Has anyone compared Strattera and Intuniv when stimulants were not an option?

People do compare Strattera, atomoxetine, and Intuniv, guanfacine XR, when stimulants are not an option, but they are not equivalent adult choices in Canada. Atomoxetine has a Health Canada ADHD indication that includes adults and is second-line for adults on the CADDRA medication chart. Brand Strattera may no longer be manufactured; generics exist. If the change is persistent, distressing, or affecting daily functioning, bring a brief timeline to the prescribing clinician rather than changing the dose independently. Related reading: https://www.fastreat.com/en/blogs/adhd-medication References: https://www.caddra.ca/wp-content/uploads/CADDRA_ADHD-Medication-Chart_May2026.pdf https://assets-dam.takeda.com/image/upload/LOC/en-ca/Products/intuniv-xr-pm-en.pdf https://www.camh.ca/en/professionals/treating-conditions-and-disorders/adult-adhd/adult-adhd---treatment/adult-adhd---pharmacotherapy https://www.caddra.ca/wp-content/uploads/Canadian-ADHD-Practice-Guidelines-4.1-January-6-2021.pdf

Strattera was the one I could actually fill in Winnipeg when stimulants were off the table. It did not feel like a stimulant at all, which I wanted, and it also did not give me a clean on switch. I gave it weeks because my prescriber said not to judge it like Concerta. A coworker swore Intuniv saved them and I kept waiting for that movie to start. It never did for me. Personal only. I would not tell someone which bottle to ask for.

Intuniv as an adult was a weird fit for me. I felt calmer at night and foggy at work, and I was not willing to treat that as a win. Atomoxetine sat better in my day, still imperfect. I told the psychiatrist I needed to function at a desk, not just not take a stimulant. Nobody promised me a usual adult option. This is my n of 1, Canada, private plan included, and I would not copy it.