Stratera Side Effects, Advantages and Disadvantages.
Now that Stratera has been on the market for over a year, more
information about the ADD and ADHD drug is becoming better known.
Overall, there appear to be more side effects with Strattera than
was originally promised or hoped for. Additionally, the side
effects of Stratera appear to be more common than with stimulant
ADD and ADHD medications.
The primary concerns with Stratera side effects are excessive
tiredness or insomnia, an increase in heart rate and blood
pressure and sexual side effects. Males have reported side effects
similar to prostatitis symptoms like painful urination, urinary
retention, pain following sexual intercourse and unusual symptoms
following intercourse. An interesting side effect that has been
discovered is enlarged pupils. This could be mistaken for illegal
substance abuse. As with stimulant medications, Stratera side
effects stop when the medication is stopped.
The number of people trying Stratera and discontinuing it shortly
thereafter appears quite high. There are also a large number of
people who seem to receive little or no benefit from Stratera.
Overall, Stratera appears to be less effective than stimulants,
especially in its effects on hyperactivity. Many physicians are
using Stratera alongside the stimulant medications, which negates
the “non-stimulant” Stratera claim.
Below is an outline of Statera advantages and disadvantages that
should be considered before using this ADD and ADHD medication. The Attention Deficit Disorder Help Center maintains its health
and safety stance of trying any and all available
alternatives to ADHD medication
before resorting to drug therapy.
Attend, a neurological support
supplement, is a highly effective alternative to conventional ADHD
drug medication.
Stratera Advantages:
_ Stratera is not a Schedule II drug, which means your doctor can
write a prescription for more than a month at a time and call
prescriptions into the pharmacy rather than requiring you to pick
them up each month.
_ Stratera does not have the "bad name" of stimulant ADD and ADHD
medications.
_ There appears to be less abuse potential with Stratera.
_ Stratera is not a stimulant but a norepinephrine reuptake
inhibitor. Norepinephrine plays a key role in ADD, ADHD and
depression.
_ Stratera may be more easily prescribed for people with current
or past addiction problems with alcohol or drugs.
_ Stratera appears to provide 24-hour coverage that might carry
over into the next day. The effects of stimulant medications range
from 4 to 12 hours.
_ Stratera’s antidepressant properties may provide effective
treatment for those with depressive and anxious symptoms alongside
ADD and ADHD.
_ Stratera does not appear to worsen tics or Tourette's Syndrome
as the stimulants often do.
Stratera Disadvantages:
_ This is no magic pill. Stratera is still going to have some of
the side effects of the stimulants and it will be ineffective for
some people.
_ As with any new drug, the exact way Stratera will work in the
"real world" is not yet known.
_ Stratera is not necessarily safer in the long run than the
stimulants. The long-term side effects of Stratera are completely
unknown.
_ Some insurance companies refuse to pay for Stratera.
Out-of-pocket costs for Stratera are $100 to $200 depending on the
dose.
_ Stratera does not seem to impact hyperactivity as much as the
stimulant medications. People might need to use a stimulant ADHD
medication alongside Stratera, which defeats the argument that you
can avoid stimulant medication.
_ Stratera is difficult to adjust. With stimulants, a physician
will know in a short amount of time if the dosage needs
adjustment. Stratera’s longer action time causes dosaging
complications that can extend from months to a year.
_ There is a problem with using Stratera alongside the
psychotropic drugs Prozac and Paxil.
_ There are reports of sexual dysfunction side effects in adult
Stratera use.
Related Articles:
Straterra - The promising new ADHD medication?
Strattera (atomoxetine) Side
Effects
Adderall vs Strattera
Strattera Linked to Liver
Damage
Back to Archived
Newsletter page
