How does Strattera make you feel?
Strattera is a non-stimulant drug used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). You’d wonder how does Strattera make you feel since some of the common drugs used to treat ADHD are stimulants and Strattera is a non-stimulant. ADHD is one of the common mental non-behavioral conditions that often begins in childhood and causes a person to be restless, impulsive, and hyperactive.
An ADHD person will have trouble paying attention to anything. Over the years, scientists have discovered different medications that can remedy the condition. First, it was the use of prescription stimulants, but they later found that there are many adverse effects of using such drugs, and people tend to get addicted and abuse them.
In looking for ways to remedy addiction and abuse that often followed the use of prescription stimulants, they went from therapy and using stimulants to using non-stimulant drugs such as Strattera. But what is Strattera? And if it’s a non-stimulant drug, how does it work, is it better than stimulants? How does Strattera make you feel? You must be asking one of these questions, or all, or more, either way, keep reading to find your answers.
About Strattera
Strattera is the first non-stimulant drug approved by the FDA for treating ADHD. It is used alongside other non-medical treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Strattera belongs to a class of drugs known as selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), and are available in capsule form of different drug strengths: 10mg, 18mg, 25mg, 40mg, 60mg, 80mg, and 100mg.
The drug is believed to help improve attention span, concentration and focus while decreasing nervousness and other symptoms of ADHD. Although Strattera is not a controlled drug, it is a prescription-only drug, that is you can only get it on your doctor’s prescription.
How Does Strattera Work?
SNRI drugs work on neurotransmitter in the brain called norepinephrine. Generally, when our bodies are stressed, to keep us calm and focused, the brain releases this neurotransmitter that helps make us maintain control and composure.
However, in people with ADHD, their levels of norepinephrine are low on average, and although it is not exactly known how Strattera improves symptoms of ADHD, it is believed that increasing the levels of norepinephrine in the brain, will increase attention span, and reduce impulsiveness.
It is also known that Strattera can improve mood by increasing dopamine (also known as the happiness hormone) levels in some parts of the brain.
How Does Strattera Make You Feel?
If you’ve been used to taking prescription stimulants for ADHD, and for the first time, your doctor prescribes Strattera, a different drug from what you’re used to, one of the things you might want to know is how it can make you feel.
So how does Strattera make you feel? Different folks, different strokes, right? But for the best part, a lot of Strattera users complain about feeling awful in the first 2 weeks of starting the treatment, due to the side effects of the drug, however, some tend to feel better throughout their treatment, while others don’t.
Nevertheless, how Strattera makes you feel can depend on how you take it. How long the side effects persist may also sometimes depend on how you take it.
How to Take Strattera
Your pharmacist or doctor will direct you on how to use the medicine, so you can ask them about anything that doesn’t seem clear to you. In the meantime, here are some basic things you need to know about taking Strattera properly:
- Your dosage will be prescribed to you by your doctor, don’t take more or less than was prescribed, because it’ll be based on your condition, response to treatment, and other medications you may be on, both prescription, non-prescription, and herbal drugs.
- Strattera can be taken with or without food, but it’s best to take it with food as you may have a stomach upset or heartburn taking it without food.
- It should be taken usually once or twice a day. if your prescription says once a day, take it in the mornings, and if a second dose is prescribed, then take that very late into the afternoon or during the early hours of the evening.
Taking Strattera at night time may cause you to find it difficult to sleep.
- The drug should be swallowed whole. Don’t open the capsule, crush or chew it, and should it open by accident, don’t get in contact with the powder. Wash it off or sweep it away, and if any gets into your eyes, wash it off with plenty of clean water as soon as you can.
- For best results, always take the drug regularly as prescribed by your doctor and try as much to avoid skipping your doses as Strattera needs to build up in your body for you to see results. skipping doses frequently won’t help.
- However, if you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but if its almost time for your next dose, don’t bother with your missed dose as taking it some minutes or hours before taking your next dose may lead to overdosing and overdosing Strattera has been linked with symptoms like trouble breathing or being unconscious.
- If your symptoms don’t improve or they worsen after 4 weeks, be sure to let your doctor know, you may need an increase or decrease in your dosage.
Side Effects
Just as we’ve said, the awkward feeling you get in your first 2 weeks of taking Strattera is usually the side effects of the drug, which include:
- Dry mouth
- Stomach upset
- Erectile dysfunction
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Constipation
- Low libido
- Missed period or irregular menstrual cycle in women
- Loss of appetite
These are some of the common side effects of Strattera. Let your doctor know if they persist for long or worsen.
However, sometimes, Strattera could also cause some serious side effects such as:
- Trouble breathing
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Trouble urinating
- Increased blood pressure
- Liver disease (symptoms may include yellowing of the eyes or skin and dark urine)
- Allergic reactions such as hives, bulging of the face, tongue, or throat, and severe drowsiness.
If you feel any of these side effects, consult your doctor immediately, you may need to stop the medication. This is not the list of all possible side effects so if you feel any discomfort while taking the drug, let your doctor know at once.
How Does Strattera Make You Feel If You Don’t Have ADHD?
Strattera has the same effect on people who don’t have ADHD as it does on people who do. That is, if you’re not an ADHD patient taking Strattera, your focus, attentiveness, and concentration will be improved and you may also experience some of the side effects of Strattera.
Besides, research on off-label use of the drug is being carried out. Scientists believe that it could be used to treat mood disorders, eating disorders, cognitive dysfunction, and addiction. However, consult your doctor before using any drug.
How Do I Know If Strattera Is Working?
It would usually take 4-6 weeks before you notice an improvement in your symptoms when taking Strattera, and within this period, you may feel at your edge wondering if the drug is working or not. Just as we have said, drugs like Strattera need to build up in your system first before you begin to notice their effect.
One of the ways to know if the drug is working during your first week of treatment is that you’ll experience some side effects of the drug. That way you’ll know that your body recognizes the presence of the drug, which it sees as a foreign object, and to fight it off, it results in those side effects.
4-6 weeks into your treatment, you should notice:
- Improved focus
- Reduced impulsiveness
- Balanced emotions and energy levels
Then you’ll know Strattera is working. However, if you don’t notice any of these after 4-6 weeks, talk to your doctor.
Does Strattera Make You Feel Like Adderall
Adderall is one of the popular prescription stimulants used in treating ADHD, which works by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels.
However, it is easy to become dependent and addicted to the drug because of the sense of euphoria you may feel while taking it. This is why prescription stimulants are controlled. They could easily be abused, and withdrawal is difficult.
But although Adderall shares some similarities in its side effects with Strattera, Strattera will not make you feel like Adderall would, because it’s not a stimulant. Adderall and Strattera also do share a similarity in how they work to improve focus, concentration, and attentiveness. So considering that aspect, Strattera will make you feel like Adderall.
Conclusion
Strattera is a non-stimulant prescription that will make you feel less impulsive, more focused, and more attentive, without the heightened feeling of euphoria you’ll feel from taking prescription stimulants for ADHD.