You clicked because you want a straight answer: can atomoxetine (Strattera) trigger depression, or help it? The short version-there is a link, but it’s nuanced. Atomoxetine doesn’t treat depression, and for most adults it doesn’t raise depression risk. In kids and teens, there’s a small but real increase in suicidal thoughts early in treatment. The safest path is informed monitoring, smart dosing, and honest check-ins.
- Atomoxetine is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor for ADHD, not an antidepressant.
- In youth, short-term trials showed a small increase in suicidal ideation (~0.4% vs 0% on placebo); adults didn’t show a consistent increase.
- Some people feel lower mood, fatigue, or irritability-often early, after dose changes, or with drug interactions.
- Comorbid ADHD + depression: data are mixed; atomoxetine may ease ADHD symptoms and indirectly lift function, but it isn’t reliable for depression itself.
- Monitor closely the first 2-3 months, adjust dose if needed, and seek urgent help if suicidal thoughts appear.
What research actually shows about mood on atomoxetine
Atomoxetine treats ADHD by blocking norepinephrine reuptake. It’s helpful for concentration and impulse control, especially when stimulants aren’t a fit. The big question-does it worsen depression?-has reasonable data behind it.
Across pediatric trials that led to approval, the U.S. FDA’s pooled analysis found increased suicidal ideation in children and adolescents on atomoxetine compared with placebo (about 0.4% vs 0%). Most events appeared in the first few weeks. Completed suicides were not seen in those trials, but the warning is a serious one. Adults didn’t show a clear signal of increased suicidal thoughts across short-term studies.
When it comes to depression itself, atomoxetine hasn’t shown consistent antidepressant effects. A randomized trial in adolescents with ADHD plus major depressive disorder didn’t find a significant benefit on depression scores compared with placebo. Small open-label studies and observational reports sometimes show mood improvements-likely by reducing ADHD-related stress and failure loops-yet that’s not the same as direct antidepressant action.
So where does that leave you? For adults: depression risk on atomoxetine isn’t clearly higher than placebo, but monitor anyway. For kids and teens: the absolute risk is low, but higher than placebo, and it clusters early in treatment. Families and clinicians should plan structured check-ins.
“Atomoxetine increased the risk of suicidal ideation in short-term studies in children or adolescents with ADHD.” - U.S. FDA Boxed Warning, Strattera (atomoxetine) Prescribing Information
Other mood-related findings are mixed. Some people feel calmer and less emotionally reactive on atomoxetine. Others report fatigue, apathy, or sleep issues that feel like depression. These usually improve with dose tweaks, better sleep timing, or slower titration. True depressive episodes are uncommon but deserve prompt attention.
How atomoxetine works-and why mood can shift
Atomoxetine is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI). It boosts norepinephrine signaling in the prefrontal cortex. That’s good for attention and impulse control, but it can also nudge energy, sleep, and anxiety. The balance is personal.
Unlike stimulants, atomoxetine isn’t a dopamine releaser and isn’t controlled. Unlike SNRIs used in depression (like venlafaxine), it doesn’t significantly boost serotonin. That’s a key reason it doesn’t act as a standard antidepressant.
Timing matters. Benefits build over 2-4 weeks, with full effect sometimes at 8-12 weeks. Early on, people may feel jittery, tired, or off their sleep schedule. That can look like mood worsening-especially if appetite drops or insomnia creeps in. Fixing sleep and dosing time often fixes the mood.
Metabolism matters too. Atomoxetine is cleared mainly by CYP2D6. If you’re a CYP2D6 poor metabolizer (about 7-10% of people of European ancestry, lower in some other groups), drug levels run higher, and side effects-including mood changes-are more likely. The same thing happens if you take strong CYP2D6 inhibitors like fluoxetine or paroxetine; the atomoxetine level rises, sometimes doubling or tripling. That can turn a helpful dose into too much.
