Do you have a patient suffering from medication side effects? Do you have patients that are ready to get off their medications? A step-by-step method is now available. Insomnia, anxiety, head symptoms are the common withdrawal side effects from psychoactive drugs which stops most people from being able to completely get off their medication. Those symptoms no longer need to get in the way of a successful taper.
Deciding how fast to titrate off a medication can be a confusing decision. Which medication to taper first needs to based on drug/drug interactions associated with the CYP enzymes. Did you know, if you taper a patient off the antidepressant first, while they concurrently take a benzodiazepine, the patient will go into withdrawal on the benzodiazepine as well? Click here for the method used by physicians worldwide to taper patients off psychoactive medications.
Review by Dr. Hyla Cass M.D. Psychiatrist "Here
is an essential handbook on how to safely and more easily wean
yourself (under medical supervision) off the heavily over-prescribed
psychotropic medications. I have used the program with my patients
and it works!” Hyla Cass M.D. Author of Supplement Your Prescription

Strattera withdrawal Flushing - The skin all over the body turns red.
Strattera withdrawal Varicose Vein - Unusually swollen veins near the surface of the skin that sometimes appear twisted and knotted, but always enlarged. They are called hemorrhoids when they appear around the rectum. The cause is attributed to hereditary weakness in the veins aggravated by obesity, pregnancy, pressure from standing, aging, etc. Severe cases may develop swelling in the legs, ankles and feet, eczema and/or ulcers in the affected areas.
Strattera withdrawal Abdominal Cramp/Pain - Sudden, severe, uncontrollable and painful shortening and thickening of the muscles in the belly. The belly includes the stomach as well as the intestines, liver, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, gall bladder, and urinary bladder.
Strattera withdrawal Belching - Noisy release of gas from the stomach through the mouth; a burp.
Strattera withdrawal Bloating - Swelling of the belly caused by excessive intestinal gas.
Strattera withdrawal Constipation - Difficulty in having a bowel movement where the material in the bowels is hard due to a lack of exercise, fluid intake, and roughage in the diet, or due to certain drugs.
Strattera withdrawal Diarrhea - Unusually frequent and excessive, runny bowel movements that may result in severe dehydration and shock.
Strattera withdrawal Dyspepsia - Indigestion. This is the discomfort you experience after eating. It can be heartburn, gas, nausea, a bellyache or bloating.
Strattera withdrawal Flatulence - More gas than normal in the digestive organs.
Strattera withdrawal Gagging - Involuntary choking and/or involuntary throwing up.
Strattera withdrawal Gastritis - A severe irritation of the mucus lining of the stomach either short in duration or lasting for a long period of time.
Strattera withdrawal Gastroenteritis - A condition where the membranes of the stomach and intestines are irritated.
Strattera withdrawal Gastroesophageal Reflux - A continuous state where stomach juices flow back into the throat causing acid indigestion and heartburn and possibly injury to the throat.
Strattera withdrawal Heartburn - A burning pain in the area of the breastbone caused by stomach juices flowing back up into the throat.
Strattera withdrawal Hemorrhoids - Small rounded purplish swollen veins that either bleed, itch or are painful and appear around the anus.
Strattera withdrawal Increased Stool frequency - Diarrhea.
Strattera withdrawal Indigestion - Unable to properly consume and absorb food in the digestive tract causing constipation, nausea, stomach ache, gas, swollen belly, pain and general discomfort or sickness.
Strattera withdrawal Nausea - Stomach irritation with a queasy sensation similar to motion sickness and a feeling that one is going to vomit.
Strattera withdrawal Polyposis Gastric - Tumors that grow on stems in the lining of the stomach, which usually become cancerous.
Strattera withdrawal Swallowing Difficulty - A feeling that food is stuck in the throat or upper chest area and won’t go down, making it difficult to swallow.
Strattera withdrawal Toothache - Pain in a tooth above and below the gum line.
Strattera withdrawal Vomiting - Involuntarily throwing up the contents of the stomach and usually getting a nauseated, sick feeling just prior to doing so.
Strattera withdrawal Back Discomfort - Severe physical distress in the area from the neck to the pelvis along the backbone.
Strattera withdrawal Bilirubin Increased - Bilirubin is a waste product of the breakdown of old blood cells. Bilirubin is sent to the liver to be made water-soluble so it can be eliminated from the body through emptying the bladder. A drug can interfere with or damage this normal liver function creating liver disease.
