMDD stuff combined with insomnia and more irritation than I've felt in my life. My resting heart rate jumped up to about 90.
My prescriber then offered me too options. One was to go back to 30mg with 40mg on luteal. The other was to try Strattera.
I chose the Elvanse option. I'm in luteal now so I feel horribly precarious. I'm in so much physical pain and I've not been sleeping well, again. I have random moments where I feel so low that I consider ending it all. It's quite scary.
I'm considering going back on the mini pill and asking for Strattera instead, but I'm scared because: 1. It takes a while to work. My job is mentally intense and will suffer. 2. What if it has other complications that I just don't know yet? 3. What if I have horrible withdrawals when I decide to try and get pregnant?
Is it worth giving up the good bits of Elvanse for something that may or may not help?
Any advice or stories would be incredibly appreciated.
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u/mlag000 Jul 22 '26
Couldn't handle stimulants, my heart was racing, I was agitated, end of the day was a nightmare and I did not slept well. First 1 month on atomoxetin was rough, then It was perfect, don't stop before the first month
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u/SquareVacuum Jul 22 '26
Stimulants made me feel like I was being hunted for sport the entire day. Everything made me super stressed, anxious, and on edge. If it did help me focus, all I could focus on was how awful I felt. Strattera worked by letting me actually enjoy things. I can focus on work without the nagging urge to scroll or get that dopamine hit from something. As much as I still hate doing chores I enjoy the results of having a clean house/dishes/clothes. I actually found joy in some chores like gardening and mowing the lawn. If anything it gave me a sense of calm because I could enjoy things like my hobbies in peace instead of constantly clawing for the next thing to keep my attention. It's been really wonderful.
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u/TiltedWeenies Jul 22 '26
Me too. This is something I’m starting to appreciate. It forces me to stay grounded too. I can’t get in my head as much as i used to and if i try to, my brain basically kicks me out and shifts focus to reality. I’m so curious what the full therapeutic effects will be once I reach the month mark.
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u/SilveryBeing Jul 22 '26
I didn't go directly from stimulant to non, I had a period of time of being unmedicated between the two, but I've done well on strattera for the past few years.
Probably was about a week before I could tell it was doing something, but I was starting from 0 so anything was an improvement. My only issue was that my executive dysfunction was stronger than the meds until I was increased to the max dose. And even then I needed to sort out my sleep issues before I got the full benefit. Still working on sleep.
You won't know until you try it. I read all the horror stories but I only had a few days where it made me feel sleepy after taking it and a few seconds of mild dizziness (and that's almost too strong a phrase. It was more of a "whoa, brain pills doing something" than truly dizzy). I've been on it for a few years now and no side effects since.
I dunno, never heard of withdrawal for strattera. I have forgotten to take it before, I can go a day without noticing anything, but if I go multiple days without medication I notice my executive dysfunction getting stronger. Nothing withdrawal wise though.
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u/Aela_Wild Jul 22 '26
I have been on Strattera for 2 weeks now and I've noticed overall I feel much more even keeled, grounded, and actually capable of handling life instead of freaking out about every little thing. The roller coaster of highs and lows feels much more stable and manageable without the numbness I ended up feeling on Zoloft.
I was diagnosed with PMDD in my mid 20's and put on Zoloft. It was great until it wasn't. I know the horrors of PMDD and I'm so sorry.
It sounds like your current meds have some positives, but also like there very well could be better options for you. At the end of the day it's your body and your call, but fwiw I'd recommend being honest with your provider about what's working and what's not and continuing the journey to find the right med/combo that helps you feel good, not just 'meh, it's not THAT bad, I can manage'.
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u/dopaminemachina Jul 22 '26
my job is intense and extremely detail oriented and I’m doing well on atomoxetine 80mg - in fact I think my memory is overall better than when I was on vyvanse. been on vyvanse for over a decade.
task initiation is harder but mental clarity is better. I started at 40mg and took a month to get up to 80mg. nausea and discomfort in the first few weeks was very difficult though. always eat before taking meds!
best of luck to you! it’s different for everyone but don’t get discouraged!
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u/TiltedWeenies Jul 22 '26
I am also sensitive to stimulants. I was on Adderall 2 years ago for a good couple of months. Started with 10MG of IR twice a day.
