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Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of medicine is Strattera?

Strattera is a non-stimulant prescription medicine approved to treat the symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Strattera is a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. The precise mechanism by which atomoxetine produces its therapeutic effects in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is unknown. Strattera may help increase attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in patients with ADHD. Strattera should be used as a part of a total treatment program for ADHD that may include counseling or other therapies. Strattera has not been studied in children younger than 6 years old.

Is Strattera an effective treatment for adult ADHD?

Strattera is clinically proven to effectively treat the symptoms of adult ADHD. However, it's important to keep in mind that Strattera does not work for everyone, even when it is taken exactly as directed by your healthcare provider. See Benefits of Strattera

How often should I take Strattera?

Strattera should be taken exactly as directed by your healthcare provider. Most people take Strattera once or twice every day. Take Strattera at the same time each day. See Medication Guide

Should I take Strattera with food?

Strattera can be taken with or without food. If you experience nausea (an upset stomach), your healthcare provider may suggest that you take Strattera with a meal. See Medication Guide

Can I open a Strattera capsule?

Do not open Strattera capsules. Do not chew or crush them. Each capsule must be swallowed whole. Avoid touching a broken Strattera capsule. If any of the powder gets in your eyes, rinse them with water right away and call your healthcare provider. See Medication Guide

What should I do if I miss a dose of Strattera?

If you miss a dose of Strattera, take it as soon as you remember that day. If you do not take Strattera for a whole day, do not double your dose the next day. Just skip the dose you missed. See Medication Guide

What if I need to stop taking Strattera?

Strattera can be stopped without slowly reducing your dose. However, it is best to talk with your healthcare provider before you stop taking Strattera.

In what ways can Strattera help?

If Strattera works for you, it may help:

  • Improve your attention
  • Decrease your hyperactivity
  • Reduce your impulsivity

Individual results vary.

What are the most common side effects of Strattera in adults?

It is important to share your concerns with your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of treating ADHD versus not treating. Strattera has potential benefits and risks that should be understood.

Common side effects with Strattera may include:

  • Nausea—A common side effect may be nausea. Your healthcare provider may advise you to take Strattera with food.
  • Problems sleeping—Another common side effect can be having trouble going to sleep and staying asleep. Your healthcare provider may advise you to adjust the time of day you take the medication.

Strattera offers benefits for many patients, along with the possibility of undesired effects. For additional risk information, see the Important Safety Information for Strattera as well as the Medication Guide.

Some important risks to consider with Strattera are:

  • Suicidal thoughts—An analysis of clinical trial data conducted by Eli Lilly and Company has indicated that suicidal thoughts were more frequently observed among children and teens treated with Strattera (4 out of every 1,000 patients, or about one-half of 1%). There were no suicides in patients taking Strattera during clinical trials. There was no indication of an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors among adult patients taking Strattera.
  • Liver damage—Strattera can cause liver damage in rare cases. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have itching, dark urine, yellow skin/eyes, upper right-side abdominal tenderness, or unexplained "flu-like" symptoms.

Please see Important Safety Information.

Should my dose of Strattera change over time?

You will likely start Strattera at a low dose. Starting Strattera at a low dose gives your body a chance to get used to the medicine. After a few days on the low dose, your healthcare provider may increase your dose. During the first few weeks on Strattera, you will work with your healthcare provider to reach your target dose—the amount of Strattera that is right for you and will benefit you the most. See Get a Good Start

How soon might Strattera start to work?

Strattera is made to ease ADHD symptoms gradually, not right away. See Get a Good Start

What does gradual improvement mean?

Symptom improvement with Strattera is not immediate. Strattera works gradually over time. You may begin to notice small changes after a few weeks. If Strattera works for you, you should see improvement in your ADHD symptoms by about 4 to 6 weeks after you reach the right dose for you. Individual results may vary. See Get a Good Start

I have not noticed any ADHD symptom improvement. What should I do?