Strattera withdrawal Decreased Weight - Uncontrolled and measured loss of heaviness or weight.
Strattera withdrawal Gout - A severe arthritis condition that is caused by the dumping of a waste product called uric acid in the tissues and joints. It can become worse and cause the body to develop a deformity after going through stages of pain, inflammation, severe tenderness, and stiffness.
Strattera withdrawal Hepatic Enzymes Increased - An increase in the amount of paired liver proteins that regulate liver processes causing a condition where the liver functions abnormally.
Strattera withdrawal Hypercholesterolemia - Too much cholesterol in the blood cells.
Strattera withdrawal Hyperglycemia - An unhealthy amount of sugar in the blood.
Strattera withdrawal Increased Weight - A concentration and storage of fat in the body accumulating over a period of time caused by unhealthy eating patterns, that can predispose the body to many disorders and diseases.
Strattera withdrawal Jaw Pain - The pain due to irritation and swelling of the nerves associated with the mouth area where it opens and closes just in front of the ear. Some of the symptoms are pain when chewing, head aches, losing your balance, stuffy ears or ringing in the ears, and teeth grinding.
Strattera withdrawal Jaw Stiffness - The result of squeezing and grinding the teeth while asleep that can cause your teeth to deteriorate as well as the muscles and joints of the jaw.
Strattera withdrawal Joint Stiffness - A loss of free motion and easy flexibility where any two bones come together.
Strattera withdrawal Muscle Cramp - When muscles contract uncontrollably without warning and do not relax. The muscles of any of the body’s organs can cramp.
Strattera withdrawal Muscle Stiffness - Tightening of muscles making it difficult to bend.
Strattera withdrawal Muscle Weakness - Loss of physical strength.
Strattera withdrawal Myalgia - A general widespread pain and tenderness of the muscles.
Strattera withdrawal Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - A pinched nerve in the wrist that causes pain, tingling, and numbing.
Strattera withdrawal Coordination Abnormal - A lack of normal, harmonious interaction of the parts of the body when it is in motion.
Strattera withdrawal Dizziness - Losing one’s balance while feeling unsteady and lightheaded which may lead to fainting.
Strattera withdrawal Disequilibrium - Lack of mental and emotional balance.
Strattera withdrawal Faintness - A temporary condition where one is likely to go unconscious and fall.
Strattera withdrawal Headache - A sharp or dull persistent pain in the head
Strattera withdrawal Hyperreflexia - A not normal and involuntary increased response in the tissues connecting the bones to the muscles.
Strattera withdrawal Light-headed Feeling – Uncontrolled and usually brief loss of consciousness caused by lack of oxygen to the brain.
Strattera withdrawal Migraine - Reoccurring severe head pain usually with nausea, vomiting, dizziness, flashes or spots before the eyes, and ringing in the ears
Strattera withdrawal Muscle Contractions Involuntary - Spontaneous and uncontrollable tightening reaction of the muscles caused by electrical impulses from the nervous system.
Strattera withdrawal Muscular Tone Increased - Uncontrolled and exaggeration muscle tension. Muscles are normally partially tensed and this is what gives us muscle tone.
Strattera withdrawal Paresthesia - Burning, prickly, itchy, or tingling skin with no obvious or understood physical cause.
Strattera withdrawal Restless Legs - A need to move the legs without any apparent reason. Sometimes there is pain, twitching, jerking, cramping, burning, or a creepy-crawly sensation associated with the movements. It worsens when a person is inactive and can interrupt one’s sleep so one feels the need to move to gain some relief.
Strattera withdrawal Shaking - Uncontrolled quivering and trembling as if one is cold and chilled.
Strattera withdrawal Sluggishness - Lack of alertness and energy, as well as being slow to respond or perform in life.
Strattera withdrawal Tics - A contraction of a muscle causing a repeated movement not under the control of the person usually on the face or limbs.
Strattera withdrawal Tremor - A nervous and involuntary vibrating or quivering of the body.
Strattera withdrawal Twitching - Sharp, jerky and spastic motion sometimes with a sharp sudden pain.
Strattera withdrawal Vertigo - A sensation of dizziness with disorientation and confusion.
Strattera withdrawal Aggravated Nervousness - A progressively worsening, irritated and troubled state of mind.
