The Pros and Cons of Strattera A Nonstimulant medication for ADHD 

Ritalin and Strattera are drugs used to treat ADHD in children and adults. You can only get them with a prescription from your doctor. If you take high doses of Ritalin and develop a physical or psychological dependence, you may get withdrawal symptoms such as depression, tiredness, and trouble sleeping when you suddenly stop taking the drug.

Read the Medication Guide that comes with STRATTERA® before you or your child starts taking it and each time you get a refill. This Medication Guide does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your treatment or your child’s treatment with STRATTERA. Signs and symptoms of ADHD were evaluated using the investigator-administered Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale Screening Version (CAARS), a 30-item scale. The steady-state volume of distribution after intravenous administration is 0.85 L/kg indicating that atomoxetine distributes primarily into total body water. Volume of distribution is similar across the patient weight range after normalizing for body weight. Consult with a Certified Poison Control Center for up to date guidance and advice.

The FDA places a black box warning on some prescription drug labels to bring attention to possible serious or life-threatening risks. When you stop taking Adderall, norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the brain suddenly decrease. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that activates the brain’s reward system, while norepinephrine plays a role in regulating cognitive functions, attention, and mood.

However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Strattera is FDA approved to treat ADHD in adults and children ages 6 years and older. Studies have shown that individual responses to ADHD medications vary, and up to 15% of people will respond to one drug but not to another.

Non-Stimulants vs. Stimulants for ADHD

Stop taking atomoxetine and get emergency help right away if you or your child have any of the following symptoms. In adults and children with both ADHD symptoms and depression, antidepressant medications called tricyclic antidepressants have been found to be useful. Another type of antidepressant called monoamine oxidase inhibitors is also occasionally used. To address ADHD effectively, understanding stimulant and non-stimulant medications is crucial.

It may not be possible to determine whether a manic or mixed episode that appears during treatment is due to an adverse reaction to the drug or a patient’s underlying bipolar disorder. Strattera may create new or exacerbate existing behavior problems, bipolar disorder, or suicidal ideation. It can cause psychotic or manic symptoms in children and teenagers. There is limited clinical trial experience with STRATTERA overdose.

Strattera vs. Ritalin: What Is the Difference?

The generic is considered to be as safe and effective as the original drug. If you and your doctor determine that Strattera is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term. From time to time during treatment, your doctor may have you stop taking the drug to check whether your ADHD symptoms return.

Dosage Forms And Strengths

Ethnic origin did not influence atomoxetine disposition (except that PMs are more common in Caucasians). Advise patients that there is a pregnancy registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to atomoxetine during pregnancy see Use In Specific Populations. Atomoxetine is primarily metabolized by the CYP2D6 pathway to 4-hydroxyatomoxetine. Coadministration of methylphenidate with STRATTERA did not increase cardiovascular effects beyond those seen with methylphenidate alone.

Health Conditions

We do not offer individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment plans. For personal advice, please consult with a medical professional. Like most psychotropic medications, Strattera won’t work for everyone, says Dr. Zand. In addition, he cautions against rushing to medicate children diagnosed with ADHD too quickly. People experiencing heart health problems or who have a family history of heart problems might also be at risk for long-term heart complications, says Dr. Zand. Dr. Zand agrees with prescribing smaller doses of Strattera to start and adjusting the dose as needed, noting it helps doctors monitor symptoms and effects—rather than aggressively trying to effect change too quickly.

• One pro of taking Strattera to treat ADHD is it does not cause many of the common side effects seen with psychostimulants, such as insomnia, dependence, or withdrawal.
• If side effects are bothersome, or do not go away, talk to your doctor.
• The highest dose used in mice is approximately 39 and 26 times the MRHD in children and adults, respectively, on a mg/m2 basis.
• Coadministration of methylphenidate with STRATTERA did not increase cardiovascular effects beyond those seen with methylphenidate alone.
• Slight increases in the incidences of atypical origin of carotid artery and absent subclavian artery were observed.
• Pregnant rabbits were treated with up to 100 mg/kg/day of atomoxetine by gavage throughout the period of organogenesis.

More about atomoxetine

• But your doctor might prescribe it for certain reasons, such as if a stimulant medicine doesn’t help your symptoms enough or stimulants cause side effects you can’t handle.
• You should refer to the prescribing information for Strattera for a complete list of interactions.
• You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
• Seizures – Seizures have been reported in the postmarketing period.
• Strattera is taken orally, with or without food, once or twice daily.
• The expiration date helps guarantee that the medication is effective during this time.

STRATTERA increased the risk of suicidal ideation in short-term studies in children and adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Pooled analyses of short-term (6 to 18 weeks) placebo-controlled trials of STRATTERA in children and adolescents have revealed a greater risk of suicidal ideation early during treatment in those receiving STRATTERA. There were a total of 12 trials (11 in ADHD and 1 in enuresis) involving over 2200 patients (including 1357 patients receiving STRATTERA and 851 receiving placebo). The average risk of suicidal ideation in patients receiving STRATTERA was 0.4% (5/1357 patients), compared to none in placebo-treated patients. There was 1 suicide attempt among these approximately 2200 patients, occurring in a patient treated with STRATTERA. All reactions occurred in children 12 years of age or younger.

Conversely, Adderall is classified as “Schedule II” controlled-substance. It is not uncommon for people who have taken Adderall for extended periods of time to become psychologically dependent on it. Tolerance may also develop – this when an increasing dose is needed in order to achieve the same reduction in is stratera a stimulant symptoms. For the best results, take Strattera at the same time each day with a full glass of water. You can also take it twice daily, in the morning and late afternoon.