Can a relationship survive Strattera

Answer 1

Your boyfriend must discuss the side effects he is experiencing with his doctor. There are many other meds available to treat ADD. He needs to find the med that gives him relief from the ADD symptoms without severe or life altering side effects. Good luck ... it's rare you find the right med on the first try.

Jerri

Lisa, I completely agree with Jerri that your boyfriend needs to contact his physician and try something else.

In regards to these mentally--altering types of medications, I can tell you that they can make you think that you are unable to perform as well as just plain cut you off physically. I'm a woman who has experienced the problem and can sympathize how it would affect a man.

Strattera did not work for me.I did not experience sexual side effects with it but developed a disoriented feeling and also made concentrating much more difficult for things like my school work (I am a student) and also while driving. I have noticed that I have difficulty finding the right words also when on Strattera.

So just like your boyfriend, I am having to deal with disrupting my life to find the medication that works best for me, even if it creates havoc. Many times men feel that they have gone to the doctor, they are taking what the doctor has prescribed and that they don't need to ask any questions or go back. A lot of times they are just shy about questioning the doctor's choice. But try to reason with your boyfriend and hopefully he will not settle for what this medication is doing to your relationship--there are alternatives!

By the way, one physician I was seeing for taking one of these medications mentioned that a lot of times it is the family members who call to notify them of odd or disrupting behavior and side effects--not necessarily the patient--and they will take into account the information given by family members. You might try calling his physician yourself and see what he says!

Sincerely,Dawna

I am a physician who is moderately familiar with prescribing Strattera,and also familiar with it personally.

it is possible the drug will work and not have the problems the original poster described, IF the drug is started VERY LOW and incereased VERY slowly. the boyfriend should see the doctor.

I am the original poster. It has been a while since I posted this. Our relationship has improved greatly, but a new problem seems to have focused. After speaking to his doctor, he was removed from Strattera. This was great for his frame of mind, but the physical side effects still loom almost 4 months after being off the medication. He still has no desire or performance sexually. This is still very frustrating. He has spoken to a doctor and was told that there was nothing wrong with him. Obviously something isn't right since he was sexually very aggressive before Strattera and now he doesn't even consider it an option.

Have any of you experienced something like this? I am looking for medical advice as we have tried the psychological avenue already. After 2 months of "therapy" the doctor dismissed him as healthy and not posessing 'identifable phsycological issues pertaining to sexual performance and drive.'

Ideas? Thanks so much for all of your thoughts. Just knowing he wasn't alone was helpful. :) ~Lisa

Hi. I've tried strattera a couple times, but have dismissed it becasue of side effects. This is the third attempt (It really enhances my efficiency up to an extra 50% to 100%), and I'm trying the smallest dose availabe this time. It doesn't reduce ADD symptoms as well as higher doses, but lowers them to a manageable level and side effects aren't as bad.

My advise is to take your boyfriend to an urologyst to have his prostate checked. Strattera might cause prostate irritation (It's my case), and that might be the cause of his lower sexual drive. If his prostate is slightly irritated, symptoms might not be noticeable but it might reduce sexual drive.

I'm not a physician, so I might be talking nonsense, but are talking from self experience, and since you have no clue on what to do, I thought I might share this idea.

I would also recommend you to take a look at "attend". It's a new medication for ADD with no reported side effects and better results than strattera. I'd love to try it myself, but it's not available in Mexico.

Carlos

There's another thing that has helped me a lot !

There's a book named "Multiorgasmic Man" by Mantak Chia.

It has some exercises that have really helped me in overcoming strattera sexual side effects.

Carlos