[danacain]

My shrinks wants to put me on Straterra for adult ADD but I've read that Statera can cause liver damage. Is it dangerous for me to take it since I've had Roux en Y? I know I have to be more carefull with medications; I mentioned the surgery to her but honestly I don't think she really paid as much attention to the information as she should have. She wanted to put me on anti depressants but under no circumstances will I take anti depressants because Celexa is one of the reasons I ended up needing WLS plus it helped put me in a mental hospital.

Anyway, any thoughts on Stratera?

[dixieladybug]

Sorry i can't help you with that. I guess everyone is busy today being a holiday. I am sure someone will have an answer for you soon. Have a great day.

[DocSanae]

Do you mean Strattera?
Strattera | Prescription Drug Information, Side Effects | PDRHealth
To be honest, just about all meds have the potential of liver damage, because most of them are processed through the liver.
Maybe you can ask to start at a low dose, and have the blood level and liver function monitored regularly for a while, to make sure everything is fine.

[MsVickie]

I agree with Doc here. I have seen it work wonders on kids. Any time they put you on any form of med of this type or even like a cholesterol med they will make you have blood test every so often to make sure its not making your liver panel rise. If so that is a sign. Good luck with all this. Evidently your needing some type of med to have that suggested to you. I take Lexapro myself and I am not ashamed to tell anyone that I do. It helps me alot.

[danacain]

I have real issues with antidepressants and flat out refuse to take them. I read some really scary stuff about strattera and among potential liver damage it can cause suicidal thoughts, insomnia AND sexual dysfunction. I really don't want to take it. I prefer the stimulant meds because I don't have the side effects that are common with them and I love the results.

My son can't take Concerta; it causes anxiety and depression but I don't have that problem. But my shrink doesn't want to give me Concerta because once apon a time I was diagnosed with post partum depression and apparently there is an increased risk of relapse with concerta. But all I know if that concerta works for me and I don't see why I have to screw around with other meds when I already know what works.

I'm pretty pissed about it. If I lose one minute of sleep or experience any sexual side effects I absolutely will not take strattera.

[MsVickie]

Honey your a fighter with your meds just like alot of people I know are when they have to take somthing like this. Its ok. However you do need to let them help you with somthing. Your in need of somthing. The computer is a great tool yes. I love mine...however they like to tell you alot of bad stuff and get people over excited about things they shouldnt have to worry about.

The sex drive honey is just a side effect that may happen and its low. May dont mean will. My nephew took Concerta and Straterra for a long while until he decided he didnt need them any longer. He was a whole 15 years old when he started refusing to take them. He is his own worst enemy. He needs to be placed on somthing again him self but refuses. Hes a time bomb waiting to go off. Hes 18 now and everyone else is stupid but him.

I do hope you get the help you need. And let yourself live more than you are now.

[DocSanae]

MsVickie's right, it's the same as with weight loss surgery, many prescription meds do get a lot of negative publicity. Bad news travel a thousand miles in a blink of an eye, good news travels at a snail's pace.

Since you are really concerned about the side effects of Strattera, I would suggest that you talk in person with a few people who are actually taking them, and see how it is with them. Even with this, you also need to keep in mind that people who've had bad experiences will be willing to talk, while people who are doing well, may not be as eloquent, many may not even be willing to admit that they are taking the medication.
Also, you should check out the rate of the side effects--data is available, as pharmaceutical cos are required to report them, and they are made public, so your dr should be able to give it to you.
You did take a risk with bypass surgery when the reported mortality rate is about 0.5%, so what ratio of possible side effect is viable enough for you to at least give it a tentative try?
Hope this will help you in making an objective assessment of the particular medicaton.

[danacain]

Well, I started taking it and by day four I felt hostile, tired, depressed, claustrophobic and pointless. In fact, after a mere four days I started feeling EXACTLY like I did before surgery and I noticed because I have been feeling incredible since losing the weight. It was so bad that everyone at work noticed and kept asking me what was wrong.

This is exactly what happened when I was on Celexa. I KNOW myself. I KNOW what I need, and I don't need antidepressants. I need mental clarity and focus. I'm NOT depressed. I am angry that I went to the doctor and said "this is working for me" and her response was, "well, that's great but let's not do that, let's do THIS even though you have already told me it didn't work for you.

What kind of doctor DOES THAT?

Finally, because of the risk of liver damage, I found out from my surgeon that in order to take it I'd have to have regular blood tests and I'm not putting myself through that.

[Lana]

Have you tried talking to another therapist. Maybe the one you have is not right for you. Also, what about trying alternative supplements....like St. John's Wort for instance. I know a lot of people who take supplements and they swear by them.

[danacain]

I'm going to give her one more visit and if she doesn't listen to me then I will not be back.

As for the St John's Wort; there are no quality controls with supplements since they are considered food so it is INSANELY dangerous to supplement in place of quality medical care. I know someone who decided to treat her depression with supplements and ended up trying to kill herself--twice.

Mental illness is not something you should EVER EVER treat on your own. Period.

Now, having said that, I am not depressed and don't need antidepressants even supplemental anti depressants. I need mental clarity and focus, and I do take fish oil and listen to classical music, but going back to my own advice, I don't believe those things are enough and I need competent medical care. When I was younger I was able to combat my ADD with sheer force of will but my will can't compete with ADD and an aging brain. I find as I get older it gets harder and harder to remember things and stay focused for extended periods.

I respond spectacularly well to stimulants but because they are addictive, my shrink doesn't like prescribing them. Although of COURSE it's easy to get "addicted" to feeling good. I mean can we say DUH????