Re: Strattera advice please

[Anonymous]

I’ve been trying to Sus this out for a while but useful information is hard to find.

To my understanding ADD is thought to be primarily an issue with DRD4 and dopamine levels. Beyond this I am flying by the seat of my pants because a clear explanation of the drug treatments are not to be found. They think this and believe that. They say option one is to risky and option 2 is too uncertain. So lets play drug store darts and see what works for you. Back to the meds. If the idea behind stimulant based treatments are to provide increased levels of dopamine to improve its function as a catecholamine neurotransmitter then what are these other drugs doing?

“Dopamine is commonly associated with the reward system of the brain, providing feelings of enjoyment and reinforcement to motivate a person proactively to perform certain activities. Dopamine is released (particularly in areas such as the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex) by rewarding experiences such as food, sex, drugs, and neutral stimuli that become associated with them. Recent studies indicate that aggression may also stimulate the release of dopamine in this way.”

“Amphetamines increase the concentration of dopamine in the synaptic gap, but by a different mechanism. Amphetamines and methamphetamine are similar in structure to dopamine, and so can enter the terminal bouton of the presynaptic neuron via its dopamine transporters as well as by diffusing through the neural membrane directly.[citation needed] By entering the presynaptic neuron, amphetamines force dopamine molecules out of their storage vesicles and expel them into the synaptic gap by making the dopamine transporters work in reverse.”

“Dopamine is closely associated with reward-seeking behaviors, such as approach, consumption, and addiction.[23] Recent researches suggest that the firing of dopaminergic neurons is a motivational substance as a consequence of reward-anticipation. This hypothesis is based on the evidence that, when a reward is greater than expected, the firing of certain dopaminergic neurons increases, which consequently increases desire or motivation towards the reward.[23] However, recent research finds that while some dopaminergic neurons react in the way expected of reward neurons, others do not and seem to respond in regard to unpredictability.” –Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine

Most reports for Straterra are 50/50 at best. My experience is this in no different that Prozac or Cipralex in adjusting the chemistry to improve focus, concentration or energy. Actually I felt better on Prozac, focused and energetic, but a little spacey, but I gained 30 lbs in a year.

I have a followup with the Dr and frankly I will be requesting a change in meds. Between the lack of improvement and the increased GI problems, constipation and frequent need to pee NOW, the pros do not out weigh the cons.

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