Strattera withdrawal Agitation - Suddenly violent and forceful, emotionally disturbed state of mind.
Strattera withdrawal Amnesia - Long term or short term, partial or full memory loss created by emotional or physical shock, severe illness, or a blow to the head where the person was caused pain and became unconsciousness.
Strattera withdrawal Anxiety Attack - Sudden and intense feelings of fear, terror, and dread physically creating shortness of breath, sweating, trembling and heart palpitations.
Strattera withdrawal Apathy - Complete lack of concern or interest for things that ordinarily would be regarded as important or would normally cause concern.
Strattera withdrawal Appetite Decreased - Having a lack of appetite despite the ordinary caloric demands of living with a resulting unintentional loss of weight.
Strattera withdrawal Appetite Increased - An unusual hunger causing one to overeat.
Strattera withdrawal Auditory Hallucination - Hearing things without the voices or noises being present.
Strattera withdrawal Bruxism - Grinding and clenching of teeth while sleeping.
Strattera withdrawal Carbohydrate Craving - A drive and craving to eat foods rich in sugar and starches (sweets, snacks and junk foods) that intensifies as the diet becomes more and more unbalanced due to the unbalancing of the proper nutritional requirements of the body.
Strattera withdrawal Concentration Impaired - Unable to easily focus your attention for long periods of time.
Strattera withdrawal Confusion - Not able to think clearly and understand in order to make a logical decision.
Strattera withdrawal Crying Abnormal - Unusual and not normal fits of weeping for short or long periods of time for no apparent reason.
Strattera withdrawal Depersonalization - A condition where one has lost a normal sense of personal identity.
Strattera withdrawal Depression - A hopeless feeling of failure, loss and sadness that can deteriorate into thoughts of death.
Strattera withdrawal Disorientation - A loss of sense of direction, place, time or surroundings as well as mental confusion on personal identity.
Strattera withdrawal Dreaming Abnormal - Dreaming that leaves a very clear, detailed picture and impression when awake that can last for a long period of time and sometimes be unpleasant.
Strattera withdrawal Emotional Lability - Suddenly breaking out in laughter or crying or doing both without being able to control the outburst of emotion. These episodes are unstable as they are caused by things that normally would not have this effect on an individual.
Strattera withdrawal Excitability - Uncontrollably responding to stimuli.
Strattera withdrawal Feeling Unreal - The awareness that one has an undesirable emotion like fear but can’t seem to shake off the irrational feeling. For example, feeling like one is going crazy but rationally knowing that it is not true. The quality of this side effect resembles being in a bad dream and not being able to wake up.
Strattera withdrawal Forgetfulness - Unable to remember what one ordinarily would remember.
Strattera withdrawal Insomnia - Sleeplessness caused by physical stress, mental stress or stimulants such as coffee or medications; it is a condition of being abnormally awake when one would ordinarily be able to fall and remain asleep.
Strattera withdrawal Irritability - Abnormally annoyed in response to a stimulus.
Strattera withdrawal Jitteriness - Nervous fidgeting without an apparent cause.
Strattera withdrawal Lethargy - Mental and physical sluggishness and apathy that can deteriorate into an unconscious state resembling deep sleep. A numbed state of mind.
Strattera withdrawal Libido Decreased - An abnormal loss of sexual energy or desire.
Strattera withdrawal Panic Reaction - A sudden, overpowering, chaotic and confused mental state of terror resulting in being doubt ridden often accompanied with hyperventilation, and extreme anxiety.
Strattera withdrawal Restlessness Aggravated - A constantly worsening troubled state of mind characterized by the person being increasingly nervous, unable to relax, and easily angered.
Strattera withdrawal Somnolence - Feeling sleepy all the time or having a condition of semi-consciousness.
Strattera withdrawal Suicide Attempt - An unsuccessful deliberate attack on one’s own life with the intention of ending it.
Strattera withdrawal Suicidal Tendency - Most likely will attempt to kill oneself.
Strattera withdrawal Tremulousness Nervous - Very jumpy, shaky, and uneasy while feeling fearful and timid. The condition is characterized by thoughts of dreading the future, involuntary quivering, trembling, and feeling distressed and suddenly upset.
Strattera withdrawal Yawning - involuntary opening of the mouth with deep inhalation of air.
Strattera withdrawal Neck/Shoulder Pain - Hurtful sensations of the nerve endings caused by damage to the tissues in the neck and shoulder signaling danger of disease.
