this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2024
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ADHD

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Hey guys,
I've been taking Atomoxetine for 5 months and I'm thinking of trying a different med because it isn't stopping the ADHD for me.
I've been thinking it would probably be best to come off Strattera before I try the new med, firstly so I can be sure that whatever happens is caused purely by the new med, and secondly so that I can see what changes the Strattera actually caused.

How long did it take you guys to come off it (how quickly did you lower the dose)? If I wanted to start taking it again, would I have to wait another 6 weeks for it to work, like I did the first time?

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It takes about 5 half lives to clear 95% of a substance from your system. A quick google says the half life varies from 5-21hrs, so even if you’re on the slower end, a week should do it.

If you’ve been on it for a very long time then your CNS may need more time to get back to baseline, but you probably don’t need a perfectly clean slate to assess if a new medication works for you. Plus, switching from a nonstim to a stimulant is a totally different class of drug and you should feel the effects of a stimulant fairly quickly.

Just make sure you time and dose correctly to avoid messing up your sleep.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Great, thank you

It takes about 5 half lives to clear 95% of a substance from your system. A quick google says the half life varies from 5-21hrs

That's clever, I didn't realize you could calculate it like that! I guess we just need to know the threshold dose now...