STRATTERA (atomoxetine)

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What is Strattera?

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Strattera, judging it safe and effective for the treatment of Attention - Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children, adolescents, and adults.
• Strattera is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, a class of ADHD treatment that works differently from the other ADHD medications available.
• Strattera is the only FDA-approved ADHD medication clinically proven effective for adults.
• Strattera is the first non-stimulant medication approved for the treatment of ADHD in children, adolescents, and adults.
• Because Strattera is a non-controlled prescription medication, it offers the convenience of phone-in refills between physician visits and physician samples.
• Strattera is an oral capsule and can be taken once or twice a day to provide full-day relief from ADHD symptoms.
• Only a doctor can prescribe Strattera, so ask your doctor if Strattera is right for you or your child.

What Should I Expect with Strattera?

• While you are likely to notice improvements in ADHD symptoms by the first week, it may take up to a month to see the full therapeutic benefit of the effect as you or your child adjusts to the new medication.
• Remember that there are many variables that may affect the response to a new medication in addition to the normal ups and downs of daily life.  Talk with your doctor or healthcare professional if you have any questions about changes during this transition time.

Strattera works differently than other ADHD medications.

For Children:

• If your child previously took a stimulant, he or she might have been able to feel an immediate impact when it took effect and could tell when it stopped working.  Because Strattera works differently, your child will not experience this.
• Watch for patterns in your child's behavior to help assess how Strattera works for your child.  It might be helpful to identify 2-3 behaviors that you can monitor on a daily basis to evaluate the benefits of Strattera (e.g., sitting through dinner time, settling at bedtime, getting off to school in the morning, participating in group activities).

How will I know if Strattera is working for me?

For Adults:

To help you monitor changes in your life, think about your ability to do the following as you begin treatment:

• Organize and prioritize your thoughts, projects, or activities
• Have control over your daily routine and plans
• Complete an article or read a book
• Complete simple tasks such as paying bills, finding your keys, or arriving on time for appointments
• Maintain a general sense of balance - less fidgety or restless
• Follow conversations

Strattera (atomoxetine) is a norepinephrine uptake inhibitor used to treat ADHD for kids and adults; Strattera increases norepinephrine and dopamine in the frontal cortex of the brain. Strattera can be taken once per day but is sometimes given twice per day. 

Strattera Mechanism Of Action; How does Strattera work?

Strattera is a member of a family of drugs known as "selective norepinephrine reuptake" inhibitors. 

Believe it or not, doctors and  scientists are not 100% sure of how Strattera works.  

What is known is that Strattera causes an increase in the brain of levels of a hormone known as "norepinephrine".   Norepinephrine is very similar to its cousin adrenaline.  (All of us are familiar with adrenaline).  Strattera is also known to indirectly elevate brain levels of dopamine.

These minutely increased levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain are associated with alterations of mood and behavior and improvement of  ADHD symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsive behavior or difficulty beginning and finishing a task. 

Before your child (or you) can be diagnosed with ADHD, the patient must have had persistent, severe symptoms that significantly interfere with his ability to do daily activities. 

These symptoms must be present for at least 6 months.  These symptoms must be present in two settings such as in school (or work) and at home.

Once Strattera therapy has begun, results often happen quickly - usually within a couple of days you will notice a change in the patient's behavior.

Your doctor will start the patient on a low dose of Strattera and build up the dose gradually to minimize side effects.

Most kids wind up on doses of 40mg or 80mg according to their weight and how they responds to the pill. 

The maximum dose of Strattera is 100mg per day.  The manufacturer (Eli Lilly & Company) states very clearly that people should never take more than 100mg of Strattera per day.

Strattera is available as capsules in 10mg, 18mg, 25mg, 40mg and 60mg strengths.

Key Advantages Of Strattera
compared to other similar medications:

If you have a kid with ADHD (or you have ADHD yourself) Strattera has advantages over other ADHD medicines.

Strattera has once-daily dosing (although it is sometimes given twice per day). 

Strattera is not a stimulant like Ritalin or Concerta; therefore it has a  low incidence of  stimulant side effects. 

Because Strattera is not a controlled drug, it does not need a special prescription and it can be refilled without the hassle of running to the doctor for a new script every time you run out.

Noteworthy Warnings, Side Effects:

Users may experience GI side effects such as loss of appetite, dyspepsia, nausea, constipation; in rare instances, patients may develop facial tics; use with caution in patients with hypertension, orthostatic hypotension possible.

The most common side effects from Strattera are the sleepiness, nausea and loss of appetite.  These side effects usually subside and go away after a few weeks.

In the Strattera prescribing information, there is a warning regarding Strattera's effect on a child's growth.  Strattera is known to sometimes decrease appetite in kids.   Some kids lose a small amount of weight in the beginning of Strattera therapy.  

If your child is put on Strattera, the doctor should monitor your child's height and weight carefully.  If your child experiences a change in his  normal growth or weight patterns, you may want to discontinue Strattera therapy.

Potentially life-threatening interaction :

Do not mix Strattera with MAO Inhibitors. A 2-week washout period required. If you are on a MAO inhibitor, you must wait at least 14 days before you start taking Strattera. (A MAO inhibitor is a special drug that doctors sometimes give to patients to treat their depression). 

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