Strattera withdrawal Alopecia - The loss of hair or baldness.
Strattera withdrawal Dry Skin - The lack of normal moisture/oils in the surface layer of the body. The skin is the body’s largest organ.
Strattera withdrawal Folliculitis - Inflammation of a follicle (small body sac) especially a hair follicle. A hair follicle contains the root of a hair.
Strattera withdrawal Furunculosis - Skin boils that show up repeatedly.
Strattera withdrawal Lipoma - A tumor of mostly fat cells that is not health endangering.
Strattera withdrawal Pruritus - Extreme itching of often-undamaged skin.
Strattera withdrawal Rash - A skin eruption or discoloration that may or may not be itching, tingling, burning, or painful. It may be caused by an allergy, an skin irritation, a skin disease.
Strattera withdrawal Skin Nodule - A bulge, knob, swelling or outgrowth in the skin that is a mass of tissue or cells.
Strattera withdrawal SPECIAL SENSES
Strattera withdrawal Conjunctivitis - Infection of the membrane that covers the eyeball and lines the eyelid, caused by a virus, allergic reaction, or an irritating chemical. It is characterized by redness, a discharge of fluid and itching.
Strattera withdrawal Dry Eyes - Not enough moisture in the eyes.
Strattera withdrawal Earache - Pain in the ear.
Strattera withdrawal Eye Infection - The invasion of the eye tissue by a bacteria, virus, fungus, etc, causing damage to the tissue, with toxicity. Infection spreading in the body progresses into disease.
Strattera withdrawal Eye Irritation - An inflammation of the eye.
Strattera withdrawal Metallic Taste - A range of taste impairment from distorted taste to a complete loss of taste.
Strattera withdrawal Pupils Dilated - Abnormal expansion of the blace circular opening in the center of the eye.
Strattera withdrawal Taste alteration - Abnormal flavor detection in food.
Strattera withdrawal Tinnitus - A buzzing, ringing, or whistling sound in one or both ears occurring from the internal use of certain drugs.
Strattera withdrawal Vision Abnormal - Normal images are seen differently by the viewer.
Strattera withdrawal Vision Blurred - Eyesight is dim or indistinct and hazy in outline or appearance.
Strattera withdrawal Visual Disturbance - Eyesight is interfered with or interrupted. Some disturbances are light sensitivity and the inability to easily distinguish colors.
Strattera withdrawal
Acute Renal
Failure - The kidneys
stop functioning properly to excrete wastes.
Strattera withdrawal Angioedema - Intensely itching and swelling welts on the skin called hives caused by an allergic reaction to internal or external agents. The reaction is common to a food or a drug. Chronic cases can last for a long period of time.
Strattera withdrawal Grand Mal Seizures (or Convulsions) - A recurring sudden violent and involuntary attack of muscle spasms with a loss of consciousness.
Strattera withdrawal Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome - A life threatening, rare reaction to an anti-psychotic drug marked by fever, muscular rigidity, changed mental status, and dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.
Strattera withdrawal Pancreatitis - Chemical irritation with redness, swelling, and pain in the pancreas where digestive enzymes and hormones are secreted.
Strattera withdrawal QT Prolongation - A very fast heart rhythm disturbance that is too fast for the heart to beat effectively so the blood to the brain falls causing a sudden loss of consciousness and may cause sudden cardiac death.
Strattera withdrawal Rhabdomyolysis - The breakdown of muscle fibers that releases the fibers into the circulatory system. Some of the fibers are poisonous to the kidney and frequently result in kidney damage.
Strattera withdrawal Serotonin Syndrome - A disorder brought on by excessive levels of serotonin caused by drugs and can be fatal as death from this side effect can come very rapidly.
Strattera withdrawal Thrombocytopenia - An abnormal decrease in the number of blood platelets in the circulatory system. A decrease in platelets would cause a decrease in the ability of the blood to clot when necessary.
Strattera withdrawal Torsades de Pointes - Unusual rapid heart rhythm starting in the lower heart chambers. If the short bursts of rapid heart rhythm continue for a prolonged period it can degenerate into a more rapid rhythm and can be fatal.
