The Pros and Cons of Strattera A Nonstimulant medication for ADHD

It may be that both stimulants and ATX impact both dopaminergic and noradrenergic circuits in the brain, albeit in different ratios or sequences. How Strattera and stimulants can be utilized in combination to extend duration of ADHD symptom relief without intolerable side effects. Adderall and Strattera can both be effective for managing symptoms of attention disorders. While Adderall is considered a first-line treatment, it may not be the right choice for everyone. Because Strattera is not a stimulant, it does not lead to physical dependence or withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it.

Usual Adult Atomoxetine Dose for Attention Deficit Disorder

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. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Strattera to treat certain conditions.

• Stimulants and ATX have been subjected to extensive clinical testing that has demonstrated safety and efficacy in their use as single agents for treatment of ADHD.
• It can help to increase attention, as well as decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity.
• Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
• It has shown minimal risk of abuse and is not a schedule II agent; therefore, it can be prescribed with refills and distributed by physicians in samples.
• Tolerance may also develop – this when an increasing dose is needed in order to achieve the same reduction in symptoms.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Guide

If you (or others around you) notice any of the above symptoms while you take Strattera, your doctor should be told right away. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. Strattera is thought to work by increasing the level of a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) in the brain called norepinephrine. Having more norepinephrine available in the brain may help improve attention and focus in people with ADHD. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are a class of drugs traditionally used to treat depression, but are also used for certain other conditions.

What other drugs will affect atomoxetine?

In some cases, a non-stimulant medication like Strattera is an option. However, in cases of bipolar disorder, Strattera can precipitate mania since it has antidepressant effects. It can also increase blood pressure in people with cardiac conditions. Adderall and Strattera are medications prescribed to treat attention disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Both drugs improve attention span and decrease hyperactivity and impulsiveness; however, the medications are very different. The main difference is that Adderall is a stimulant, and Strattera is not.

Sudden death has been reported in association with atomoxetine treatment at usual doses in children and adolescents with structural cardiac abnormalities or other serious heart problems. Disclose to your physician all mental health issues, including any family history of suicide, bipolar illness, or depression. Atomoxetine is a potent trigger for mania in genetically predisposed people.

Although quality of life and functioning were not assessed in most of the reviewed studies, anecdotal improvements (e.g., resumed part-time employment after school) were reported for some patients (Brown 2004). These efficacy and effectiveness findings require validation and further exploration in subsequent studies of stimulant and atomoxetine combination therapy. Reasons for trying stimulant and atomoxetine combination therapy were reported in the three prospective studies, three of the seven retrospective studies, and the three narrative reviews/medication algorithms (Table 1). In one study (Hammerness et al. 2009; Wilens et al. 2009), patients received atomoxetine and stimulant combination therapy if they were considered to be partial responders to atomoxetine monotherapy after a 4 week acute atomoxetine treatment phase.

Efficacy and effectiveness findings of stimulant and atomoxetine combination therapy were reported in the three prospective studies and four of the seven retrospective studies of patients with ADHD (Table 3). Improvements in ADHD symptom control with this drug combination were reported in most of these studies except the prospective double-blind, randomized controlled trial. In this study, adding OROS methylphenidate to the treatment regimen after 4 weeks of atomoxetine monotherapy did not enhance the efficacy of atomoxetine at the end of 6 weeks of combination therapy (Carlson et al. 2007).

• Over 2 years, he had several episodes of interrupting his treatment with NT to avoid side effects, being frustrated by declining grades and behaviour problems, and then unhappily resuming treatment on the NT regimen.
• You’ll also need to check your insurance plan, as it may only cover one or the other.
• Patient has continued in this OROS MPH and ATX regimen for 4 months with continuing benefit and no adverse effects.
• Adderall XR (extended-release) is available in six doses, from 5 mg to 30 mg.
• 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.
• During the ADHD clinical trials, 1625 children and adolescent patients were treated for longer than 1 year and 2529 children and adolescent patients were treated for over 6 months.
• Doctors may refer to this as having “poor CYP2D6 metabolism.” If you’ve been told you have this condition, it’s important to tell your doctor before starting Strattera treatment.

General Health

Nevertheless, these findings were limited by the small number of patients in these studies. This is the first systematic review of literature describing the use of stimulant and atomoxetine combination therapy. Findings from our review showed that there are few studies that describe factors that typify the use of stimulant and atomoxetine combination therapy or that analyze its efficacy, effectiveness, safety, or tolerability. In particular, the strength of evidence for the included studies was limited because of the heterogeneous study designs, small sample sizes, and geographic bias; there was only one prospective, randomized controlled trial of this drug combination. The findings suggested, but did not confirm, that combination therapy, if used appropriately, may benefit some, but not all, patients who have tried several ADHD medications without success.

Do not take atomoxetine if you have had a recent heart attack without talking to your healthcare is straterra a stimulant provider. Get emergency help if you have any of the following symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. Strattera contains the active ingredient atomoxetine, which is from a group of medicines called selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).

How should I store atomoxetine?

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. The maximum recommended total daily dose in children and adolescents over 70 kg and adults is 100 mg. Taking Strattera with a drug known to affect blood pressure or heart rate could lower the effectiveness of the drug. Atomoxetine (the active drug in Strattera) is included as a treatment option in American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for ADHD in children and adolescents. Atomoxetine is also recommended as a first treatment option for ADHD in adults in American Academy of Family Physicians guidelines. The dosage for children who weigh more than 70 kg is the same as the adult dosage.