Nonstimulant ADHD Drugs: Uses, Types, Side Effects, and More

These were specifically created to treat the disorder and are FDA-approved for that. Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking this medicine, or whenever the dose is changed. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Do not use Strattera if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.

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Extended-release pills last six to 12 hours — enough to cover the school day. Use of this website neither creates a physician-patient relationship with us nor creates any duty for us to provide medical services. Kenneth S. Fill is a clinical pharmacist specialist who helps people manage chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Reviewer specialties include internal medicine, gastroenterology, oncology, orthopedic surgery and psychiatry. Tricyclics have the potential to cause certain heart defects, too. You may need ECG tests at a doctor’s office to look for these problems.

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Atomoxetine has a warning on it that it may, in a very small number of cases, have some potential for causing suicidal thoughts in the first few weeks of treatment. Atomoxetine may be helpful in the treatment of children who have both ADHD and anxiety, since stimulants may worsen anxiety symptoms. Side effects are generally mild but can include decreased appetite, upset stomach, nausea or vomiting, tiredness, problems sleeping, and dizziness. Jaundice (turning yellow) is mentioned in a warning on the medication, but is extremely rare. Taking atomoxetine with food can help avoid nausea and stomachaches.

ADHD Medications: Comparison Chart of Stimulants & Non-Stimulants

If blood tests show evidence of liver damage, the drug should also be stopped. It’s worth noting that Guanfacine for kids is another non-stimulant option that might be considered, especially for children with predominantly hyperactive/impulsive ADHD presentations. When considering Strattera against other non-stimulant options like Intuniv or Tenex, each medication has its unique profile.

• This is a key benefit for parents of children with ADHD to consider.
• In these cases, nonstimulants may be prescribed either alone or alongside another medication.
• Strattera can be taken once daily, usually in the morning, or divided into two doses (morning and late afternoon/early evening).
• Keep people safe from potentially harmful drugs, medical devices and procedures by informing them of medical conditions, severe side effects and ways to take action.
• Atomoxetine is available in 10 mg, 18 mg, 25 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg, and 100 mg capsules as a hydrochloride salt.
• Take the medicine at the same time each day, with a full glass of water.
• Improves attention and reduces impulsivity and hyperactivity in 70 to 80 percent of patients.

Strattera may create new or exacerbate existing behavior problems, bipolar disorder, or suicidal ideation. It can cause psychotic or manic symptoms in children and teenagers. Atomoxetine (Strattera) is a non-stimulant approved by the FDA for the treatment of ADHD. It is in the class of medications known as selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.

• The time-release formulation is designed to maintain a steady level of medication in your body throughout the day.
• Keep in mind that you or your child may need a combination of medication, skills training, and behavioral therapies for the most effective ADHD treatment.
• Generally, this is the first line of drug treatment for children with ADHD and ADD.
• Non-stimulant medications like Strattera are approved by the FDA to treat ADHD symptoms.
• This medicine takes time to build up in your brain, and the effects tend to linger even if you stop the medicine or skip doses.

Benefits and Potential Side Effects of Strattera

Nonstimulant medications may take longer than stimulant drugs to have an effect on managing ADHD symptoms. In addition to therapy and counseling, medications are a generally safe and effective treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). If an individual needs ADHD medication only occasionally, for example, to improve focus and attention for a short period, taking Strattera may not be the best option. In this case, stimulant medications may be the better ADHD treatment.

Drugwatch.com’s trusted legal partners support the organization’s mission to keep people safe from dangerous drugs and medical devices. strattera non stimulant You may take Strattera with or without food, and you swallow whole capsules. Your doctor may recommend that you take the medication in two doses – one in the morning and one in the evening.

These medications include a variety of norepinephrine- and dopamine-enhancing drugs. Some of these are designed specifically for ADHD, while others are off-label medications. This non-stimulant medication also has some anti-depressive effects. Therefore, it may be a better choice for people with symptoms of ADHD as well as depression.

However, these drugs can cause unpleasant and sometimes intolerable side effects, such as weight gain, blurred vision, upset stomach, drowsiness, dizziness, and low blood pressure. Report to your doctor any heart-related problems or a family history of heart and blood pressure problems. Patients with structural cardiac abnormalities and other serious heart problems have experienced sudden death, stroke, heart attack, and increased blood pressure while taking Strattera.