It's important to stay in close contact with your healthcare provider and to report your progress on Strattera. Be sure to let your healthcare provider know if you have not seen any ADHD symptom improvement by 4 to 6 weeks after you have reached your target dose. Your dose of Strattera may need to be adjusted. Or Strattera may not be the right medicine for you. If it isn't, you and your healthcare provider can discuss a different treatment option. See Get a Good Start and Track Your Progress

Can I become addicted to Strattera?

Strattera is not a controlled prescription medicine.

Can I get phone-in refills for Strattera?

Strattera is not a controlled substance, so you can get phone-in refills between healthcare provider visits.

Strattera® (atomoxetine HCl) is indicated for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
in children aged 6 and older, teens, and adults.

Important Safety Information for Strattera

What is the most important information I should know about Strattera?

In some children and teens, Strattera increases the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. Results from Strattera clinical studies with over 2200 child or teenage ADHD patients suggest that some children and teenagers may have a higher chance of having suicidal thoughts or actions. Although no suicides occurred in these studies, 4 out of every 1000 patients developed suicidal thoughts. Call the doctor right away if your child or teenager has thoughts of suicide or sudden changes in mood or behavior, especially at the beginning of treatment or after a change in dose. Strattera is not approved for major depressive disorder.

Who should not take Strattera?

Strattera should not be taken if you or your child/teenager:

  • Are taking or have taken within the past 14 days an anti-depression medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or MAOI. You or your child/teenager should also not take an MAOI within 14 days of stopping Strattera. This is to avoid a life-threatening condition.
  • Have an eye problem called narrow angle glaucoma.
  • Are allergic to anything in Strattera.
  • Have or have had a rare tumor called pheochromocytoma.
  • Have serious heart-related problems that could be made worse from increases in heart rate or blood pressure.

What other important information should I know about Strattera?

Tell your doctor or your child/teenager’s doctor if you or your child/teenager has (or if there is a family history of) bipolar illness (manic-depressive illness) or suicidal thoughts or actions before starting Strattera. Call the doctor right away if you or your child/teenager develops new psychological symptoms such as abnormal thoughts/behaviors and/or extreme elevated or irritable moods while taking Strattera.

Strattera can cause liver injury in some patients. Call your doctor right away if you or your child/teenager has itching, right upper belly pain, dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, or unexplained flu-like symptoms.

Tell your doctor if you or your child/teenager has any heart problems, heart defects, high blood pressure, or a family history of these problems. Your doctor should check you or your child/teenager carefully for heart problems before starting Strattera. Call your doctor right away if you or your child/teenager has any signs of heart problems such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting while taking Strattera. Sudden death has been reported in patients who have heart problems or heart defects. There have also been reports of stroke, heart attack, and increased blood pressure and heart rate.

Serious allergic reactions have occurred in patients taking Strattera. Call your doctor if you or your child/teenager has trouble breathing, swelling, hives, or experience other allergic reactions.

Patients taking Strattera have experienced problems passing urine, including trouble starting or keeping a urine stream, and not being able to fully empty the bladder.

Erections that won’t go away (priapism) have occurred rarely during treatment with Strattera. If you or your child/teenager has an erection that lasts more than 4 hours, seek medical help right away.

Talk to your healthcare provider if your child experiences slowing of growth (height and weight). Children should have height and weight checked often while taking Strattera, and your healthcare provider may stop Strattera treatment if a problem is found during these checkups.

Strattera may affect your ability or your child/teenager’s ability to drive or operate heavy machinery. Be careful until you know how Strattera affects you or your child/teenager.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines that you or your child/teenager takes, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Strattera and some medicines may interact with each other and cause serious side effects. Your doctor will decide whether Strattera can be taken with other medicines.

What are the common possible side effects of Strattera?

The most common side effects in children and teenagers include upset stomach, decreased appetite, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, tiredness, and mood swings.

The most common side effects in adults include constipation, dry mouth, nausea, decreased appetite, dizziness, trouble sleeping, sexual side effects, menstrual cramps, and problems passing urine.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Strattera is available by prescription only.