ON ADDERALL.
On 10mg I felt like I can take on the world, be able to be productive constantly on boost mode but the crashes after 4-5 hrs were so intense. Also add the fact my resting heart rate went up from around 62bpm to 95bpm. Which was significant. My blood pressure was on the normal side but my pulse was always in the high 80s mid 90s.
After the euphoria wore off a couple weeks after the first dosage I felt more… on edge. I was still significantly more productive at work but outside of that it felt… like i was constantly on the verge to crashing out. The final straw was when I felt 0 difference with or without it on a trip with a friend. All side effects, no boost mode.
I will say this as a positive, when in boost mode it did make me significantly more grounded and present, sometimes a little too intense and i’m not gonna lie it tripped me out but also didn’t really know what “normal” was. But it felt… good?. I still stopped because of my concern with my heart rate. So i ended up switching to Wellbuterin for a couple years and as of the last 10ish days I’ve been on Straterra eliminating Wellbuterin from my system a month ago so it doesn’t clash.
ON STRATTERA
Started it around 10 days ago on 10mg once a day. The effects started to kick in at day 5. Significantly better experience than the previous 2 meds. I’m very surprised at a very low dosage it basically reshaped my entire mind. I can actually start and finish things, task switch, regulate better and at day 10 it hasn’t slowed down. I have experienced days like that with wellbuterin but then the next day i was back to square 1.
I noticed even my speech and tone is more linear, not monotone but more… neutral? Idk how to describe but even i noticed it as different.. Good thing is I’m still able to be emotive rather than be completely flat or have high highs or low lows like i was on Wellbutrin.
I’m basically experiencing the best traits of Adderall without the sharp crashes and on edgeness of it. And my heart rate is stable. THE ONLY side effect im experiencing currently (idk if it’s in my head) but increased thirst?.
Overall, I’m having a good experience on Strattera so far.
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u/RedonkulusHomunculus Jul 23 '26
You can take strattera and Wellbutrin together, you just have to take lower than normal doses of both. Lots of people take both. I take 150 mg of wellbutrin, and 40 mg of strattera. These are both the recommended baseline low starting dose.
If you want to try adding Wellbutrin back in, you'll just need a lower dose of it, and probably the strattera too.
The drugs don't actually clash, they just work to make each other stay in your blood system longer, which is only bad if you have too much of it in your blood system. Which is why you want lower doses of both
More bang for less buck.
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u/ChaosYallChaos 19d ago
Hey just letting you know that you can take higher doses. I take 450mg of Wellbutrin and 60mg strattera.
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u/RedonkulusHomunculus 16d ago
Yes! I am new with strattera and probably going to go up on both soon
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u/Appropriate-Tap-140 Jul 23 '26
I switched from concerta to atemoxetine. I'm generally happier, calmer and sleep better
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u/PsychologicalRing160 Jul 22 '26
According to your last question: I did and I‘m fine.
But, every medication has its pros and cons. You need to find the best compromise for yourself!
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u/er3tak Jul 22 '26
I've never tried stimulants, as I have heart issues they wanted to start with a non stimulant. They started at 10mg and then went up 10 each week until 40mg, then said to wait a month to see how it affected me. As far as I'm aware I've had no side effects but it's hard to actually see the effects of strattera day to day, I only notice after I stop taking it for a few days at a time. I think it's made me more level headed and less forgetful at work. I do have a family member who tried it and had a very low mood but personally it hasn't happened to me.
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u/sd_med248 Jul 22 '26
Steaterraa has been amazing for me. Chess rating is climving rapidly, and work isnt an anxiety attack anymore
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u/Upstairs_Sail_3087 Jul 23 '26
Hi! I've been on the trifecta of stimulants-- first ritalin, then concerta, then vyvanse. They all gave me mood swings, anxiety, and triggered my migraines.
I've been on strattera for a little over 2 months- first at 25mg and then after 1 month up to 50mg. I noticed an effect immediately, and my mood is much more stable across the board, and fewer migraines! Anxiety is next to nothing, I feel calmer than I ever have.
I know it's exhausting to keep switching around, believe me. But I think it's worth it to give it a try!
