Strattera and urinary problems? - ADD / ADHD Message Board

pixiepoodle · 04-15-2009, 02:47 PM

I did a lot of research on the net about non-stimulant meds for ADD and there is only 1 called Strattera. The only bad side effect it has that concerns me is problems passing urine.

Has anyone taking Straterra had any problems urinating? Also, are you male or female (I only ask because I think men, in general, have a stronger and fuller flow)?

Maybe that is okay for people like my husband who drinks a ton of liquid all day, but I don't drink enough liquid as it is because I'm seldom thirsty. So I always have some kind of drink near me, or with me when I run errands, to encourage me to drink as much as possible.

My urination problem comes from having a pain pump in my stomach for chronic pain caused by Fibromylgia, which numbs a lot of my internal organs, which are located close to the bottom of my spine where the pain meds (Dilaudin) enter my spinal fluid 24/7.

When I urinate, it seems like it takes forever because I have to concentrate so hard to force out a flow of urine that is nothing more than a trickle because the muscles involved are so numb from the pain meds.

If I can't take Straterra, the only thing I can think of that might help my ADD is something like Xanax because one of my most annoying behavior is that I talk incessantly, even leaving 2 to 3 voice mails in order to say everything I wanted to say.

unteng10 · 05-12-2009, 02:30 AM

My doctor put me on Strattera a month ago. I take the medicine in the morning, and my first time to urinate after taking the medicine is uncomfortable. It is harder to urinate, and I kind of have a burning feeling, but only that first one. After that I am perfectly fine. I am a male, 21 years old. Hope this helps.

fingul · 11-03-2009, 06:22 PM

I am a 48 y.o. male and started taking Straterra about a month ago. It has really helped me feel "normal" again. The only unpleasant side effects are all abdominally located:

1) Constipation, which I treat by taking a teaspoon of flax seed AM & PM
2) Urinary hesitancy--I too have to concentrate and 'push" a bit to pee
3) Retrograde ejaculations, which is term for what happens to me. That is, when I have a sexual orgasm, the seminal fluid doesn't come out with much force, and then flows back through my ureathra into my bladder. A odd sensatrion to say the leaset, but not harmful from what i am told. Actually my sex drive is stronger than it was prior to taking Straterra

pixiepoodle · 11-04-2009, 12:10 PM

I got off the Stratera because it failed to help my ADD much at all. When I went back to the dr., she said there was no other drug I could take since my system can't tolerate stimulants at all. She decided to try me on an anti-anxiety med called Buspirone as a way of slowing and calming me down since the anxiety I suffer from was making my ADD worse. In order to take it though, she made me stop taking one of my 2 anti-depressants, Lexipro, because it tends to not mix well with Buspirone. Since both of my anti-depressants make me sweat so I'm always overheated, I was happy to say goodbye to Lexipro. I'm happy to say the new med seems to be helping a little better on the depression and somewhat on my anxiety. When I went to see the dr. again yesterday, she increased the dosage of Buspirone, which I think will help even more, so I think I am on the right path for now.