Strattera and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2020

For ADHD "This Strattera is the best ADHD medication I've had so far. It takes a LONG time to kick in. I was supposed to feel the full effects a month into taking it, but I didn't get them for maybe 2-3 months. However, it was worth it for me. Instead of just giving me energy and turning me into an emotionless robot like stimulants, it reworked my brain. My whole brain functions better now. I don't procrastinate, and I can pay attention and work better. I have branched out into different hobbies because it gives you motivation. This is in effect 24/7 because it doesn't leave your system or wear off like stimulants. Now, the side effects. I still zone out and dissociate. There is a decrease in appetite (not as bad as the stimulant in that area, though). I have vivid dreams/nightmares. I feel tired often, and nap a lot. Also, I feel more depressed in general. None of these side effects are very severe, but they can be difficult at times. However, I really do recommend giving Strattera a good chance."

• MXL...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 16, 2020

For ADHD "I am 44F, have been on Strattera for 19 months. It took about 6-8 weeks to feel my best. After adjusting strengths, I eventually stayed on 60 mg. Focusing and memory is much better. Strattera is off-label prescribed as an antidepressant. Instead of trying Cymbalta, I recently chose to increase Strattera to 80mg first. It's been one week and my mood seems a little better. I have been really tired, not so tired that I don't get anything done. Caffeine seems to increase my heart rate. I have noticed acne breakouts on my face, chest, and back which did not occur with 60mg. Mostly on my face. I may be the exception. Strattera is worth a try if you don't want to try stimulants like Adderall. I wish you well on the arduous journey of finding the right med for you."

• Wom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2016

For ADHD "Struggled with life at home, at work, with relationships. I have never taken stimulants, and I had anxiety and ADHD. Strattera has changed my life. Anxiety - gone. Attention - noticeably improved. This is a medication you have to be patient with. 1st 2 weeks - felt like I was going to pass out of pure exhaustion, constipation, felt zero improvement (40mg). 3rd week - anxiety amazingly disappeared (60mg). Realized my confusion was, in fact, anxiety (not lack of intelligence). Job performance - started seeing noticeable improvement to the point where I was amazing myself. Obsessive thoughts - gone. Can sit in my seat for longer periods of time and easily tackle many tasks like it's a piece of cake! Handle stress with ease."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2020

For ADHD "Sharing my experience and hoping other people will comment things they had in common with my experience. My doctor started me on 40mg of Strattera. The first few days I had so much energy. I cleaned my house at 5 am on my day off for no reason. About 2 weeks in, I started to feel drowsy. Anxiety has decreased a bit, but I feel tired in the mornings when I take it. My doctor is now saying she wants to up my dose to 80mg and that it won’t make me tired. I started taking the 40mg at night, and it not only makes me tired but also makes me agitated, and I can’t sleep."

• Mat...
• January 5, 2020

For ADHD "At 34, I started Ritalin. It had up & down effects. At 46, I began Strattera. Hated it. Gained 35 lbs, anxiety soared, was fatigued & lethargic. My current dose is 60mg 2x/day. I never lost weight, but I feel normal. I don't limit caffeine intake. I drink tea, no coffee. Anxiety & depression are better with Strattera. Just added 40 mg Adderall as menopause dulls the effect of Strattera. It has caused high BP & urinary retention. Yet I haven't stopped Strattera in 14 yrs as the alternative is dysfunction. With my daily dose (120 mg) over the max, changing insurance & MDs involves much hoop jumping. Cost of Strattera (& generics) is very high. Some generics are not as effective. Overall, give it time to become fully effective, carefully weigh pros and cons, don't expect to eliminate all ADD behaviors, set realistic behavioral goals, & closely monitor self. The med is NOT a panacea, it is one tool on the journey to living as your authentic self."

• Mag...
• November 4, 2020

For ADHD "I've been on Strattera for about 2-2.5 months. Started at 40mg dose and am now on 100mg. Whenever I start or increase the dose I get side effect symptoms of bad headaches & heartburn. Dry mouth is pretty bad but I was on Wellbutrin for years and had dry mouth then too so I'm sort of used to it. I've been on my 100mg dose for 5 days and I'm feeling really shaky on it. I have also been quite tired throughout. It's almost like being jet-lagged for 2 months straight. I'm very much looking forward to something different. I have felt zero psych effects. No increased focus, memory, nothing. I think my doc simply wants to ensure we've given it our best shot before moving on to something else since I'm tolerating it ok. I'm 38 yr old female recently diagnosed ADHD inattentive."

• 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."

• 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."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 21, 2017

For ADHD "I only took this for 4 weeks, and most say it takes 4-6 weeks to work. Initial side effects: extreme sedation and emotional flattening. I slept the first week anytime I wasn't actively engaged in something, and even then I was groggy. That subsided a bit, but I remained very lethargic all day, every day for the duration of the 4 weeks, and as time went on, I felt more and more emotionally flat and lost all interest and motivation. It certainly completely cured my hyperactivity, but it never helped my focus one bit. It did, however, really help my fibro pain better than anything has, took away my panic attacks, and cut my general anxiety down greatly. Unfortunately, I can't continue to feel so flat, lethargic, anti-social, and disinterested any longer."