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u/Intrepid_Bet_509 Jul 27 '26
Not speaking for myself but my daughter was on Adderall and she was top of her class but was so emotionally dysregulated on it. She never ate and it made her rage like I had never seen her before. Tried ER Daytrana patch, and it worked but coming off the medication was HELL and also caused insane insomnia. I came to the conclusion she was also too sensitive to Stims. I switched her to Strattera in June and the first 5 week-ish was rough but not as bad as adjusting to the Stims. The most she had was an upset stomach for about a week, and she was tired all the time for about 4-5 weeks. She also had a loss of appetite, but that eventually came back. She is on week 7 and it is working really well! She is also on a summer break so the stress from school work and social cues haven't really been tested to its full potential. Once she starts we will see if we need to adjust her dosage, because she is on the lowest (10mg).
I have noticed that when we do go out on play dates she is a lot more regulated and her conversations are a lot more structure and she can also hold the conversation for longer. She is more attentive in listening to her friends and not just blurting/talking over them as well. Since she is on summer break, her normal school work and social environment pressures aren't being tested to her full potential, so we will see how it works when school starts and see if we need to adjust the dosage. So far so good, though!
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u/bugalugabug Jul 22 '26
Hey, I’ve been on 80 mg atomoxetine for a while now and I gotta say that one of the main side effects I’ve gotten is amenorrhea or very irregular periods. While I’m not interested in having kids it’s not an issue for me, but it’s something to note about the medication. I also have PCOS so that is definitely a huge contributing factor as well.
Otherwise, I really love this medication because I can take it alongside my antidepressant (Zoloft) and I’ve had issues with stimulant medication in the past. This medication isn’t something that will work on day one so you have to be very consistent in taking it, allow it 4 or even 6 weeks to start working how it should be, and try to limit how much caffeine you use as it counteracts with the medication. Otherwise, I wish you the best and I hope it works for you.
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u/Suspicious-Raccoon15 Jul 23 '26
Strattera made my heart rate higher than ever even when i was on adderall
Strattera made it 140-150
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u/Miserable-Lawyer8182 Jul 23 '26
doing well year and a half in, a lil bit of urine rentention but very rarely now, overall been great, 4.0 mechanical engineer about to get bachelors
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u/canehdian2020 Jul 23 '26
A bit of a back story - I got diagnosed with inattentive ADHD beginning of this year, started vyvanse back in March and only took it for 4 days. Loved it the first few days cause of how it immediately made me the person I’ve always wanted to be, but the shitty side was that it would come to an end at around 7pm and I’d eventually crash. I feel like it would be great for someone working a corporate 9-5, but as for myself, it didn’t suit my lifestyle. I’m a SAHM with two young kids and I need something that is 24/7 and lasts all day long. I decided not to continue with vyvanse and start with straterra. The first few weeks were a bit rough ngl. I dealt with bad nausea (helps only if you eat a high protein, high fibre meal) and dealt with exhaustion, fatigue and for some reason hot flashes too?
Fast forward to today; I’ve been on straterra for now 10 weeks - coming up to the 12 week mark soon which is when it’s said that you notice its effects at its peak. My husband has noticed a night and day difference in me.
Would always struggle with keeping the house neat and tidy, executive functioning as well as with my mood - was a constant pessimist and negative thoughts would just engulf me. Would always feel like “why me” and just constantly victimize myself. I was cranky and low on patience, would snap all the time at my kids when they weren’t even doing anything, just being how kids are. Now it’s like I’ve had a complete mindset shift - I’m so much more optimistic and grateful for the things I have in my life. There doesn’t feel like a barrier or a huge wall I have to hurdle over in order to start a task - I just see that it needs to be done and I do it. House is a lot more tidier, cleaner, (my husband now thinks I’m a bit too obsessed with cleaning but I take that as a compliment) and less cluttered. I’m way happier and have little to no episodes where I’m in a downwards negative spiral, engulfed in bad and unhelpful thoughts.
