Non-Stimulant Meds.

[Devin Mackey]

Can anyone tell their experience with stimulant meds. vs. non-stimulant meds. Are they just as effective or more or less or what?

[Jessica Ruiz Hemmen]

I, too, would very much like to know this. I hear all these people talking about how much their medication has helped them, and while I certainly notice a difference when I take them, it's not nearly as helpful for me as others' experiences seem to be.

[Miss K]

Although I have not tried stimulant medications, I will say that aside from the first couple of days, my experience with Strattera has been subtle but effective. I still wing out a litte around the edges but overall feel more focused. Laser focus? No...but I can manually shift myself more easily into doing things I don't really want to do. I am WAY less chatty (it was a huge problem before, trust me, HAHA), I am more able to listen, more able to enjoy my wacky thoughts without obsessively following them all to a conclusion, and also just a little less reactive to things that previously would have made me totally wig out (because I can talk myself down more easily). In general, I have an actual, tangible thought process, which is pleasant and new. For me, these are all huge improvements. As for side effects, I haven't had any horrible ones (although the first two days I was pretty wacked out) and the ones I did have (nausea, very slightly elevated blood pressure, and slight anxiety) have all pretty much gone away.

How that compares to stimulant meds I don't know, but I definitely have felt improvement since I began taking it.

[stella arnold]

hey i just been given a prescription for strattera (atomoxetine) n ur words hve helped ease my mind so....cheers chick!!!!!!!!!!!!! xxxxx

[Cookie]

I was on Strattera for about 9 mos, then switched to Vyvanse. Been on Vyvanse for only a couple of mos, so I can't tell the difference yet between the two in regards to the inattentiveness, but I gotta say I LOVE the appetite suppressant side effect of Vyvanse. That's the only difference I've noticed so far between the two. I don't feel the compulsion to eat everything in the kitchen. When I do have an appetite what tastes good is anything healthy. I didn't have that side effect w/the Strattera. I liked how Strattera made feel (able to cope) and was apprehensive about being switched to a stimulant. The Vyvanese makes feel like I can cope with the ADD symptoms but so did the Strattera.

[Sharon Tep123]

What are the side affects of the non-stimulants once your body is adjusted?

[Rita Elliott]

non-stimulant meds are less effective. I was on concerta for a year and it is much more effective than the Strattera that I am taking right now.

[Janet Rothstein]

I find this very interesting. I tried ritalin in 1993 and didnt like it so stopped any treatment. My 11yr old son was diagnosed 18mos ago and is on focalin w lexapro. He is doing so much better. I decided to go for treatment too. I liked Focalin at first then after 5mos. realized I hyper focused intensely. Hours on end focused, without moving, on the computer, project etc. then started to get upset. Not able or wanting to switch gears easily. I had finally freed myself from being in charge of major events and obligations. I was relieved. I went from active to isolated and just wanting to do nothing. Along with other physical changes, intense migraines, I was confused as to what I was wrong. I got more and more depressed and unwilling to go out much. Just wanted to stay in bed. I am also and have been on the lowest dosages of wellbutrin and topamax. Topamax is supposed to prevent migraines. I have since gone off Focalin onto Vyvanese and find everything has improved greatly. but as others have said, I don't feel it kick in or go out, so I am unsure when it starts and stops working like w focalin. I just went to 40 of vyvanese. I was on effexor also, was taken off that for prestique and couldnt put a sentence together! Now I have switched to Lexipro which is known to work well w ADD meds,( Focalin and Vyvanese in particular work well w lexipro,) and feel much better.
I just want to say that although I have had great life experiences I am finding I am looking back on all that I couldn't accomplish because I just missed cues I should have taken because I was too busy focusing on something else. I had been distracted and late or a no show, people would leave me behind or out because they couldnt count on me. It makes me very sad. Pills cant fix the past. I just hope I find the right combo of lifestyle and meds to be the best mom I can for my son and guide him towards creating better lasting friendships and career experiences. I am grateful for three good friends that love me and we have great friendships we appreciate each other and cheer each other on.
Love the appetite surpressant too from focalin and Vyvanese. Atleast I don't eat over anything anymore yahoo! hey when I wasn't exercising much atleast I didn't put on any (well maybe a few) pounds too.
Cheers to us all and our skinny focused futures!