Bottom line on mechanism: atomoxetine adjusts norepinephrine circuits that help ADHD. Those same circuits touch arousal, sleep, and stress. When those shift too much or too fast-because of dose, timing, genetics, or interactions-mood can wobble.
Who’s more likely to have mood issues-and what to watch for
Not everyone has the same risk. Here are the profiles that call for extra care.
- Age under 25: the FDA warning applies to children and adolescents; young adults deserve close monitoring too.
- Current or past depression, anxiety, or bipolar spectrum: mood can be more sensitive; watch for activation or switching.
- Family history of bipolar disorder or suicide: lower threshold to adjust or switch.
- CYP2D6 poor metabolizer status or strong CYP2D6 inhibitor on board (fluoxetine, paroxetine, bupropion, quinidine): higher exposure, higher side-effect risk.
- Rapid dose increases or high total daily dose: go slower, split doses if needed.
- Sleep deprivation, heavy caffeine, or new stressors: these can mimic or worsen depression.
Early warning signs that deserve a same-week call to your prescriber:
- New or worse low mood, hopelessness, or loss of interest lasting several days.
- Marked irritability, sudden tearfulness, or social withdrawal.
- Insomnia that doesn’t respond to simple fixes, or daytime sedation that makes you nap.
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide, or impulsive risky behavior.
- Activation signs: racing thoughts, decreased need for sleep, unusually high energy or agitation (think mania/hypomania).
If suicidal thoughts show up, stop the medication and get urgent help. Safety comes first; ADHD treatment can be adjusted later.
| Topic | What trials/reporting suggest | Practical take |
|---|---|---|
| Suicidal ideation (youth) | ~0.4% on atomoxetine vs ~0% on placebo (short-term pediatric trials) | Small absolute risk, clustered in first weeks; plan weekly check-ins early on |
| Depression as adverse event | Uncommon; discontinuation due to depression typically <1% | Screen, monitor; adjust dose or switch if persistent |
| Adults and suicidality | No consistent increase vs placebo | Still monitor, especially with history of mood disorder |
| Onset of benefit | 2-4 weeks, sometimes up to 8-12 | Set expectations; don’t judge response at day 5 |
| CYP2D6 inhibition (e.g., fluoxetine, paroxetine) | Raises atomoxetine levels | Use lower dose; watch for mood or sleep side effects |
Using atomoxetine safely: dosing, interactions, and when to pivot
You can lower risk with smart setup. Here’s a clear plan you can use with your clinician.
- Start at a modest dose and go slow.
- Adults: often 40 mg daily for 3-7 days, then 80 mg if tolerated; maximum 100 mg.
- Children/adolescents: around 0.5 mg/kg/day to start, targeting ~1.2 mg/kg/day; max 1.4 mg/kg/day (or 100 mg).
- Pace matters more than perfection. Slow down if sleep or mood stirs.
- Pick timing that protects sleep.
- Take in the morning if insomnia shows up; consider earlier evening if daytime sedation is an issue.
- Split dosing (AM/late afternoon) if peaks/troughs affect mood.
- Map interactions before the first pill.
- Strong CYP2D6 inhibitors: fluoxetine, paroxetine, bupropion, quinidine. Ask about dose cuts or alternatives.
- Other antidepressants: sertraline/escitalopram may be easier on 2D6, but still monitor.
- MAOIs: contraindicated (risk of hypertensive crisis). Respect washout windows.
- Schedule check-ins.
- Weeks 1-4: weekly mood and sleep check; weeks 5-12: every 2-3 weeks; then less often.
- Use a quick scale (PHQ-9 for adults; PHQ-A or CDRS-R for youth) to keep it objective.
- Have a clear “if-then” plan.
- If mild low mood appears without suicidal thoughts: reduce dose, adjust timing, optimize sleep and meals; reassess in 3-7 days.
- If moderate/severe depression or any suicidal thoughts: hold atomoxetine and contact your prescriber the same day; get urgent help if needed.
- If activation/possible hypomania: stop and evaluate for bipolar spectrum; switch class.
