Strattera & norepinephrine question

[original guy]

Is strattera basically like pristiq without the serotonin component, and wellbutrin without the dopamine component? Or is that putting it too simply? 

 

I ask this because I recently started wellbutrin about a month ago, despite having bad anxiety as SSRI's don't really help me at all if not make me worse. The first couple weeks I felt more relaxed, it felt like when I was on pristiq, but only the good parts and without all the horrible side effects, and I was getting really excited, my appetite even improved actually. But this past week I've been feelinglike I'm also on a stimulant, I'm guessing from the dopamine action which has been unpleasant. It is making me think that the crux of my problems may have to do with norepinephrine. I wonder if I should talk to my doctor about trying strattera off label for my depression/anxiety instead as this may be a better option, since it only hits NE. 

 

I'm still taking Remeron 45mg at night for sleep and weight gain, and 5mg of diazepam twice a day. 

 

And strattera is the only NSRI available in the US right? 

[jt07]

Norepinephrine is a stimulating neurotransmitter, much more stimulating than serotonin. Hence, drugs that affect NE are bound to be more stimulating for most people than, say, an SSRI. In fact, the amphetamines act on both dopamine and norepinephrine.

 

I have taken Strattera, but I didn't like it at all. It left me feeling very irritable and dysphoric. I don't do well on meds that hit NE hard.

[original guy]

Norepinephrine apparently helps with my anxiety and there is research showing that in some people this is the case. This is probably why SNRI's are approved for anxiety conditions. SSRI's by themselves make my anxiety much worse, so for me serotonin is not the answer. But neither is dopamine, which is part of what wellbutrin hits on. That's why I'm wondering if strattera might be worth trying. 

Edited June 2, 2015 by original guy

[larkspur]

You might consider trying nortriptyline. It's heavy on the noradrenaline reuptake inhibition.

[kateislate]

My impression is that Strattera is really good for my anxiety too. Bit so are stimulants, and so is Wellbutrin - I'm just a freak.