Author: Alex Thompson

Strattera Atomoxetine Non-Stimulant ADHD Medication

Patients assigned to STRATTERA in the maintenance phase were generally continued on the same dose used to achieve a response in the open label phase. The physician who elects to use STRATTERA for extended periods should periodically reevaluate the long-term usefulness of the drug for the individual patient [see Clinical Studies]. Atomoxetine is used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as part of a total treatment plan, including psychological, social, and other treatments. It may help to increase the ability to pay attention, concentrate, stay focused, and stop fidgeting. It is thought to work by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain. Some of Strattera’s side effects are related to its effect on the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which is involved with the body’s physiological response to stress, or “fight or flight” response, says Dr. Zand.

This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Strattera. Some people “outgrow” ADHD, while others are affected by it into adulthood. And some adults may have ADHD but weren’t diagnosed with the condition as a child.

Is Strattera prescribed for depression?

Certain side effects of Strattera, such as reduced appetite and nausea, may cause your child or teen to eat less food than usual. (Not eating enough calories can prevent a child’s or teen’s body from growing at the usual rate.) If your child isn’t eating much during treatment with Strattera, talk with your child’s doctor. Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Strattera may work for people who cannot tolerate stimulants, those who did not find stimulants beneficial or for people who have substance use disorders. Studies show that stimulant medications such as Adderall and Ritalin are more effective than Strattera for treating ADHD.

Atomoxetine is metabolized primarily through the CYP2D6 enzymatic pathway. People with reduced activity in this pathway (PMs) have higher plasma concentrations of atomoxetine compared with people with normal activity (Ems). For PMs, AUC of atomoxetine is approximately 10-fold and Css, max is about 5-fold greater than Ems. Serious reactions, including elevated blood pressure and tachyarrhythmia, have been reported in patients with pheochromocytoma or a history of pheochromocytoma who received STRATTERA. Therefore, STRATTERA should not be taken by patients with pheochromocytoma or a history of pheochromocytoma. EM subjects with end stage renal disease had higher systemic exposure to atomoxetine than healthy subjects (about a 65% increase), but there was no difference when exposure was corrected for mg/kg dose.

Strattera is generally well-tolerated and useful for people with ADHD who want to avoid stimulants, such as people concerned about substance misuse, people with a history of seizures or improperly managed glaucoma, says Dr. Khan. Adverse reactions of Strattera may include nausea and fatigue, decreased appetite and drowsiness, according to the U.S. Strattera may be a helpful option for ADHD patients who want to avoid stimulants, such as Adderall. AddictionResource aims to present the most accurate, trustworthy, and up-to-date medical content to our readers.

This chemical messenger impacts behavioral control, attention, motivation, memory, and learning. Each item on the ADHDRS maps directly to one symptom criterion for ADHD in the DSM-IV. Poor metabolizers (PMs) of CYP2D6 have a 10-fold higher AUC and a 5-fold higher peak concentration to a given dose of STRATTERA compared with extensive metabolizers (EMs).

FDA Drug Information

Call your child or teenager’s doctor right away if they have any of the above signs, especially if they are new, sudden, or severe. Your child or teenager may need to be closely watched for suicidal thoughts and actions or need a change in medicine. Atomoxetine is excreted primarily as 4-hydroxyatomoxetine-O-glucuronide, mainly in the urine (greater than 80% of the dose) and to a lesser extent in the feces (less than 17% of the dose). Only a small fraction of the STRATTERA dose is excreted as unchanged atomoxetine (less than 3% of the dose), indicating extensive biotransformation. Atomoxetine is rapidly absorbed after oral administration, with absolute bioavailability of about 63% in Ems and 94% in PMs.

1. However, patients with a faster metabolism will see it eliminated sooner, and those with slower metabolisms will take longer to remove the drug from their system.
2. The safety of single doses over 120 mg and total daily doses above 150 mg have not been evaluated.
3. Coadministration of STRATTERA (40 or 60 mg BID for 13 days) with desipramine, a model compound for CYP2D6 metabolized drugs (single dose of 50 mg), did not alter the pharmacokinetics of desipramine.
4. Read on to learn more about this medication’s benefits, risks and potential side effects.
5. Addiction Resource is not a healthcare provider, nor does it claim to offer sound medical advice to anyone.

Strattera is taken either once a day in the morning—or twice a day, in the morning and evening, with or without food. Doctors typically prescribe a low-dose prescription to start and may increase a person’s dosage after a few days or weeks, depending on the drug’s efficacy. People with ADHD often struggle with sitting still, paying attention and controlling impulsive behaviors, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. However, there are plenty of treatments available, including behavioral therapy and medication. Read on to learn more about this medication’s benefits, risks and potential side effects.

Strattera may cause weight loss or slowed growth in some children and adolescents. These side effects are more likely to occur in the first year of treatment. To watch for these side effects, your child’s doctor will monitor their height and weight regularly while they’re taking Strattera.

Prior to initiating treatment with STRATTERA, screen patients for a personal or family history of bipolar disorder, mania, or hypomania [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. Our Strattera Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication. There are no adequate studies of Strattera in pregnant women and it is not known if Strattera is secreted in human breast milk. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or if you are breastfeeding before using Strattera. Lab and/or medical tests (such as pulse, blood pressure, liver function) may be done while you are taking this medication.

Strattera is a brand-name drug that contains the active drug atomoxetine. This active drug is also available as a generic medication. Strattera is also used “off-label” to treat orthostatic hypotension, also known as postural hypotension. This form of low blood pressure can lead to dizziness or fainting when someone stands or sits after lying down.

Common questions about Strattera

Such monitoring should include daily observation by families and caregivers. In extensive metabolizers (EMs), inhibitors of CYP2D6 (e.g., paroxetine, fluoxetine, and quinidine) increase atomoxetine steady-state plasma concentrations to exposures similar to those observed in poor metabolizers (PMs). In EM individuals treated with paroxetine or fluoxetine, the AUC of atomoxetine is approximately 6-to 8-fold and Css, max is about 3-to 4-fold greater than atomoxetine alone. It is generally agreed that pharmacological treatment of ADHD may be needed for extended periods. The benefit of maintaining pediatric patients (ages 6-15 years) with ADHD on STRATTERA after achieving a response in a dose range of 1.2 to 1.8 mg/kg/day was demonstrated in a controlled trial.

Strattera overdose

Please read our disclaimer for more information about our website. STRATTERA has not been studied in children less than 6 years old. STRATTERA should be used as a part of a total treatment program for ADHD that may include counseling or other therapies. Call your doctor right away if you or your child has any signs of heart problems such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting while taking STRATTERA.

Drug Interactions for Strattera

In any case, people planning to take Strattera for ADHD need to know all information about this drug to know what to expect from the treatment. In short-term clinical trials, higher rates of suicidal thoughts were reported in children and adolescents who took Strattera. This was compared with children and adolescents who took a placebo (a treatment that contains no active ingredients). In placebo-controlled registration studies involving pediatric patients, tachycardia was identified as an adverse event for 0.3% (5/1597) of these STRATTERA patients compared with 0% (0/934) of placebo patients. The mean heart rate increase in extensive metabolizer (EM) patients was 5.0 beats/minute, and in poor metabolizer (PM) patients 9.4 beats/minute.