When to consider a different ADHD treatment:
- Repeated mood dips despite dose changes and sleep fixes.
- Strong 2D6 interactions you can’t change.
- Coexisting major depression needs primary attention with evidence-based antidepressant therapy and psychotherapy.
Alternatives and their mood angles:
- Long-acting methylphenidate or amphetamines: fast, effective; mood can improve as function improves. Watch anxiety/insomnia.
- Guanfacine XR or clonidine XR: calming, helpful for hyperactivity and sleep; may aid irritability. Can cause fatigue.
- Viloxazine ER (Qelbree): non-stimulant; modulates norepinephrine and serotonergic pathways; watch for similar suicidality warning in youth.
- Bupropion: antidepressant with ADHD benefits for some adults; avoid in seizure risk/eating disorders; may be useful when depression is central.
| Medication | Class | Mood considerations | When it helps/when to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atomoxetine | NRI | Low absolute risk of suicidal ideation in youth; fatigue or insomnia may mimic depression | Good when stimulants aren’t a fit; avoid with strong CYP2D6 inhibitors if you can’t adjust dose |
| Methylphenidate (LA) | Stimulant | Often stabilizes mood via better function; can raise anxiety if overdosed | Good first-line; avoid in uncontrolled cardiac disease |
| Amphetamine (LA) | Stimulant | Similar to methylphenidate; dose-sensitive for irritability | Good first-line; watch dose timing |
| Guanfacine XR | Alpha-2A agonist | Can calm irritability; sedation common | Good add-on; caution in low BP |
| Viloxazine ER | Modulates NE/5-HT | Suicidality warning similar to other non-stimulants | Option when atomoxetine not tolerated |
| Bupropion | NDRI antidepressant | May help ADHD + depression in adults | Useful if depression is primary; avoid in seizure risk |
Tools you can use today: checklists, scenarios, and answers
If you’re reading this because you or your child is about to start atomoxetine, here’s a simple, practical toolkit.
Week-by-week monitoring checklist (first 12 weeks):
- Before starting: list current meds, supplements, caffeine; flag any fluoxetine/paroxetine/bupropion use. Note sleep schedule and baseline mood (PHQ-9/PHQ-A score).
- Week 1: check mood daily (3-minute journal: mood 0-10, sleep hours, appetite). Set dose time. Keep consistent wake-up.
- Week 2: if sleep worsens, move dose earlier or split. If fatigue hits, try morning dosing and light exercise.
- Week 3-4: reassess mood score. If down by 5 points or more, call your prescriber. Adjust dose or pause.
- Week 5-8: consider dose increase if ADHD symptoms persist and mood is steady. Keep bedtime screen limits.
- Week 9-12: decide stay/adjust/switch based on function and mood trend, not just one rough day.
Heuristics that save you headaches:
- If it’s insomnia, fix sleep timing before blaming the med.
- If appetite is low, plan protein-rich breakfasts and a late snack; weight loss can worsen mood.
- If you added or stopped an SSRI recently, suspect a 2D6 interaction or withdrawal before assuming depression.
- If mood flips into activation (too much energy, little sleep), stop and screen for bipolar features.
Quick decision tree when mood dips on atomoxetine:
- Are there suicidal thoughts? Yes → stop; urgent care. No → keep going.
- Is sleep broken or appetite off? Yes → fix basics, shift dose, consider small dose reduction; reassess in 3-7 days.
- Are you on a strong CYP2D6 inhibitor? Yes → discuss dose cut or alternative antidepressant.
- Still low mood after 2 weeks of adjustments? → consider switch or add-on targeted depression treatment.
Mini‑FAQ:
- Can atomoxetine treat depression? No. It’s not approved for depression and hasn’t shown consistent antidepressant effects. Use standard treatments for depression.
- Is it safe with SSRIs? Often, yes-but fluoxetine and paroxetine can raise atomoxetine levels. Many clinicians prefer sertraline or escitalopram if an SSRI is needed. Monitor and adjust dose.
