ADHD Questions

Does Strattera (atomoxetine) give you energy?

Charles Li, MD

April 20, 2023

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Strattera is not a stimulant like Adderall or Ritalin.

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Because it has a different mechanism, it does not give you energy the same way Adderall would.

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For some people, this can be an advantage if they don’t like how stimulants make them feel, for example, if they already have hyperactivity.

Background

Adderall and Ritalin are the most commonly used medications for ADHD. Both of these are stimulant medications that give you more energy. They stimulate both the body and the mind.

Alcohol and Drug Foundation

"Stimulants are a class of drugs that speed up messages travelling between the brain and body. They can make a person feel more awake, alert, confident or energetic."

Strattera, on the other hand, is not a stimulant. Instead, it works by rebalancing messenger chemicals in your brain.

Your brain relies on chemicals to send signals and process thoughts. Strattera blocks the clean-up of Norepinephrine, causing a traffic jam that increases the signal. This can counteract the chemical imbalance behind ADHD and improve symptoms.

While different people may have different experiences with Strattera, Strattera generally doesn’t give energy like other ADHD treatments, such as Adderall or Ritalin, might.

Strattera and fatigue

One clinical trial found that fatigue was more common among patients who take Strattera than patients in the control group who did not take Strattera.

This means that Strattera might actually make you more tired.

Patients given Strattera were more likely to experience fatigue than those in the control group. (p=0.011)

When it comes to ADHD, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The H in ADHD stands for hyperactivity, which can feel like having too much energy.

Clinical trials have found that Strattera specifically improves hyperactivity in patients with ADHD.

Patients given Strattera felt less hyperactive and impulsive in the evening. This effect was significantly greater in the treatment group than in the control group.

The fact that Strattera does not give you energy like a stimulant can be an advantage. It means that individuals who, for one reason or another, don’t improve on or don’t tolerate a stimulant can try Strattera as an alternative treatment for ADHD.

For example, according to the anecdotal stories below, some people prefer Strattera because it doesn’t affect their brain like a stimulant. Others feel that Strattera doesn’t cause them to experience a crash after taking it.

One individual described that Strattera gives them a calm energy.

Conclusion

In summary, Strattera is not a stimulant like Adderall or Ritalin and doesn’t give you energy the same way.

Because it works differently than stimulants, it can cause you to feel differently than taking a stimulant.

For some, this can be a good thing. Others may feel that they do better on stimulant medications.

As with any new treatment, it’s essential to talk to your doctor to determine which medication or non-medication treatment is right for your ADHD.