WARNING
According to studies, children and teenagers who take atomoxetine for their attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; more trouble focusing, controlling actions, and remaining still or quiet than other people their age) are more likely to consider suicide than those who do not take the medication.
You should keep a close eye on your child’s behaviour while they are on atomoxetine, especially when they first start the medication and whenever their dose is changed. It’s crucial to monitor your child’s behaviour every day because they could acquire serious symptoms very suddenly. Inquire of other people who spend a lot of time with your child, such as siblings, teachers, and other family members, to see if they observe any changes in behaviour. If your child exhibits any of these signs, contact a doctor straight away: acting more subdued or reserved than usual; feeling helpless, hopeless, or unworthy; new or worsening depression; considering harming or killing oneself; discussing doing so; planning to do so; acting in a violent or aggressive manner; acting without thinking; dramatically increasing activity or talking; frenzied, abnormal excitement; or any other sudden or unusual change.
While taking atomoxetine, especially at the start of treatment, your child’s doctor will want to see your kid frequently. The physician for your child may occasionally wish to contact you or your child by phone. Make sure your child keeps all appointments for in-person or phone consultations with their physician.
You will get the manufacturer’s patient information sheet (Medication Guide) from your physician or pharmacist when you start taking atomoxetine and each time you refill your prescription. If you have any questions, carefully read the material and contact your doctor or pharmacist. To obtain the Medication Guide, you can also go to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs) or the manufacturer’s website.
The dangers of giving your kid atomoxetine, using other therapies for your child’s condition, and not treating your child’s condition should be discussed with your doctor.
Why is this medication prescribed?
For children and adults with ADHD, atomoxetine is used as a component of a comprehensive treatment plan to improve attention span and reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity. The drug atomoxetine belongs to the group of drugs known as selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. It functions by raising the brain’s natural level of norepinephrine, which is necessary for behaviour regulation.
How should this medicine be used?
Atomoxetine is available as a pill to be swallowed. In most cases, it is taken once daily in the morning or twice daily in the morning and late afternoon or early evening. You can take atomoxetine with or without food. Take atomoxetine every day at around the same time(s). Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Take atomoxetine as prescribed by your doctor. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.
Do not open, chew, or crush the atomoxetine capsules; instead, swallow them whole. If a capsule is unintentionally broken or opened, immediately rinse the loose powder with water. Try to avoid touching the powder, and pay extra attention to avoid getting any in your eyes. If you do accidentally get powder in your eyes, immediately flush them with water and call your doctor.
Most likely, your doctor will start you on a low dose of atomoxetine and gradually raise it over the course of at least 3 days. After 2-4 weeks, your doctor might raise your dose once more. During the first week of medication, you might notice a reduction in your symptoms, but it could take up to a month for atomoxetine to take full effect.
Although it won’t cure ADHD, atomoxetine may help manage its symptoms. Even if you are feeling OK, keep taking atomoxetine. Without consulting your doctor, do not discontinue taking atomoxetine.
Other uses for this medicine
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking atomoxetine,
- If you have an allergy to atomoxetine, any other drugs, or any of the chemicals in atomoxetine capsules, let your doctor and pharmacist know right away.
- Inform your doctor if you are currently using any monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, such as tranylcypromine (Parnate), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl), or if you have recently discontinued taking any of these medications. Most likely, your doctor will advise against taking atomoxetine. You should wait at least two weeks after stopping atomoxetine before starting an MAO inhibitor.
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Be sure to include any of the following: high blood pressure drugs, paroxetine (Paxil), quinidine, and albuterol syrup or tablets (Vospire), bupropion (Aplenzin, Forvivo, Wellbutrin, in Contrave), fluoxetine (Prozac, in Symbyax), and metaproterenol syrup. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
- Inform your physician if you have or have ever had pheochromocytoma or glaucoma, an eye condition that can result in visual loss (a tumour on a small gland near the kidneys). Most likely, your doctor will advise against taking atomoxetine.
- Inform your doctor if anyone in your family has ever experienced a sudden death or has an abnormal heartbeat. Inform your doctor if you’ve had a heart attack recently, if you have or have ever had a heart defect, high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, artery hardening, heart disease, blood vessel disease, or any other heart issues. Your heart and blood vessels will be checked by your doctor during the examination. If you have a heart condition or there is a significant chance that you will develop a heart condition, your doctor will likely advise against taking atomoxetine.
- Inform your doctor if you or anybody in your family currently suffers from depression, has ever tried suicide, or has bipolar disorder (a condition that produces episodes of depression, frenzy, excessive excitement, and other aberrant moods). Additionally, let your doctor know if you suffer from liver illness or have ever had seizures.
- Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to get pregnant, or are nursing a baby. Call your doctor right away if you get pregnant while taking atomoxetine.
- You ought to be aware that atomoxetine might make you feel sleepy. Prior to understanding how this drug affects you, avoid using machinery or driving a car.
- You should be aware that atomoxetine may result in fainting, lightheadedness, and dizziness if you get out of a laying position too rapidly. Get out of bed gradually, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up, to avoid this issue.
- You should be aware that atomoxetine should be used in conjunction with other therapies, such as counselling and specialised instruction, in order to effectively treat ADHD. Ensure that you adhere to all recommendations from your therapist or doctor.
- You should be aware that while taking atomoxetine, your blood pressure may rise. Throughout your therapy, your doctor will keep an eye on your blood pressure.
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one. Take no more atomoxetine than the recommended daily dose in a 24-hour period.
What side effects can this medication cause?
There may be negative effects from atomoxetine. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Reduced appetite
- Loss of weight
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Gas
- Mouth ache
- Excessive fatigue
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Mood changes
- Reduced sex desire or capacity
- Having trouble urinating
- Irregular or painful menstrual cycles
- Muscle pain
- Sweating
- A hot flash
- Strange dreams
- Tingling or burning in the legs, feet, arms, or hands
Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if you notice any of the symptoms below, including those in the IMPORTANT WARNING or SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS sections:
- A hammering or rapid heartbeat
- Chest pain
- Breathing difficulty
- Slow or challenging speech
- Unsteadiness or weakness
- Arm or leg weakness or numbness
- Skin itch
- Dark faeces
- Your skin or eyes becoming yellow
- Flu-like signs
- Your upper right stomach has a pain.
- Swelling of the lower legs, hands, feet, ankles, or face, neck, tongue, lips, eyes, or mouth
- Hoarseness
- Breathing or swallowing challenges
- Hives
- Rash
- Irrational thoughts
- Hallucinating (seeing things or hearing sounds and voices that do not exist)
- Long-lasting erection, lasting many hours or more
- Seizures
The growth or weight gain of youngsters may be slowed down by atomoxetine. The doctor who is treating your child with atomoxetine will most likely keep a close eye on him or her. The hazards of giving your child this medication should be discussed with your child’s doctor.
Other negative effects of atomoxetine are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.
You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).
What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?
Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Store it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).
Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.
As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org
In case of emergency/overdose
Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.
Overdose signs could include the following:
- Sleepiness
- Agitation
- An increase in conversation or activity
- Abnormal conduct
- Stomach issues
- Wide eyes (black circles in the middle of the eyes)
- Rapid heart rate
- Mouth ache
What other information should I know?
Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To determine how your body is responding to atomoxetine, your doctor may request specific lab tests.
No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.
You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.
Brand names
- Strattera®