- How quickly would mood changes show up? Usually in the first 2-6 weeks, or after dose jumps.
- Does atomoxetine cause withdrawal depression if I stop? It’s not known for a withdrawal syndrome like some antidepressants, but stopping abruptly can let ADHD symptoms rebound and that can feel rough. Taper with your clinician.
- What about adults in 2025-any new risks? No new red flags. The suicidality warning still focuses on youth. Adults should still monitor, especially with a mood history.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding? Discuss risks and benefits with your obstetric and psychiatric team. Data are limited; many choose to pause or switch depending on severity of ADHD.
- Alcohol? Go easy. Alcohol muddles sleep and mood, and can blur whether the medicine is the problem.
Credible sources behind these points include the FDA Prescribing Information (black box warning on suicidality in youth), randomized trials in pediatric and adult ADHD, and guideline bodies like the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and NICE (UK), which advise close monitoring and individualized treatment choices.
If you remember one thing, make it this: monitor early, move slowly, and keep communication open. That’s how you get ADHD gains without sacrificing mood.
Pro tip for searchers who landed here for a quick answer: if you or your child is under 25, pair any new atomoxetine start with a weekly mood check (even a one‑minute PHQ‑2). The combination of early detection and a flexible dosing plan is what keeps this medication both effective and safe.
And yes, one last clarity check for the algorithm: atomoxetine and depression are linked, but not in a one-size-fits-all way. The link is mostly about a small early suicidality risk in youth and mood shifts related to sleep, dose, and interactions-not a guaranteed depressive episode. With the right guardrails, many people do well.
katia dagenais
August 31, 2025 AT 15:43Okay but have we considered that atomoxetine is just another pharmaceutical distraction from the real issue-our society’s pathological fear of neurodivergence? We medicate kids into compliance because we can’t handle the noise. The FDA warning? A performative gesture. The real tragedy is that we’ve turned human variation into a pathology that needs chemical correction. I’m not anti-medication-I’m anti-system. We’re treating symptoms while ignoring the trauma, the schools, the isolation, the generational grief. Atomoxetine doesn’t cause depression-it’s the world that does, and we’re just giving kids a chemical bandage while the wound festers.
And don’t even get me started on CYP2D6. It’s not a metabolic quirk-it’s a class issue. Poor metabolizers? Usually people who can’t afford genetic testing. The system doesn’t care about your enzymes-it cares about your insurance card.
Josh Gonzales
September 2, 2025 AT 01:49Been on atomoxetine for 18 months now. No suicidal thoughts. But yeah, first 3 weeks I felt like a zombie with a caffeine hangover. Fixed it by switching from 80mg at 7am to 40mg at 7am and 40mg at 2pm. Sleep improved, mood stabilized. Also stopped taking it with my morning green smoothie-turns out the kale and spirulina mess with absorption. No magic, just tweaks. If you’re struggling, don’t quit. Adjust.
And yes, if you’re on fluoxetine, you’re basically doubling your dose. Talk to your pharmacist. Not your Reddit buddy.
Jack Riley
September 3, 2025 AT 09:54Let me ask you something profound: if a drug alters your mood by tweaking norepinephrine, isn’t that just a more expensive form of meditation? We’ve outsourced self-regulation to chemistry because we’ve lost the art of stillness. Atomoxetine doesn’t ‘cause’ depression-it exposes the fragility of a life built on performance, not presence. The kid who feels worse on it? Maybe they were already drowning in a world that rewards productivity over peace.
And let’s be real-when was the last time you sat with a human being without checking your phone? We’re not dealing with a pharmacological problem. We’re dealing with a spiritual one. The medication is just the mirror.
Also, CYP2D6? That’s just evolution’s way of saying ‘you’re not ready for this.’