• bee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2022

For ADHD "I’ve (20F) been on Strattera for about 3-4 months. I started on 40 mg, had mild side effects but nothing awful, but I wasn’t seeing any improvement in my inattentive ADHD, so the doc and I decided to go up to 80 mg. Been on 80 mg for about 2 months now and it’s taking everything not to quit cold turkey before my next appointment with my doctor. My heart is constantly pounding and I’m overheating all the time. I am depressed and angry all the time. I need at least 12 hours of sleep to function, but I still feel tired and fatigued all the time. I also have been having awful and scary suicidal thoughts out of absolutely nowhere. I can eat, but I feel like I’m going to throw up all the time. I can do chores and work now, but at what cost??? Would not recommend."

• Tin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2017

For ADHD "I was a happy but chaotic woman with ADHD. I am looking for a substitute for Ritalin because, although it worked miracles for my lack of attention and organizing skills, it eventually wore me out. My new neurologist suggested Strattera (80 mg/day). At first, it made me very tired. After a few weeks, Strattera changed me into an emotional wreck. Crying every minute for no reason. I'm still in the hospital. I'm so tired of trying something new and hoping it will make the fog in my head disappear. But we're back to square one. No more Strattera for me..."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 20, 2022

For ADHD "I was diagnosed with ADHD at 52 years old. Took 40 mg of Strattera 2x a day for 18 months. It was somewhat effective-not amazing. I did lose some weight. Out of nowhere, the morning dose starts making me nauseous and tired! The afternoon dose never had any problems. I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I discontinued taking it. Tried Adderall, but it’s such a pain to acquire with supply chain issues and frequent urinalysis screens, plus, I didn’t care for its side effects either. So, at about 7 months without treating my ADHD, I’m 20 lbs heavier. I still have almost 100 Strattera pills. What the heck? I give it a shot. Had the nausea for the morning dose for maybe the first week. It’s been almost a month now-I’ve dropped 6 lbs. My thoughts are clear, able to communicate better, not as forgetful. Not sure why it’s working so much better this time around? I had COVID a month before I started having the bad symptoms, maybe that was long-haul symptoms I was experiencing. I’ll probably never know."

• DDB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2019

For ADHD "I started taking Strattera three weeks ago, and it has been awful. I started taking this because I had too many negative side effects with the stimulants. Strattera gave me mood swings, usually leaving me feeling depressed, anxious, annoyed, angry, etc. It also suppressed my appetite, which kept me from eating. It made me feel lethargic during the day, which kept me in bed and awake at night, which caused severe depression. I noticed no improvement in my ADHD symptoms. I have stopped taking Strattera."

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2019

For ADHD "I want to start out by saying that I have nothing against this medication. Some people thrive on it, and I wish I was one of them. However, it does not seem to be for me. I have been on this medication for 3 months, and I have not really experienced what I wanted to on it. I take 40 mg a day, early morning, for ADHD, and thought it would help me focus and be more productive. Instead, it seems to have just made me lethargic and exhausted most of the day, sometimes just wanting to sleep instead of anything else. I do feel a little more focused in general, but not in the areas I need to be, like during work. I also started sweating... a LOT! I sweat buckets while on this medication, and I constantly feel hot, even when nobody else does. It can be rather debilitating. I already take a diuretic, so I am sure that this is not beneficial for me at all. My mind does seem calmer, but I don't know if it is worth it for me if these are the side effects."

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2019

For ADHD "I want to start out by saying that I have nothing against this medication. Some people thrive on it, and I wish I was one of them. However, it does not seem to be for me. I have been on this medication for 3 months, and I have not really experienced what I wanted to on it. I take 40 mg a day, early morning, for ADHD, and thought it would help me focus and be more productive. Instead, it seems to have just made me lethargic and exhausted most of the day, sometimes just wanting to sleep instead of anything else. I do feel a little more focused in general, but not in the areas I need to be, like during work. I also started sweating... a LOT! I sweat buckets while on this medication, and I constantly feel hot, even when nobody else does. It can be rather debilitating. I already take a diuretic, so I am sure that this is not beneficial for me at all. My mind does seem calmer, but I don't know if it is worth it for me if these are the side effects."

• thu...
• September 7, 2015

For ADHD "At first, I hated it because it didn't give me the energy of Vyvanse, and I desperately wanted my Dr. to switch me back. After a couple of weeks, I realized that even though I was a little tired and not really focused, I was calm and happy. This medication doesn't really do much for my ADD, but it eases my anxiety that I have always had. I've tried many other medications, and nothing worked for anxiety except for this one. It feels great to be calm and not worried about nonsense. Hope it keeps working for a long time to come."