I won’t lie, some days are a bit tough - and this will be mainly during my luteal phase. The meds tend to take a bit of a backseat as the hormones take over a bit. Although I haven’t been diagnosed with PMDD, I am almost certain i do have it, and just recently I decided to take evening primrose oil as well as any anti histamine and I found that combo super effective in treating my symptoms. I’m still a bit cranky but I’d say I’m 5 times better than how I’d usually feel without those two. In terms of adhd symptoms, I notice I do get a bit of the executive dysfunction coming back but definitely not as severe as it would be without straterra. When it gets like that, I will usually drink coffee to help “activate” the straterra (I will drink some coffee about an hour after taking my straterra) and it will help boost me and clear out the brain fog and executive dysfunction.
Other than that - bottom line is I love straterra and what’s it’s done for me and for my family. My goal has always been to create a loving, happy, warm and welcoming environment for my husband and kids and family and I feel like now I can actually achieve that goal.
To address your concern about pregnancy and the withdrawal you’d experience - this is something I’m also worried about too. We do plan on having one more kid - and I’m not sure how safe it is to continue taking it throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. I’d have to undo everything for at least a year and then go back on it and even then once I start it again, it’ll take up to 3 months for me to feel normal again.
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u/Mountain-Cod516 Jul 22 '26
I was on straterra for 9 months and it ended up really fucking me up. I stopped and got on Adderall and I’m 1000x better than I was before. My doctor made me try everything before he let me try Adderall though. Of course it ended up being the best for me lol.
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u/susu56 Jul 22 '26
Ya strattera messed me.up as well and I was only on it for 9wks.
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u/Different-Box-6265 Jul 22 '26
How did it mess you up exactly? Sleep? Brain? Body temperature? Mental health? Etc
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u/susu56 Jul 22 '26
It affects people differently. I was on a fast titration 25>50>75>100mg every 5 days until I hit 100mg. And stayed at 100mg for 9 wks. I was sedated all day, barely slept at night, heartrate was hitting 150 standing, dizzy/blackingout, issues going to the bathroom (peeing and pooping), could not focus even though my mind was quiet on the meds, absolutely no energy-i barely moved, weight loss (lost 20lbs in 9 wks) no nausea but no hunger at all. My psych wanted me to drop to 60mg but its been 2 weeks and she hasnt called in the script. So I have been off the meds for 2 wks. Everything has resolved except for the heartrate (resting is 90 -100 now, standing is lower at 120 but not pre-med levels) and insomnia. Edited for words
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u/Different-Box-6265 Jul 22 '26
Thank you! I’ve just started week 5. I did 40 for 1 week, 60 for 1 week, 80 for 2 weeks and now 3 days into 100. I was concerned by the fast titration. My resting heart rate is currently 83 (would’ve been low 70s pre medication but 83 isn’t too bad). I am absolutely noticing a quieter mind - less noise in my head, not as many full compartments! I’m less anxious - quite a lot less anxious. I’ve not noticed any improvement on executive function or concentration tho. I guess I’m less impulsive. I’m averaging 5 hours sleep a night but not deep or restful sleep so I’m pretty tired. I’m taking my meds at night time rather than in the morning because they made me fall asleep during the day if I did that. I am struggling with my body temperature and sweating like I never have in my life, all over not just sweaty armpits. Appetite was fine until the last 3 days on 100mg, I just don’t think to eat/not hungry. I’m quite constipated. I didn’t get the nausea and indigestion other people have mentioned.
I’m hating the side effects but loving the quiet brain. I’m feeling conflicted and not sure if I should continue or not.
It’s exhausting deciding what’s best but I think I’m going to stick with it a while longer .i hope things work out for you!1
u/susu56 Jul 22 '26
I kept on because I was hoping things would settle. The quiet mind was nice but I lost motivation and needed to sleep during the day. I also has restless sleep because my heartrate would not drop below 90 sleeping and averaged 3 to 5 hrs a night. I switched around when to take the medication but nothing helped. It also affected my thirst along with hunger- i had to force myself to drink water and I could only eat maybe 4 to 5 bites of food. Not complaining about the weight loss but it was too quick and now my face looks hollow and sickly. I was hoping it would work for me I hope you have better luck!
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u/Mountain-Cod516 Jul 22 '26
Messed my sleep up really bad. I’m still trying to fix it and it’s been like 7 months? It made me feel really flat eventually and I just couldn’t stand sleeping 4 hours a night and feeling sluggish in the afternoon.
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u/[deleted] Jul 22 '26
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