Is Strattera used for bipolar

Answer 1

Answer: Strattera is used for the main purpose of treating ADHD; it is not a controlled substance or a stimulant. It may have been shown to treat depression for some people although this is controversial due to the new black box warning for strattera claiming it causes suicidal thoughts in children. my psychiatrist prescribed this to me to treat both adhd and depression. however the only outcome from taking 40mg of this crap for 6 weeks was horrible heartburn. i highly recomment NOT taking this medication for the treatment of depression especially if you are under 18, but i am not a doctor and ultimately the decision is yours, i hope this helps****

Answer 2

Strattera was initially developed as a drug for depression. It was found to be ineffective for depression and was tested for ADHD. It was proven effective in reducing symptoms and was marketed for this purpose.

Answer 3

While Strattera is sometimes suggested as an ADHD treatment for people with Bipolar disorder (primarily because it is not a stimulant like other currently available meds for ADHD, and thus is supposedly less likely to cause mania) if you look at the flyer that accompanies the pharmaceutical, it mentions watching any patient who has Bipolar Disorder closely for most of the symptoms below. Based on my reading of medication-response patient forums and of medical literature on Strattera (and based on my own experience) I would be very hesitant to try it.

Strattera has been linked by many patients with various effects that appeared and increased over time, including increased suicidal ideation (even among adults, although the FDA has issued warnings against Strattera's use by children and adolescents for this reason). These suicidal thoughts appear random, not necessarily in response to depression or any thought or outer event. Sudden extreme manic episodes and hypomanic episodes have been observed. Emotional lability (sudden swings out of proportion to events), rapid and/or ultra-rapid cycling (extreme mood swings that may occur as often as several times a day), hallucinations, extreme irritability, rages, and violence are possibilities noted in the product flyer even for people who are not bipolar. Sleep disturbances, sexual side effects, and appetite changes are also possible. In my case, I also had galloping paranoia for a few weeks there, and developed wretched self-esteem.

Possible consequences of these effects (gathered from much anecdotal evidence) include: more frequent arguments, altercations, violence (possibly incarcerations), greater likelihood of losing friends, increased likelihood of divorce, and - due to mania, depression, and/or psychotic breaks - job loss, hospitalization or death.

If adding Strattera, maintaining antidepressant and mood stabilizer meds already in place for Bipolar Disorder appears appropriate, since Strattera's negative effects can be much worse without them. Even with an SSRI and a mood stabilizer in place, however, and despite increasing mood stabilizer, suicidality and ultra-rapid cycling may continue to escalate. Doctors also appear to seldom monitor patients closely per the pharmaceutical company's recommendation. If you do decide to try Strattera anyway, be sure a support network of observers is in place, be sure they and the patient take copious notes (say hourly) regarding mood, behavior, and ideation; and insist that frequent appointments with the psychiatrist are lined up from the outset while trying out this drug. Never try Strattera with adolescents or children! They are far more likely to Act on their suicidal thoughts.