• Tik...
• August 22, 2013

For ADHD "My son was diagnosed with autism, however, he has symptoms of ADHD but is not. The ADHD meds just made things worse for him, so the doctor gave me Strattera to try 10 mg, and it helped. I kept wondering why he could take this but not other ADHD meds. His pediatrician told me it is an antidepressant that was discovered to have a calming effect, and if it makes him tired, take it at bedtime. It is very expensive but helps. We have not been able to increase the dose, but kids on the spectrum are difficult to medicate."

• Bea...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 27, 2021

For ADHD "Strattera works great for me, started on 18 mg, feeling a lot calmer and more focused, no bad side effects. I took it in the morning, and it made me tired, so I changed to taking it at night. I also take 5 mg of melatonin, works better for me, sleep good, no diet issues, 68 yr old female."

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2016

For ADHD "Diagnosed with ADD this year, I initially wanted to go without medications. Being a senior in college, I have deadlines, and I noticed my grades suffering significantly. I decided to give medications a try. My doctor prescribed a 6-week starter pack of Strattera (25-80 mg). I noticed a difference in attentiveness, but after week 4, I felt lethargic, unmotivated, sad, impatient, VERY irritable, and depressed. I didn't go to class, didn't turn in homework, and my grades took a deeper dive in that month. My psychiatrist then prescribed Vyvanse (30 mg). I have been on it for a month, and it helps me stay focused without losing sleep and decreasing my appetite. Best of all, my grades are improving! My worst side effect is dry mouth. Hope this helps(:"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2025

For ADHD "I have been taking the generic form - atomoxetine for 2 weeks now. I am diagnosed with ADHD, possibly a crossover with autism. My most problematic symptoms were challenges with executive function, overthinking, constantly running on anxiety, and poor sleep. I am averse to taking meds as my anxiety kicks in imagining all the worst-case scenarios that I read online. Nonetheless, I tried Ritalin first, but it just made me even more anxious. When I took atomoxetine 25 mg, the first couple of days I was really tired, took naps in the afternoon, which is unheard of for me. I also could feel a bit of a BP rise and a little more insomnia. After that, no real negative side effects. I have it with breakfast and take a banana after the tablet, no nausea. I also found drinking lots of water throughout the day helps with any side effects. I know atomoxetine is supposed to be slow-acting, but I already have some more calmness, less brain fog, and a lift in mood - it is very gradual. I go up to 40 mg on Monday."

• Swa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2018

For ADHD "Worst experience of my life. I couldn't handle the side effects for a second day. About 1 hour after taking it, I was exhausted, slept for about 2 hours, woke up disoriented, with a killer headache, cotton mouth, and goosebumps. I didn't want to get up or do anything. I had to pee every 20-30 minutes. Felt sad, couldn't sleep well the next day. I had forgotten most of what happened the day before. I told my doctor, and they didn't believe me, but told me they could prescribe me an anti-anxiety medication. I went in for my ADHD, I don't understand her reasoning."

• adh...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 16, 2013

For ADHD "Took this since 3rd grade. It made me tired, and I became depressed. After getting off the pills, I became myself again. I took it from 3rd grade till about 8th grade. I'm now in 10th grade with no ADHD meds at all."

• Mez...
• March 27, 2009

For ADHD "It worked quite well in the first 2 weeks with a lot of things. My thought process, my mood, my socializing, getting schoolwork done much faster, not procrastinating. Then after 3 weeks on the medicine, it plummeted. I had more side effects after the 3rd week when dosage was raised to 20 mg as 10 mg did not work. Had heart palpitations, was sweaty, muscle weakness, extremely tired."

• Pum...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2019

For ADHD "I have felt horrible for weeks, feeling like I'm in the early stages of a disease or disorder. Headaches, joint pain, nausea, constipation, stomach cramps, insomnia, dry mouth, feeling irritated, tired. I've even had eye twitching problems, which I've never had in my life. I get flushed or sweaty. I've woken up with horrible leg cramps, and my toes even feel weird. Never want to take this again."

• ADH...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2021

For ADHD "I made the switch from Vyvanse to Strattera about 3 months ago, for no particular reason other than wanting to give a non-stimulant a go. A few hours after my first dose (40 mg), I was hugging the toilet, vomiting. My doctor said nausea is normal and to push through it. 3 months later, I am up to 60 mg. The first hour after I take the pill is still awful. Pounding/racing heart, nausea, and stomach discomfort, scattered thoughts, etc. Some days are better than others, and overall, my mood has improved a little, but nothing noteworthy has happened in regard to my ADHD. I gave this drug an honest go, and it's just not working out. Even after the side effects wear off, I'm still feeling exhausted and unmotivated, and unable to get my thoughts in order. I see what people mean when they say a drug makes them feel like a 'zombie.' I'll be switching back to Vyvanse ASAP."