Atomoxetine and Nausea: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2023

For ADHD "At 32 years old, I was diagnosed with ADHD, which was a huge relief. I had always known that I felt different, and my behavior throughout childhood was questionable. It's sad to think that ADHD was never a recognized condition for girls back then. If it had been, I believe my childhood would have been very different. Strattera has changed my life. All the noise in my head, impulsiveness, procrastination, and extreme exhaustion have stopped. I no longer dread the days ahead or count down the minutes until bedtime. I am truly enjoying life. This drug is not a miracle, but when combined with positive steps, it has made me realize that I am equal. I no longer feel like an imposter or am terrified of social situations. The initial side effects I experienced were fatigue, nausea, and loss of appetite. However, for me, these side effects were preferable to continuing down a path of self-destruction and the inability to exercise self-control. If you are starting this drug, stay strong and have faith."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 9, 2021

For ADHD "I'm a 26-year-old AFAB (assigned female at birth) person, and I never thought I had ADHD until very recently. My spouse was diagnosed with hyperactive ADHD, and while we were researching it, I realized all the symptoms for inattentive ADHD matched me. I mentioned it to my psych, and after some tests, he diagnosed me with ADHD and put me on Strattera. It didn't kick in until week 4 for me, and up to that point, I had an upset stomach for about 30 minutes every morning right after I took the pill. But the nausea went away, and I began realizing that suddenly everything was so much easier to do. I started to notice how much time I was saving at work and doing household labor because I no longer got distracted or had to hype myself up for an hour before doing a basic task. I just would think 'I should do this thing' and then immediately take care of it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2021

For ADHD "After 10+ years of unsuccessful psychotropic medications for various misdiagnoses and 11 years of therapy, my brain is quiet. At one point I was worried it wasn't working, but then realized I was only bored because I had actually finished all my tasks. I upped the dosage VERY slowly (over months) and have not had noticeable side effects other than nausea, which doesn't even occur if I eat beforehand. I recommend therapy on top of meds and sticking with it for months to give it a chance to work - finally having enough time to start living and not just surviving/the realization of what normal is can be an overwhelming process. Best of luck to you all!"

• Han...
• November 19, 2019

For ADHD "I’ve been on Strattera for almost a year. I am a 23-year-old female with ADHD. It took about two months to finally fully work, but when it did and I got over the side effects, I loved it. You will experience some nausea and stomach pain in the beginning and sweating or feeling lightheaded if you don’t take it easy. I recommend eating lightly with it and make sure you drink water so your stomach acid isn’t going toe to toe with extended release. You may vomit if you don’t take it with a little food. Give it time. I focus easily now, and my life has drastically improved. I’m getting my master's and work full time, and the medicine also regulates appetite and seems to raise the metabolism. Good luck!"

• Jen...
• December 11, 2019

For ADHD "Game changer for me. 60mg for ~3y. Not a magic bullet, but without it, I couldn't be self-employed. I still lose days immobilized or where all I can do is a few emails, but compared to weeks of incapacity without it. For example, without meds, I can sit for hours thinking: 'I need to do the dishes [add mental distraction here & repeat].' Now I can go from thought to action; just get up and do the dishes! When I don’t take it, negative self-talk starts in my mind, from how frustrating it is to never shift from thought to action. I can really tell the difference. Advice: 1) REALLY important, titrate dosage up SLOWLY, for example, a few weeks or a month with 20mg, then 40mg, etc., to reduce any side effects. Don’t go too fast or start on the full dose. 2) I can't take it until AFTER I eat enough and wait for my digestion to awake, or I get nausea. I can’t just take it WITH food on an empty stomach or even just AFTER breakfast. So I eat oatmeal and take the pill later after mid-morning snack. Otherwise, I’d rate it 10/10."

• BTa...
• August 5, 2019

For ADHD "Do not let negative online reviews and personal anecdotes prevent you from trying Strattera if suggested by your doctor! Side effects: at first, I had some nausea, alleviated by taking after food. Now, after seven weeks, I take it at bedtime and have no side effects. I can already notice a real difference! I tried Strattera last year but only took it sporadically for a few weeks, not giving it a chance to build up to a steady state and take effect. This time, I have not missed a dose, and I am now at the full dosage for me (100 mg). In the past, I was prescribed Adderall. I was concerned that Strattera would not work for me because I had already experienced the rush of the onset of a stimulant medication. Adderall also affected my emotions/behavior in negative ways. Strattera is an entirely different experience. Even when I do not notice its benefits in the moment, I can look back at my day or week and see the difference in my attention/focus."

