Is your child having a hard time staying focused? Or have you ever felt like they're having trouble staying focused while studying or doing work? Atomoxetine is a medication that doctors prescribe for ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). It's best known by the brand name Strattera. So today, let's learn more about this medication, what it actually does, how to use it, and what you should be especially careful about.
What really happens with this medicine?
Simply put, Atomoxetine is a medication used to treat ADHD. It improves your and your child's ability to focus and helps control impulsive behavior.
This belongs to a class of drugs called SNRI (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor). To put it simply, this medicine works by balancing the activity of certain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that carry messages between nerves in our brain. This helps a lot in controlling attention and behavior. Sometimes, your doctor may also prescribe this for other things. So if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask your doctor.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting medication
Before you start using atomoxetine, you should definitely tell your doctor if you have any of the following medical conditions, as this information may affect the dosage or whether the medication is right for you.
| Your medical condition or problem | Why should you inform the doctor? |
|---|---|
| Glaucoma | This medicine can increase eye pressure. |
| High or low blood pressure, heart disease, irregular heartbeat, or a history of stroke | The drug can affect blood pressure and heart rate. |
| Liver disease | If liver function is impaired, the drug is eliminated from the body slowly. |
| A mental illness such as mania or bipolar disorder | This medicine may aggravate such conditions. |
| A type of tumor called pheochromocytoma | This is a tumor that develops in the adrenal glands, and the medication can cause blood pressure to rise dangerously. |
| Suicidal thoughts or a history of them | Rarely, this medicine may increase such thoughts. |
| Trying to get pregnant, being pregnant, or breastfeeding | In these cases, medical advice is essential to ensure the safety of the medication. |
| Allergies to atomoxetine or other medicines, foods, or dyes | It is important to be aware of this to avoid allergic reactions. |
How should I use this medicine?
The method of using this medicine is very simple.
- Drink by mouth with a glass of water.
- Follow the doctor's instructions exactly.
- You can take it before or after meals, but if you experience stomach upset, it's best to take it with food.
- This may make it difficult for some people to fall asleep at night. If you have to take more than one dose a day, try to take the last dose before 6 pm.
- The most important thing is, do not stop taking the medication suddenly without your doctor's advice.
- If you accidentally take too much medicine, immediately go to the nearest hospital Emergency Unit (ETU) or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital .
This medicine has been prescribed for you only. So never share your medicine with anyone else. It can be dangerous.
What to do if you miss a dose of medication?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at once to make up for a forgotten dose.
Other medications that may interact with this medicine
Atomoxetine is a medication that can interact with other medications, so it is very important to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking.
| Never take Atomoxetine with this medicine! | |
|---|---|
| MAOIs (eg, Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, Parnate) | Cisapride |
| Dronedarone | Pimozide |
| Reboxetine | Thioridazine |
| Be very careful if you take Atomoxetine with this medicine. | |
| |
This list is not complete. So tell your doctor about every medicine, vitamin, and herbal remedy you take. Don't forget to tell your doctor if you smoke or drink alcohol.
Things to be careful about when taking medication
- Patience is important: It can take a week or more for this medicine to take full effect. So, don't stop taking it because you're "still not feeling any better." Continue taking it as directed by your doctor.
- Watch for mental health: Very rarely, suicidal thoughts or changes in behavior (e.g., becoming increasingly angry, agitated, or depressed) may occur in children and young adults taking this medication. If you notice such a sudden change in your child's behavior, call your doctor right away.
- Special note for men: If a man experiences a painful or prolonged erection for more than 4 hours, it could be a serious condition. If this happens , you should seek medical advice immediately before permanent damage occurs.
- Drowsiness and dizziness: This medicine may make you feel drowsy or dizzy. So do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this affects you. Be careful when getting up or sitting down quickly, especially if you are elderly.
- Dry mouth: If you feel like your mouth is dry, chew sugar-free gum and drink plenty of water.
Possible side effects
Like any medicine, Atomoxetine can cause side effects. Some of them are serious, while others are common.
| Type of side effect | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue. |
| Changes in heart rate | Fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, chest pain. |
| Liver injury | Pain in the right upper abdomen, loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark yellow urine, pale stools. |
| Mental and behavioral changes | Anxiety, irritability, suicidal thoughts, depression. |
| Symptoms of Stroke | Sudden numbness/weakness of the face, arm, or leg, difficulty speaking, severe headache. |
| Difficulty urinating | Difficulty urinating or no urination. |
| Usually not serious (but tell your doctor if it persists) | |
| |
This list does not include all possible side effects. If you experience anything unusual, talk to your doctor about it.
Take-Home Message
- Atomoxetine is a medication that helps with ADHD. However, it takes some time to see full results, so be patient and use it consistently as directed by your doctor.
- Do not stop taking your medication suddenly without consulting your doctor.
- Be sure to inform your doctor about all other medications, vitamins, and medical conditions you are taking.
- Be very careful about serious side effects such as changes in your child's behavior or suicidal thoughts. If you notice anything like this, seek medical advice immediately.
- This medicine is for you only. Do not share it with anyone else.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 What are Aliskiren / Tekturna tablets used for?
This is a highly successful drug of the latest and different generation (Direct Renin Inhibitor) discovered in the world to control 'High Blood Pressure'! While all other pressure pills stop the acid river when it comes down, this pill blocks the source of the river (Renin) 100% and closes it, stopping the pressure from building up in the first place.
💬 How to lower blood pressure with this newest blood pressure pill (Aliskiren)?
The chemical river that raises blood pressure starts with an enzyme called 'Renin' released by our kidneys! Other (ACE/ARB) pills work on the Angiotensin chemical that is produced by it. But when this pill enters the body, it goes straight to the kidneys and blocks that main enzyme machine called 'Renin' 100%. Then the river doesn't even start, the blood vessels relax and the pressure drops immediately.
💬 What is the most important fatal risk (Black Box Warning) to be aware of when taking this drug (Aliskiren)?
This pill, like other blood pressure pills, is strictly prohibited for pregnant women! If a pregnant woman who drinks this gets pregnant, the child's kidneys may be destroyed/bleed and the child may die (Fetal morbidity). Also, if you have diabetes and take this pill with other blood pressure pills (ACE/ARB - e.g. Losartan), there is a risk of 100% kidney damage/high potassium and death.
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