Atomoxetine prescription

Atomoxetine

Generic Name: atomoxetine (ah toe MOX eh teen)
Brand Names: Strattera

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

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Atomoxetine may increase thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts in children and teens. Call your child's healthcare professional right away if your child or teen has:

new or increased thoughts of suicide;

changes in mood or behavior including becoming irritable or anxious.

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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Atomoxetine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.

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Atomoxetine can cause liver damage in rare cases. Call your doctor right away if you have itching, dark urine, yellow skin/ eyes, upper right-sided abdominal tenderness, or unexplained "flu-like" symptoms.

What is atomoxetine?

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Atomoxetine affects chemicals in the brain.

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Atomoxetine is used to treat attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

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Atomoxetine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking atomoxetine?

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Atomoxetine may increase thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts in children and teens. Call your child's healthcare professional right away if your child or teen has:

new or increased thoughts of suicide;

changes in mood or behavior including becoming irritable or anxious.

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Do not take atomoxetine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days.

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Do not take atomoxetine without first talking to your doctor if you have

glaucoma;

high blood pressure, heart disease, an irregular heart beat, or cerebrovascular disease (history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA or "ministroke"); or

low blood pressure;

liver problems;

urinary retention or urinary hesitancy.

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You may not be able to take atomoxetine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

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Atomoxetine is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether atomoxetine will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take atomoxetine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

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It is not known whether atomoxetine passes into breast milk. Do not take atomoxetine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take atomoxetine?

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Take atomoxetine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

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Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.

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Atomoxetine can be taken with or without food.

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It is important to take atomoxetine regularly to get the most benefit.

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Your doctor may want to monitor your blood pressure during treatment with atomoxetine.

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Store atomoxetine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember during the same day. If you do not remember until the next day, skip the missed dose and take only the doses scheduled for that day. Do not take more than the prescribed total daily amount of atomoxetine in any 24-hour period.

What happens if I overdose?

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Seek emergency medical attention.

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Symptoms of an atomoxetine overdose may include sleepiness, drowsiness, agitation, hyperactivity, abnormal behavior, gastrointestinal symptoms, blurred vision, fast heartbeat and dry mouth.

What should I avoid while taking atomoxetine?

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What are the possible side effects of atomoxetine?

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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking atomoxetine and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

irregular or fast heartbeats;

chest pain or high blood pressure (blurred vision or severe headache); or

difficult urination.

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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take atomoxetine and talk to your doctor if you experience

upset stomach, nausea, or vomiting;

decreased appetite;

constipation;

dry mouth;

insomnia;

decreased libido or sexual side effects;

menstrual cycle changes;

hot flushes or sweating;

fatigue;

dizziness; or

irritability or mood swings.

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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect atomoxetine?

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Do not take atomoxetine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days.

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Before taking atomoxetine, tell your doctor if you are taking

a depression medication including fluoxetine (Prozac) or paroxetine (Paxil);

albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin); or

quinidine (Cardioquin, Dura-tabs, others).

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You may not be able to take atomoxetine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.

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Many other medications may interact with atomoxetine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products, during treatment with atomoxetine.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist has additional information about atomoxetine written for health professionals that you may read.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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