• Gan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 17, 2019

For ADHD "Strattera is a wonderful alternative to stimulants. While unmedicated, I would consistently have brain fog and I would never be able to focus. I would frequently have to ask others to repeat themselves as I would always drift off mid-sentence. I never experienced hyperactivity. Every stimulant medication I tried (Adderall, IR Ritalin, Concerta) all resulted in anxiety and loss of personality. With Strattera, I feel as if the fog has cleared, while also maintaining my regular self - the most 'normal' I’ve ever felt. I’m currently on 80 mg a day weighing 175 lbs. It took my body roughly 5 weeks to become fully adjusted to the medication and receive the full benefits. Just make sure to always take this medication on a full stomach or you’ll probably experience some nausea. Also, the first couple of weeks I felt a little more agitated than usual, but this passed after the first few weeks. Give this medication a chance, especially if stimulants give you anxiety!"

• JDa...
• November 11, 2019

For ADHD "Background: I was diagnosed with ADHD in my 20s and was started out on Strattera at 40mg. Now I'm at 80mg. Also, take with food or you may feel nauseous. Note: These are my own observations, your experience may vary. Pros: - It gives me an insane amount of energy and direction. Drives me off the bed/couch to more constructive outlets. - It makes me hyperfocused at 80mg and decently focused at 40mg. - There is no crash like amphetamines. Cons: - Some mild sexual side effects that disappear over time. - Weight loss - lack of appetite (Pro if you struggle with your weight? - just make sure you eat!) - Zombie effect - I noticed some kind of dulling of my emotions. i.e., my lows are not as low, but my highs are not as high. - Cottonmouth/dry throat. I'm constantly drinking water. - Possible sleep disruption if you take it late in the day."

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 11, 2020

For ADHD "It does work. But, give it two or 3 weeks. You will feel weird in the beginning and a little nauseous. It goes away. I do feel like I concentrate better and focus longer. Be careful with caffeine! It makes caffeine much stronger and lasts longer. After a few months while on it, I get very irritable and tense. I need a break and let it wash out. No problems stopping cold turkey. Take 80mg a day. Overall, it's good. Not perfect though. Orgasms seem delayed for some reason and slightly less of a sex drive. No changes in weight."

• Cha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 15, 2019

For ADHD "I remember my very first day on Strattera, I vomited. It made me nauseous for weeks. If you are having side effects then I'd recommend taking this before going to sleep, you'll basically sleep through all the side effects. On Strattera, my memory has gotten better. I can focus more, I feel calmer when doing complicated tasks. I'm not so impulsive and my appetite has reduced. It's not like the stimulants, it's more subtle and steady. I still have side effects, I get very tired, I'll get heart palpitations, and sometimes I get hot flashes. I now take this in the morning ALWAYS with food, otherwise, I get nauseous. Strattera has helped, but the stimulants made me focus 100 times more. Unfortunately, Adderall gives me severe side effects (paranoia, depression), and Ritalin didn't do anything. I also take Pristiq for depression and anxiety. Please give Strattera a chance. Like all medications, they work differently on different people, so please don't dismiss this because others might not have liked it."

• Cha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 15, 2019

For ADHD "I remember my very first day on Strattera, I vomited. It made me nauseous for weeks. If you are having side effects then I'd recommend taking this before going to sleep, you'll basically sleep through all the side effects. On Strattera, my memory has gotten better. I can focus more, I feel calmer when doing complicated tasks. I'm not so impulsive and my appetite has reduced. It's not like the stimulants, it's more subtle and steady. I still have side effects, I get very tired, I'll get heart palpitations, and sometimes I get hot flashes. I now take this in the morning ALWAYS with food, otherwise, I get nauseous. Strattera has helped, but the stimulants made me focus 100 times more. Unfortunately, Adderall gives me severe side effects (paranoia, depression), and Ritalin didn't do anything. I also take Pristiq for depression and anxiety. Please give Strattera a chance. Like all medications, they work differently on different people, so please don't dismiss this because others might not have liked it."

