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Strattera; Drug Information
9/30/05 On September 30th, 2005, Eli Lilly Added Warnings to Strattera's label warning of the possibility that it could cause suicidal thoughts in certain patients:
Lilly Announces Important Strattera(R) Label Update … small but statistically significant increased risk of suicidal thoughts among Strattera-treated children and adolescents ... one case of a suicide attempt in a patient taking the medication … [ Lilly Press Release ]
Lilly to add suicide warning to drug Strattera … at the request of the Food and Drug Administration, it is adding a warning to the label of its attention-deficit drug Stattera advising it may trigger suicidal thoughts in some children and adolescents.… [ CBS MarketWatch; Val Brickates Kennedy; Free Registration Req. Takes about 2 seconds to register ]
Strattera Resources On The Internet:
Prescribing Information: Also called the " Package Insert", this is the official labeling of Strattera that contains side effects, description of how Strattera works, dosing guidelines, drug interactions etc. This is what the doctor goes by when she prescribes Strattera.
Centerwatch Monograph : provided by the FDA; thumbnail sketch of Strattera scientific information.
Mosby Monograph: Similar to the Package Insert, but has other scientific information. The Mosby Monograph is often used by clinical pharmacists and drug information (and poison control) specialists.
Official Website: Strattera.com; provided by Eli Lilly; lots of patient information; also information for healthcare professionals.
Price Comparison: Use this page to comparison shop for Straattera. You should be able to save money compared to what you pay at the drugstore.
Medline Search: This is an automated search of the scientific literature regarding Strattera; it is updated frequently and is very scientific. It is geared towards pharmacists, doctors, medical researchers and other scientists.
Straterra (atomoxetine) is a norepinephrine uptake inhibitor used to treat ADHD. It is approved for use in kids and adults; Strattera increases norepinephrine and dopamine in the frontal cortex of the brain. Strattera can be taken once-per-day but is sometimes given twice-per-day.
Strattera Mechanism Of Action; How does Strattera work?
Strattera is a member of a family of drugs known as "selective norepinephrine reuptake" inhibitors.
Believe it or not, doctors and scientists are not 100% sure of how Strattera works.
What is known is that Strattera causes an increase in the brain of levels of a hormone known as "norepinephrine". Norepinephrine is very similar to its cousin adrenaline. (All of us are familiar with adrenaline). Strattera is also known to indirectly elevate brain levels of dopamine.
These minutely increased levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain are associated with alterations of mood and behavior and improvement of ADHD symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsive behavior or difficulty beginning and finishing a task.
When Strattera should be used:
Before your child (or you) can be diagnosed with ADHD, the patient must have had persistent, severe symptoms that significantly interfere with his ability to do daily activities.
These symptoms must be present for at least 6 months. These symptoms must be present in two settings such as in school (or work) and at home.
Strattera Dosing:
Strattera is available as capsules in 10mg, 18mg, 25mg, 40mg and 60mg strengths.
Your doctor will start the patient on a low dose of Strattera and build up the dose gradually to minimize side effects.
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