Strattera (generic name: atomoxetine; brand names include: Attentrol / Tomoxetin / Attentin / Axepta) belongs to a group of medicines called norepinephrine (noradrenaline) reuptake inhibitors.

Strattera is used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children 6 years and older, adolescents, and adults.

Strattera effectively treats symptoms of adult ADHD and can help:

Focus your attention
Listen more easily to what others are saying
Be less forgetful in daily activities
Concentrate and be less distracted
Better organize tasks and activities
Start and finish projects

Strattera works differently from the other ADHD medicines available. The advantage of Strattera over stimulants for the treatment of ADHD is that it has less abuse potential than stimulants, is not scheduled as a controlled substance and has proven in clinical trials to offer 24 hour coverage of symptoms associated with ADHD in adults and children.

Recommendations

Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. Take Strattera exactly as directed.

DOSAGE

Your doctor will tell you how much Strattera you need to take each day. Your doctor may increase or decrease your dose depending on your condition and any other illness that you may have.

For children and adolescents up to 70 kg body weight, the usual starting dose is approximately 0.5 mg/kg once a day.

After a minimum of 3 days, if necessary, the dose may be increased to approximately 1.2 mg/kg once daily in the morning or as evenly divided doses in the morning and late afternoon/early evening. After 2 to 4 additional weeks, if necessary, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 1.4 mg/kg once daily or 100 mg.

For children and adolescents greater than 70 kg body weight, the usual starting dose is 40 mg once a day.

After a minimum of 3 days, if necessary, the dose may be increased to approximately 80 mg once daily in the morning or as evenly divided doses in the morning and late afternoon/early evening. After 2 to 4 additional weeks, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 100 mg.

If therapy is interrupted for more than 1 week, treatment should be started at the lowest recommended dose.

HOW TO TAKE IT

Swallow the capsules whole with a full glass of water. Strattera can be taken with or without food. Strattera is usually taken one or two times a day (early morning and late afternoon/early evening).

Precautions

Tell your doctor before taking Strattera, if:

you are allergic to any medicines;
you have heart, thyroid, or adrenal problems; or you have glaucoma;
you are taking medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) for the treatment of depression;
you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Ingredients

Active ingredient: atomoxetine hydrochloride.