• Wol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 4, 2019

For ADHD "Strattera is one of the best things to ever happen to me. I had struggled so much with binge eating disorder and (I think mild to moderate) ADHD, and with Strattera, it was like a miracle. I can read things and feel/act on hunger. I chose Strattera over a stimulant because I have anxiety and depression, so it didn’t help much with my skin-picking impulses, but everything else has been great. I take 40mg daily, and after the first week of hot flashes and nausea, there’s been no side effects :)"

• KBa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 23, 2020

For ADHD "I've been on Strattera for two months now for ADHD. It took about 6 weeks for it to kick in and start working. I don't feel that it helps with all my ADHD problems, but it does help with a few. I've had terrible side effects, including loss of appetite (I've lost 10 pounds since starting the drug due to loss of appetite). I also get really bad hot flashes, and anytime I go into a moving vehicle, I feel nauseous. I can't sleep at night, and I can't stay awake in the day. The side effects are not worth the small benefit I get from this drug."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 22, 2022

For ADHD "I've been on Strattera for about 10 months now. At first, it helped a bit with my attention problem and calmed my impulses. But I realized I'm not able to feel anything anymore, whether that I'm sad or happy. It feels like there's a wall around my brain where my emotions are felt, and I can't get past that. This medication has made me generally a boring person, all I feel is anxiety and depression, but I'm unable to cry. That's the whole point. Anyway, I want to get off it, but I'm afraid to tell my mom (a psychologist) because I absolutely don't like the person I was before taking this medication. It's not like I don't dislike myself anymore, I still do, very much. But I don't want to put myself and my family through that again. I also feel extremely nauseous if I don't take it for a day. I don't know what to do..."

• Ril...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2022

For ADHD "I am in my 40s and newly diagnosed with ADHD. I tried stimulants and loved the calm and clarity, but felt they dulled my emotions almost to the point of extreme detachment. I started Strattera about 2 months ago and am amazed at the impact. On stimulants, I could hear lyrics so easily to songs that I missed in the past. I never expected that to happen with Strattera, but after about 6 weeks, I noticed the lyrics were just 'there' for me. My mind is more calm, and I feel so much less frazzled, and even more at home here in my body/mind. I had nausea for the first month or so and even still get it every now and again, but it is worth it. I am still myself, but so much calmer and more centered. I am only on 25, and I seriously considered not trying this due to the bad reviews. I am so glad I did. It has also worked well for my teenage son."

• Ket...
• April 24, 2010

For ADHD "At first, I had to take it with a high-protein meal, and even then, I had some nausea. Now I've figured out a way for it to not cause nausea, yet get into my system: Take RIGHT BEFORE you go to bed! This way, it gets into my system, helps me to sleep 7-8 hours a night, and I feel in control of my feelings/moods instead of a slight 'fog' all the time. THIS medicine works; the others I've tried (Ritalin, Dexedrine) produced unwanted side effects. I'm staying with what works!"

• ItW...
• August 24, 2015

For ADHD "I'm a 30-year-old male and switched from Dexedrine to Strattera about two years ago. For the first two months, I thought it was a terrible decision because of the horrible side effects and talked to my doctor a couple of times about switching back to a stimulant. He told me that even though it says it can take up to a month to start working, in his experience, it took most patients 2-3 months to see the benefits. I'm glad I stuck with it. After four months, all side effects were completely gone, and it works better than any stimulant type I've been prescribed. The problem is you do have to get through a horrible period of 1-3 months (10 weeks for me) before the nausea, fatigue, ED, and insane sweating are gone. This drug takes time to work!!!"

• sof...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2025

For ADHD "The doctor didn't want to give me stimulants, so I was given Wellbutrin 150 mg at first. It made my mouth insanely dry and made me feel extremely tired almost immediately, which made my inattentive ADHD and focus way worse. So I then tried Strattera without expectations, but I'm so impressed at how well it works. I'm an adult and still only on 20 mg per day once in the morning with food, and my focus has improved noticeably. I'm able to study for at least half an hour without any distractions, while previously I'd estimate 10 minutes would be my max. The meds kicked in for me quickly, even on the first day, usually around a max of 30 minutes later. I feel more alert on top of my better ability to focus. The first few days, I had pretty bad constipation and insomnia, but it's been a little over a week now, and those have gone away. Definitely do take Strattera with food, as it'll make you feel nauseous without it. Will continue on 20 mg daily dose for now unless I feel the need to increase the dose."

• Fli...
• October 27, 2016

For ADHD "First of all, unless Strattera is seriously messing with your brain, you should really be patient and keep taking it to see if it really works. I thought several times about quitting, but since I have been fighting depression and ADHD my whole life, why not give it another month to take effect? I started a month at 25mg, a month at 40mg, and about 2 weeks at 80mg. Wow, have things really taken off for me! I am getting so much done at home and am motivated to get a job again! The one downside is the cost. Seriously? My insurance won't cover it so my 80mg prescription was almost $500! To combat nausea, take with food always! It may interact with vitamins too, so take those at the opposite time of day. Most side effects went away after 2 wks."