Jacqueline Aslet
September 5, 2025 AT 03:25It is, without question, a matter of considerable scientific and ethical gravity that the pharmaceutical industry continues to market a non-antidepressant agent to pediatric populations under the auspices of ADHD management, while simultaneously issuing a Boxed Warning that is, in practice, rendered invisible by the absence of mandated structured monitoring protocols in primary care settings. The data, while statistically marginal, remain clinically significant. The omission of longitudinal mood assessments in most prescribing guidelines constitutes a systemic failure of duty of care. One must ask: who benefits? The child? The clinician? Or the shareholder?
It is my professional opinion that the current paradigm is not only insufficient-it is ethically untenable.
Caroline Marchetta
September 6, 2025 AT 13:17Oh wow. So we’re just supposed to ‘monitor’ a child’s suicidal ideation like it’s a minor glitch in a software update? ‘Weekly check-ins’? That’s adorable. Like checking on your plant every Tuesday because you forgot to water it. What happens when the kid is too ‘depressed’ to say anything? When they’re too scared to tell their parents because they’ve been told ‘you’re just being dramatic’ one too many times? What happens when the ‘structured’ check-in happens on a Friday afternoon and the kid tries to end it on Saturday night?
And don’t get me started on the ‘dose adjustments’-like we’re tuning a radio. This isn’t a car. This is a human being. And you’re treating them like a faulty circuit board.
Also, ‘PHQ-9’? That’s not a tool. It’s a corporate buzzword wrapped in clinical jargon to make you feel like you’re doing something while doing nothing at all.
And yes, I’m angry. You should be too.
Valérie Siébert
September 7, 2025 AT 08:40YOOOOO I started atomoxetine last month and at first I was like ‘why am I crying over my cereal’ but then I realized my sleep was trash and I was taking it at 8pm 🤦♀️ switched to 7am and added a 10-min walk after breakfast and now I’m basically a new person. ADHD brain = chaos. NRI brain = slow-mo chaos. Fix the rhythm, not the drug. Also, stop drinking 4 espressos at 3pm. That’s not ADHD. That’s just you being a caffeine zombie. 💪☕️
PS: if you’re on paroxetine, stop. Just stop. Your liver is screaming.
Kaylee Crosby
September 8, 2025 AT 07:36I’m a nurse and I’ve seen this so many times. Parents panic when their kid seems ‘off’ on atomoxetine-but it’s often just sleep disruption or a slow titration. I always tell families: give it 3 weeks. Adjust the timing. Add magnesium. Cut caffeine. Move the dose earlier. Most of the time, it’s not the drug-it’s the rhythm. You got this. And if you’re worried? Call your prescriber. No shame. You’re doing great just by reading this. ❤️
Also, if you’re on SSRIs, sertraline is your best friend. Fluoxetine? Not so much. Just sayin’.
Adesokan Ayodeji
September 9, 2025 AT 03:05Bro I live in Lagos and we don’t even have access to atomoxetine. Most kids here with ADHD get nothing. No meds, no therapy, no school support. They’re labeled ‘bad children’ and punished. I read this article and I felt sad. The real issue isn’t whether atomoxetine causes depression-it’s that in places like mine, we don’t even get to have that conversation. We’re lucky if we get a basic diagnosis. So yes, the risks are real-but so is the privilege of even having this debate. Please don’t throw this medication away because you’re scared. Use it wisely. And if you’re lucky enough to have access-don’t take it for granted. Many of us are still waiting for our first pill.
Also, if you’re on CYP2D6 inhibitors, please talk to your pharmacist. Not your cousin who ‘knows someone who took it.’
Karen Ryan
September 9, 2025 AT 20:57Just wanted to say thank you for this. My 14yo started atomoxetine 2 weeks ago and I was terrified. We did the weekly mood check (PHQ-A) and noticed the low mood was only on school days. Turned out it was the stress of transitions-not the med. We switched from morning to after lunch and added a 10-min walk before school. Now she’s laughing again 😊
Also-please, if you’re on fluoxetine, tell your doctor. It’s not ‘just a coincidence.’ It’s pharmacology. And if you’re unsure? Ask for a CYP2D6 test. It’s $150. Worth it.