For more safety information, please see the provided Full Prescribing Information, including boxed warning regarding suicidal thoughts and actions in children and teenagers, and Medication Guide.

AT Con ISI 18OCT2011

Indication

Strattera® (atomoxetine HCl) is indicated for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
in children aged 6 and older, teens, and adults.

Important Safety Information for Strattera

What is the most important information I should know about Strattera?

In some children and teens, Strattera increases the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. Results from Strattera clinical studies with over 2200 child or teenage ADHD patients suggest that some children and teenagers may have a higher chance of having suicidal thoughts or actions. Although no suicides occurred in these studies, 4 out of every 1000 patients developed suicidal thoughts. Call the doctor right away if your child or teenager has thoughts of suicide or sudden changes in mood or behavior, especially at the beginning of treatment or after a change in dose. Strattera is not approved for major depressive disorder.

Who should not take Strattera?

Strattera should not be taken if you or your child/teenager:

  • Are taking or have taken within the past 14 days an anti-depression medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or MAOI. You or your child/teenager should also not take an MAOI within 14 days of stopping Strattera. This is to avoid a life-threatening condition.
  • Have an eye problem called narrow angle glaucoma.
  • Are allergic to anything in Strattera.
  • Have or have had a rare tumor called pheochromocytoma.
  • Have serious heart-related problems that could be made worse from increases in heart rate or blood pressure.

What other important information should I know about Strattera?

Tell your doctor or your child/teenager’s doctor if you or your child/teenager has (or if there is a family history of) bipolar illness (manic-depressive illness) or suicidal thoughts or actions before starting Strattera. Call the doctor right away if you or your child/teenager develops new psychological symptoms such as abnormal thoughts/behaviors and/or extreme elevated or irritable moods while taking Strattera.

Strattera can cause liver injury in some patients. Call your doctor right away if you or your child/teenager has itching, right upper belly pain, dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, or unexplained flu-like symptoms.

Tell your doctor if you or your child/teenager has any heart problems, heart defects, high blood pressure, or a family history of these problems. Your doctor should check you or your child/teenager carefully for heart problems before starting Strattera. Call your doctor right away if you or your child/teenager has any signs of heart problems such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting while taking Strattera. Sudden death has been reported in patients who have heart problems or heart defects. There have also been reports of stroke, heart attack, and increased blood pressure and heart rate.

Serious allergic reactions have occurred in patients taking Strattera. Call your doctor if you or your child/teenager has trouble breathing, swelling, hives, or experience other allergic reactions.

Patients taking Strattera have experienced problems passing urine, including trouble starting or keeping a urine stream, and not being able to fully empty the bladder.

Erections that won’t go away (priapism) have occurred rarely during treatment with Strattera. If you or your child/teenager has an erection that lasts more than 4 hours, seek medical help right away.

Talk to your healthcare provider if your child experiences slowing of growth (height and weight). Children should have height and weight checked often while taking Strattera, and your healthcare provider may stop Strattera treatment if a problem is found during these checkups.

Strattera may affect your ability or your child/teenager’s ability to drive or operate heavy machinery. Be careful until you know how Strattera affects you or your child/teenager.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines that you or your child/teenager takes, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Strattera and some medicines may interact with each other and cause serious side effects. Your doctor will decide whether Strattera can be taken with other medicines.

What are the common possible side effects of Strattera?

The most common side effects in children and teenagers include upset stomach, decreased appetite, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, tiredness, and mood swings.

The most common side effects in adults include constipation, dry mouth, nausea, decreased appetite, dizziness, trouble sleeping, sexual side effects, menstrual cramps, and problems passing urine.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Strattera is available by prescription only.

For more safety information, please see the provided Full Prescribing Information, including boxed warning regarding suicidal thoughts and actions in children and teenagers, and Medication Guide.

AT Con ISI 18OCT2011