ChemistryExperiment Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 I'm wanting to switch.... I've been on strattera forever and its just not doing its job... I've been all the way up to 80mg of strattera but I don't sleep at 80mg of strattera... but I can sleep when on stimulants..... (I've been on concerta and as long as I took it in the morning right away I slept, its when I slept until 4pm and then took it that it was a problem ) However, I don't know that the pdoc will want to ditch the strattera. Its not doing anything depression wise... and not helping that much ADD wise. Stimulants help so much more for me.... However they are worried about mania. I was rarely manic on Concerta, just my "normal" amount... as I wasn't on a mood stabilizer that worked yet. I also need my mood stabilizer changed.... because I am doing a lot of cycling to mixed states and then depressive states on topamax.... I noticed even on a small dose of lamictal that stopped (25mg) and I want to push for that. I know it takes forever to titrate up on, but I think it would be worth it. I just don't want to go in and be like "this is what I think you should put me on and take me off of" But My ADHD is out of control, my depression is out of control...and my OCD is barely managable.... so its like what do you do? *sigh* I mean I can sit down to write a paper and 5 hours later I don't even have a paragraph done sometimes.... I can't fucking do this anymore... I'm doing way to many all nighters..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celestia Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 I just don't want to go in and be like "this is what I think you should put me on and take me off of" But My ADHD is out of control, my depression is out of control...and my OCD is barely managable.... so its like what do you do? *sigh* I have had very direct requests of my treatment providers. I'm not bipolar and I don't know about the relationship of stims to mania. Do you have a tdoc? My tdoc was invaluable in informing my new pdoc that stims were indicated. I know what a PITA it is to find a doctor but if I had one refusing to deal with my symptoms by denying medication I know works, I would have a big problem with that. At a minimum I would want an explanation and alternative remedies suggested. KWIM? I mean be polite and all that but seriously you have a right to ask and to be heard. If the outcome is not what you want look for a second opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Elvis Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 You're hard up for money right now right? Your cheapest options are going to be generic methylphenidate, lithium and maybe an old school AP (Mellaril for OCDish parinoia worked for me till I got EPS) and/or a generic benzo if you need it. You could easily walk out of the drug store for less than $40 a month that way, not counting the cost of Li blood tests. I don't have any insurance so I've been playing in that corner of the sandbox myself. Also consider prescription assistance plans. I'm getting Topamax and Risperdal for free right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemistryExperiment Posted December 4, 2009 Author Share Posted December 4, 2009 My Insurance should be back up and running in a while..... Lithium doesn't owrk for me at all.... because my thyroid medication doesn't stay stabilized, lithium doesn't stay stabilized..... so it doesn't work.... I can't get blood levels right..... Depakote didn't work.... Topamax isn't working right..... I'm afraid to go on Trileptal because I'm dizzy a lot and the dizzyness side effect is inherently huge..... I've tried one more.... And then I started Lamictal.. and that started helping right away.... And I expected it not to.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Strattera did not work for my son's ADHD at all. I was singularly unimpressed with it. It really is kind of a niche drug, in my opinion. The subset of folks it works for is small.... You may do fine on a stim if your mood is more stabilized. Anna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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