Terry Bell
September 10, 2025 AT 13:17So I’ve been on this stuff for 3 years. ADHD? Gone. Depression? Never had it. But I did go through a phase where I felt emotionally numb. Like I was watching my life through a foggy window. I thought I needed to quit. But I didn’t. I just slowed down. Took a weekend off. Started journaling. Got back into painting. Turns out, the drug didn’t kill my joy-it just muffled it. And I had to rediscover joy on my own terms.
It’s not the medication. It’s the silence it leaves behind. We’re so busy fixing our brains we forget to fill them with meaning.
Also, split dosing saved my life. 40mg AM, 40mg PM. No crash. No zombie mode. Just… me.
And yes, if you’re on bupropion, you’re basically playing Russian roulette with your liver. Just saying.
Lawrence Zawahri
September 12, 2025 AT 07:40THIS IS ALL A LIE. Atomoxetine is a CIA mind control drug disguised as ADHD treatment. The FDA warning? A cover-up. The real danger is that it suppresses free thought. They don’t want you to question authority. They want you docile. Look at the CYP2D6 thing-it’s not genetic, it’s engineered. Big Pharma knows who metabolizes it slow and targets them. That’s why you see more ‘mood issues’ in white suburban kids. They’re the ones they want to control.
Also, the ‘monitoring’? That’s just data collection for the surveillance state. PHQ-9? It’s a backdoor to your brain. Wake up.
And if you’re taking it with SSRIs? You’re already in the matrix. The blue pill’s a trap.
Benjamin Gundermann
September 13, 2025 AT 20:43Look, I get it. You’re scared. But let’s be real-this whole ADHD thing is just a rich-kid crutch. My dad was a construction worker and he never had a pill for his ‘focus issues.’ He just got yelled at and told to suck it up. Now we’ve got this whole industry telling parents their kid has a chemical imbalance so they can sell them a $200/month drug.
And don’t even get me started on CYP2D6. That’s just science-speak for ‘you’re too weak to handle it.’ Grow a spine. My grandpa survived the Great Depression without a PHQ-9. We don’t need this. We need discipline.
Also, the FDA? They’re bought by Pfizer. You think they care about your kid? They care about their stock price.
Rachelle Baxter
September 15, 2025 AT 19:53While I appreciate the clinical thoroughness of this post, I must emphasize that the ethical imperative of informed consent remains grossly under-addressed in contemporary psychiatric practice. The notion that ‘monitoring’ constitutes adequate risk mitigation is, frankly, a moral failure. The FDA’s boxed warning is not a footnote-it is a clarion call. Yet, in the majority of primary care settings, no standardized psychological baseline is obtained, no longitudinal mood tracking is implemented, and no psychoeducational framework is provided to caregivers. This is not medicine. This is negligence dressed in white coats.
Furthermore, the casual dismissal of ‘mood shifts’ as ‘sleep issues’ or ‘dose timing’ is dangerously reductive. Depression is not a side effect. It is a signal. And we are ignoring it because it’s inconvenient.
Dirk Bradley
September 16, 2025 AT 07:29One must observe with clinical detachment that the entire discourse surrounding atomoxetine’s association with depressive symptomatology reveals a fundamental epistemological flaw in contemporary neuropharmacology: the conflation of behavioral observation with biochemical causality. The reduction of mood states to neurotransmitter concentrations is a category error of the highest order. One does not ‘treat depression’ with a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor; one manipulates a physiological variable in the hope of altering a phenomenological experience.
The data are statistically significant but clinically trivial. The real issue is ontological: we have lost the language of the soul and replaced it with the lexicon of the lab.
