Does Strattera make you feel reserved or socially withdrawn?

Answer 1

I just wanted to ask that question to other people, because I do not feel like myself on Strattera. I'm usually a pretty outgoing person, not totally obnoxious or anything, just pretty social, chatty and spontaneous. I know that some of that is due to the fact that I have attention deficit, but it is the predominantly "inattentive" type.

However, since I've started Strattera, I don't feel very social, and I can range from just feeling quiet and a bit reserved to completely socially withdrawn and easily irritated. Sometimes I almost just want to go hide or something. That used to happen to me about 2 or 3 times a year, since I was struggling w/ depression and stress from school. Now it happens almost every day.

I'm slowly getting used to the effects, and having a little less trouble with socializing, but I still just don't feel like myself. I'm moving to college in a couple weeks, and I want to feel natural when I'm getting to know new people. My doctor says the dose might be too high, if I'm feeling "emotionally flat." (I'm taking 80 mg.)

Has anyone else had this side effect?

I had the same problem. I've tried Straterra three times since January. Each time for four to six weeks and had to quit due to side effects like you describe as well as urinary and sexual side effects. I just quit again one week ago. At this point I will never try Straterra again. I find my personality is much better on Ritalin but don't like the cyclical ups and downs during the day. The cycles during the day on Ritalin are far better then the side effects of Straterra for me. If you choose to stop, do it several weeks before school and see your doc before you quit. Going back to school is such a big change in itself that you don't want to be struggling with changes in meds at the same time. Best of luck!

Yeah, I definently noticed a change in my sense of humor too, I think that's a big part of the social change I feel. I usually joke around a lot with my friends and say strange, spontaneaous, out-of-the-box things --which I guess is one of AD/HD's blessings, among the challenges it creates. So it's been pretty hard going from being the life of the party to a fly on the wall. I think I'll talk to my doctor about lowering my dose, cause she said that's probably the issue.

I've taken Strattera for about three weeks now. One of the things I have noticed is a change in my sense of humor. I don't laugh as much (or as easily) as I did before. I thought maybe it was due to my increased focus - but maybe it's the medication. I plan to give it a few more days before I talk to my doctor.