atomoxetine
| Pronunciation: | AT oh mox e teen |
| Brand: | Strattera |
Strattera 10 mg
white, imprinted with Lilly 3227, 10 mg
Strattera 100 mg
brown, imprinted with Lilly 3251, 100 mg
Strattera 18 mg
gold/white, imprinted with Lilly 3238, 18 mg
Strattera 25 mg
blue/white, imprinted with Lilly 3228, 25 mg
Strattera 40 mg
blue, imprinted with Lilly 3229, 40 mg
Strattera 60 mg
blue/yellow, imprinted with Lilly 3239, 60 mg
Strattera 80 mg
brown/white, imprinted with Lilly 3250, 80 mg
What is the most important information I should know about atomoxetine?
 |
Do not use atomoxetine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects. |
|
You should not use atomoxetine if you are allergic to it, or if you have glaucoma or pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland). |
 |
Some ADHD medicines have caused sudden death in children and adolescents with serious heart problems or congenital heart defects. Tell your doctor if you have any heart problems. |
You may have suicidal thoughts or behavior while taking atomoxetine. Watch for symptoms of depression, unusual behavior, or thoughts of hurting yourself. Your doctor may need to check you at regular visits while you are taking this medication.
In addition to you watching for changes in your mood or behavior, your family or caregivers should be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.
 |
Do not use an open or broken capsule. If the medicine from inside the capsule gets into your eyes, rinse thoroughly with water and call your doctor. |
 |
Atomoxetine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. |
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking atomoxetine?
|
You should not use atomoxetine if you are allergic to it, or if you have glaucoma or pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland). |
|
Do not use atomoxetine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects. |
|
Some ADHD medicines have caused sudden death in children and adolescents with serious heart problems or congenital heart defects. |
To make sure you can safely take atomoxetine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
- a congenital heart defect;
- heart disease, a heart rhythm disorder, or recent heart attack;
- coronary artery disease;
- a history of stroke, blood clots, or heart attack;
- high or low blood pressure;
- liver disease;
- problems with urination;
- a personal or family history of mental illness, psychotic disorder, bipolar illness, depression, or suicide attempt; or
- if anyone in your family has died suddenly from a heart problem.
You may have suicidal thoughts or behavior while taking atomoxetine. Watch for symptoms of depression, unusual behavior, or thoughts of hurting yourself. Your doctor may need to check you at regular visits while you are taking this medication.
In addition to you watching for changes in your mood or behavior, your family or caregivers should be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.
 |
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether atomoxetine is harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. |
 |
It is not known whether atomoxetine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. |
Atomoxetine is not meant for long-term use. Because ADHD may be a long-term condition, especially in children and young adults, your doctor may recommend another ADHD medication after you stop taking atomoxetine.
Long-term use of atomoxetine can slow a child's growth. Tell your doctor if the child using this medication is not growing or gaining weight properly.
Do not give atomoxetine to a child younger than 6 years old without the advice of a doctor.
How should I take atomoxetine?
Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
 |
Take this medicine with a full glass of water. |
Atomoxetine is usually taken once daily, but it may be taken in the morning and late afternoon. Follow your doctor's instructions.
It is important to use atomoxetine regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.
|
Do not use a capsule that has been opened or accidentally broken. The medicine from inside the capsule can be dangerous if it gets in your eyes. If you must handle a broken capsule, ask your doctor or pharmacist how to safely handle and dispose of the tablet. |
 |
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. |
What happens if I overdose?
|
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. |
Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, agitation, hyperactivity, unusual behavior, stomach problems, blurred vision, dry mouth, and fast heartbeat.
What should I avoid while taking atomoxetine?
|
Avoid using or handling an open or broken capsule. If the medicine from inside the capsule gets in your eyes, rinse them thoroughly with water and call your doctor. |
|
Atomoxetine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. |
What are the possible side effects of atomoxetine?
|
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. |
|
Stop taking atomoxetine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as: |
- chest pain, shortness of breath, fast or uneven heartbeats;
- feeling like you might pass out;
- unusual thoughts or behavior, aggression, hallucinations (seeing things that are not there);
- nausea, pain in your upper stomach, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
- increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, seizure);
- urinating less than usual or not at all; or
- numbness, burning pain, or tingly feeling.
Less serious side effects may include:
- feeling irritable;
- feeling dizzy or drowsy;
- constipation;
- cough, dry mouth;
- skin rash or itching;
- sleep problems (insomnia);
- increased menstrual cramps; or
- impotence, loss of interest in sex, or trouble having an orgasm.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2012 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 9.01. Revision date: 4/18/2011.
Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read, understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement, which can be accessed by clicking on this link.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.