• Fir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 3, 2020

For ADHD "I’m a 27-year-old female, previously diagnosed with depression and anxiety. I currently take Lexapro 10 mg once a day, which controls my anxiety and the majority of my depression. Though my depression still exists, I have an inability to concentrate and I’m tired constantly. I started on Strattera 3 days ago, so I wanted to document my progress. On day 2, I started experiencing nausea, and I took off work. My doctor suggested over-the-counter nausea medicine before medications like Zofran, and it’s been helpful. I’m supposed to be careful and monitor my anxiety so that it doesn’t increase, but as of right now, it’s under control. I lost sleep last night, but I took it in the morning instead, so we’ll see how well I sleep tonight. I will update you all in a week."

• Pac...
• October 16, 2018

For ADHD "This medication has been the best thing to happen to me. I do feel nausea for a bit after taking it, but I started on a 40mg dose and literally felt amazing after the first week. As for a lot of you saying you're having horrible effects, there are misdiagnoses all the time, and depending on what other medications you're taking will change how each person is affected by the medication. Everyone's bodies are different, so different medications might suit different people."

• Uno...
• December 7, 2019

For ADHD "Diagnosed at age 46. Initially placed on a med that works for my son (methylphenidate - short acting 10 mg) made me feel crazy - manic-like, and my typical resting heart rate is 55 - on that it was 100, whoa, uncomfortable. Psychiatrist switched me to Strattera 40 mg x 1 mo. Side effects: sometimes morning nausea, intermittent dry mouth, mild constipation, took longer to orgasm, irritability. Increased to 60 mg x 2 weeks then was supposed to go on 80 mg. Insurance required a pre-auth, so went off entirely for 1 month (gotta love the US healthcare system!). Now, the last few days took 60 mg a day for 2 days, then 80 mg a day for 2 days. Side effects: extreme nausea 1 hour after taking, but was taking on an empty stomach, so will change that, dry mouth 1-2 times a day. Resting heart rate mid-60s. Haven’t tried sex yet, we’ll see. I am certain I am more focused. So far, I am happy with this. Worry a little about possible liver failure, but that is very rare. Probably more chance of ending up in an accident from my inattention by NOT taking the pills."

• Uno...
• December 7, 2019

For ADHD "Diagnosed at age 46. Initially placed on a med that works for my son (methylphenidate - short acting 10 mg) made me feel crazy - manic-like, and my typical resting heart rate is 55 - on that it was 100, whoa, uncomfortable. Psychiatrist switched me to Strattera 40 mg x 1 mo. Side effects: sometimes morning nausea, intermittent dry mouth, mild constipation, took longer to orgasm, irritability. Increased to 60 mg x 2 weeks then was supposed to go on 80 mg. Insurance required a pre-auth, so went off entirely for 1 month (gotta love the US healthcare system!). Now, the last few days took 60 mg a day for 2 days, then 80 mg a day for 2 days. Side effects: extreme nausea 1 hour after taking, but was taking on an empty stomach, so will change that, dry mouth 1-2 times a day. Resting heart rate mid-60s. Haven’t tried sex yet, we’ll see. I am certain I am more focused. So far, I am happy with this. Worry a little about possible liver failure, but that is very rare. Probably more chance of ending up in an accident from my inattention by NOT taking the pills."

• cou...
• July 9, 2018

For ADHD "I suffer from drug and alcohol addiction, so it is important for me to steer clear of stimulants. I have awful ADHD, so my doctor started me on Strattera a couple of months ago, and my fidgeting and inability to focus have both lessened dramatically. I started with 80 mg for one week, then jumped straight to 100 mg. On my very first day, I experienced mild nausea along with six straight hours of goosebumps (weird, but whatever), but no side effects since. It has helped me a lot, and I'm glad I'm on it."

• Adu...
• June 6, 2019

For ADHD "I started with 40 mg of Strattera and worked my way up to 80 mg. The only side effects I've experienced are some mild queasiness and drowsiness, and once my body got used to the medication, those side effects went away! I've noticed significant mood improvement with the combination of this drug and diet/exercise. Planning for the future is noticeably less stressful, and I even found it easier to do simple things like grocery shopping and coming into work early. I’m still not perfect because I have still missed a dentist’s appointment. I’ve also noticed fewer cognitive distortions, which makes things more comfortable. I will say that it still doesn’t help with the immediate distractions or impulses, like stimulants do. It takes some time for it to work, you have to take it every day, and you still need to live a healthy life. So even if it helps a little, it's not some miracle drug. Manage your expectations if you’re considering asking your doctor about it."