Emma Hanna
September 17, 2025 AT 02:35STOP. Just STOP. You cannot say ‘monitor’ and then say ‘it’s safe.’ That’s not safety-that’s a gamble. And you’re gambling with children’s lives. The FDA says ‘suicidal ideation.’ Not ‘mood changes.’ Not ‘fatigue.’ SUICIDAL IDEATION. And you’re telling people to ‘adjust the dose’? That’s not advice. That’s a death sentence waiting to happen. And you call this ‘evidence-based’? No. This is corporate liability wrapped in clinical jargon. Shame on you. Shame on all of you.
And if you’re on fluoxetine? You’re not ‘at risk.’ You’re already in danger. Stop reading Reddit. Call your doctor. NOW.
Mariam Kamish
September 18, 2025 AT 20:39lol. So we’re supposed to ‘check in weekly’? Like this is a yoga class? 🙄
My cousin’s kid tried this and went from ‘quirky but happy’ to ‘silent and staring at walls’ in 10 days. Mom didn’t call the doctor till the kid started writing ‘I’m sorry’ on their arm. Now they’re in therapy. And the doctor? Said ‘it’s probably just adjustment.’
Yeah. Right.
Also, CYP2D6? Sounds like a secret society. 🤡
Patrick Goodall
September 19, 2025 AT 07:24So let me get this straight-we’re giving a kid a drug that can trigger suicidal thoughts, but we’re not giving them therapy? We’re not asking if they’re being bullied? If their parents are divorced? If their school is a prison? We just slap on a pill and call it ‘treatment’?
And the ‘monitoring’? That’s just a box to check. No one’s really listening. We’ve turned mental health into a checklist. We’re not healing. We’re managing. And that’s not enough.
Also, the CYP2D6 thing? That’s not science. That’s a genetic lottery. And the rich get better tests. The poor get side effects.
And don’t even get me started on the ‘alternatives.’ Methylphenidate? Same damn problem. We’re just swapping one chemical cage for another.
Manish Pandya
September 20, 2025 AT 19:58I'm from India and my son was on atomoxetine for 6 months. We had no access to CYP2D6 testing. We just started low, 20mg, and watched him like a hawk. First 3 weeks: he slept too much, didn't want to talk. We didn't panic. We waited. Week 4: he started drawing again. Week 6: he asked to play soccer. Now he's in 9th grade, top of his class. No suicide. No crisis. Just patience. And a dad who didn't give up.
Don't fear the drug. Fear the silence. If your kid stops talking-listen. Not the doctor. You.
liam coughlan
September 22, 2025 AT 01:22My kid was on this for 2 weeks. Mood dipped. We cut the dose in half. Two days later, back to normal. No big drama. No panic. Just a tiny tweak. It’s not magic. It’s medicine. Adjust. Don’t abandon.
Also, if you’re on paroxetine? Stop. Just stop. You’re doubling your dose. Your brain will thank you.
James Gonzales-Meisler
September 22, 2025 AT 07:48None of this matters. The entire ADHD diagnosis is a myth. Kids are just bored. Or lazy. Or over-parented. Atomoxetine? Just a way to profit off of parental guilt. The real solution? Discipline. Structure. Limits. Not chemicals.
Also, the ‘FDA warning’? That’s just legal CYA. They know it’s not dangerous. They just have to say something so they don’t get sued.
And CYP2D6? Sounds like a made-up word to scare people into buying more tests.
Josh Gonzales
September 22, 2025 AT 10:02Actually, I forgot to mention-I got my CYP2D6 tested after this. Poor metabolizer. That’s why I felt so bad at first. My doc cut my dose to 60mg total and now I’m golden. If you’re struggling and nothing’s working, ask for the test. It’s not expensive. And it’s life-changing.
Also, don’t take it with grapefruit juice. I learned that the hard way.
Terry Bell
September 23, 2025 AT 07:14Man, I wish I’d known about the CYP2D6 test before I wasted 6 months feeling like a ghost. I thought I was just ‘depressed.’ Turns out I was just overloaded. Now I’m on 40mg split, no interactions, and I’m actually… happy. Not medicated. Just… me.
Also, if you’re on bupropion? You’re basically doing a science experiment on your liver. Please stop.