Strattera withdrawal. How to avoid Strattera withdrawal side effects click here
FDA Talk Paper
T04-60
December 17, 2004 Media Inquiries: 301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
New Warning for Strattera
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising
health care professionals about a new warning for Strattera, a drug approved for
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and children. The
labeling is being updated with a bolded warning about the potential for severe
liver injury following two reports (a teenager and an adult) in patients who had
been treated with Strattera for several months, both of whom recovered.
The labeling warns that severe liver injury may progress to liver failure resulting in death or the need for a liver transplant in a small percentage of patients. The labeling also notes that the number of actual cases of severe liver injury is unknown because of under-reporting of post-marketing adverse events.
The bolded warning indicates that the medication should be discontinued in patients who developed jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes) or laboratory evidence of liver injury.
Strattera has been on the market since 2002 and has been used in more than 2 million patients. In clinical trials of 6000 patients, no signal for liver problems (hepatotoxicity) had emerged.
FDA has asked the manufacturer to add a bolded warning about severe liver injury to the labeling. Eli Lilly has agreed to alert health care professionals about the new information in a Dear Health Professional letter. The company will also update the patient package insert with information about the signs and symptoms of liver problems, which include:
Health care professionals are encouraged to report any unexpected adverse events associated with Strattera directly to Eli Lilly, Indianapolis, Ind., at 1800-LillyRx or to the FDA MedWatch program at 1800-FDA-1088. The MedWatch form is available online at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/3500.pdf for download by mail (or fax, 1800-FDA-0178) to MedWatch, HFD-410, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Md. 20857.
Strattera is really an antidepressant that Eli Lilly could not find a market for in the early 1990's. Eli Lilly sat on the drug until they came up with the idea of using it for ADHD. If you are giving Strattera to your child or thinking about doing so, know you are really giving them an antidepressant and all caution should be taken.
Before allowing your child to take Strattera, please read down this page and pay special note to the bold text. We know most parents would not give their child medication if they knew it would cause more harm than good. We also understand the need for a parent to receive verifiable information that is also reliable.
The Strattera information below is from the Physicians' Desk Reference, supplied by Eli Lilly. Their report, not ours. We are only evaluating their data.
At issue with Strattera as well as with the class of antidepressants called SSRIs, is the metabolism and side effects.
Eli Lilly Employees - It is time for you to come clean like many of the FDA scientist have done over the past month. Children are the future of our civilization and you are killing them. You can send me an e-mail that will be held in confidence if you wish. Click here
STRATTERA™ (Lilly)
(atomoxetine HCl)
STRATTERA™ (atomoxetine HCl) is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Atomoxetine HCl is the R (-) isomer as determined by x-ray diffraction. The chemical designation is (-)- N -methyl-3-phenyl-3-( o -tolyloxy)-propylamine hydrochloride. The molecular formula is C 17 H 21 NO•HCl, which corresponds to a molecular weight of 291.82.
The precise mechanism by which atomoxetine produces its therapeutic effects in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is unknown, but is thought to be related to selective inhibition of the pre-synaptic norepinephrine transporter, as determined in ex vivo uptake and neurotransmitter depletion studies. (Editors note - Eli Lilly admits upfront this is guess work)
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Atomoxetine is well-absorbed after oral administration and is minimally affected by food. It is eliminated primarily by oxidative metabolism through the cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) enzymatic pathway and subsequent glucuronidation. Atomoxetine has a half-life of about 5 hours. A fraction of the population (about 7% of Caucasians and 2% of African Americans) are poor metabolizers (PMs) of CYP2D6 metabolized drugs. These individuals have reduced activity in this pathway resulting in 10-fold higher AUCs, 5-fold higher peak plasma concentrations, and slower elimination (plasma half-life of about 24 hours) of atomoxetine compared with people with normal activity [extensive metabolizers (EMs)]. Drugs that inhibit CYP2D6, such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, and quinidine, cause similar increases in exposure. (Editors note - If your child is a poor metabolizer, the half life or how long the drug stays in the system is 10 fold that of normal metabolizer plus the peak concentration of Strattera is 5 fold higher)
The pharmacokinetics of atomoxetine have been evaluated in more than 400 children and adolescents in selected clinical trials, primarily using population pharmacokinetic studies. Single-dose and steady-state individual pharmacokinetic data were also obtained in children, adolescents, and adults. When doses were normalized to a mg/kg basis, similar half-life, C max , and AUC values were observed in children, adolescents, and adults. Clearance and volume of distribution after adjustment for body weight were also similar.
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Absorption and Distribution --Atomoxetine is rapidly absorbed after oral administration, with absolute bioavailability of about 63% in EMs and 94% in PMs. Maximal plasma concentrations (C max ) are reached approximately 1 to 2 hours after dosing.
Metabolism and Elimination --Atomoxetine is metabolized primarily through the CYP2D6 enzymatic pathway. People with reduced activity in this pathway (PMs) have higher plasma concentrations of atomoxetine compared with people with normal activity (EMs). For PMs, AUC of atomoxetine is approximately 10-fold and C ss,max is about 5-fold greater than EMs. Laboratory tests are available to identify CYP2D6 PMs. Coadministration of STRATTERA with potent inhibitors of CYP2D6, such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, or quinidine, results in a substantial increase in atomoxetine plasma exposure, and dosing adjustment may be necessary. Atomoxetine did not inhibit or induce the CYP2D6 pathway. (Editors note - Eli Lilly finally is admitting there is a test that can determine this)
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The major oxidative metabolite formed, regardless of CYP2D6 status, is 4-hydroxyatomoxetine, which is glucuronidated. 4-Hydroxyatomoxetine is equipotent to atomoxetine as an inhibitor of the norepinephrine transporter but circulates in plasma at much lower concentrations (1% of atomoxetine concentration in EMs and 0.1% of atomoxetine concentration in PMs). 4-Hydroxyatomoxetine is primarily formed by CYP2D6, but in PMs, 4-hydroxyatomoxetine is formed at a slower rate by several other cytochrome P450 enzymes. N-Desmethylatomoxetine is formed by CYP2C19 and other cytochrome P450 enzymes, but has substantially less pharmacological activity compared with atomoxetine and circulates in plasma at lower concentrations (5% of atomoxetine concentration in EMs and 45% of atomoxetine concentration in PMs).
Mean apparent plasma clearance of atomoxetine after oral administration in adult EMs is 0.35 L/hr/kg and the mean half-life is 5.2 hours. Following oral administration of atomoxetine to PMs, mean apparent plasma clearance is 0.03 L/hr/kg and mean half-life is 21.6 hours. For PMs, AUC of atomoxetine is approximately 10-fold and C ss,max is about 5-fold greater than EMs. The elimination half-life of 4-hydroxyatomoxetine is similar to that of N-desmethylatomoxetine (6 to 8 hours) in EM subjects, while the half-life of N-desmethylatomoxetine is much longer in PM subjects (34 to 40 hours). (Editors note - The difference here in half life for poor metabolizer is 34-40 hours vs. 6-8 hours. We are talking days difference. If you are still taking Strattera on top of this, imagine what is happening inside the body)
Back to top of page Metabolism Test
Atomoxetine is excreted primarily as 4-hydroxyatomoxetine- O -glucuronide, mainly in the urine (greater than 80% of the dose) and to a lesser extent in the feces (less than 17% of the dose). Only a small fraction of the STRATTERA dose is excreted as unchanged atomoxetine (less than 3% of the dose), indicating extensive biotransformation.
CYP2D6 activity and atomoxetine plasma concentration --Atomoxetine is primarily metabolized by the CYP2D6 pathway to 4-hydroxyatomoxetine. In EMs, inhibitors of CYP2D6 increase atomoxetine steady-state plasma concentrations to exposures similar to those observed in PMs. Dosage adjustment of STRATTERA in EMs may be necessary when coadministered with CYP2D6 inhibitors, e.g., paroxetine, fluoxetine, and quinidine. In vitro studies suggest that coadministration of cytochrome P450 inhibitors to PMs will not increase the plasma concentrations of atomoxetine.
Effect of atomoxetine on P450 enzymes --Atomoxetine did not cause clinically important inhibition or induction of cytochrome P450 enzymes, including CYP1A2, CYP3A, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9.
Albuterol --Albuterol (600 mcg iv over 2 hours) induced increases in heart rate and blood pressure. These effects were potentiated by atomoxetine (60 mg BID for 5 days) and were most marked after the initial coadministration of albuterol and atomoxetine.
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Alcohol --Consumption of ethanol with STRATTERA did not change the intoxicating effects of ethanol.
Desipramine --Coadministration of STRATTERA (40 or 60 mg BID for 13 days) with desipramine, a model compound for CYP2D6 metabolized drugs (single dose of 50 mg), did not alter the pharmacokinetics of desipramine. No dose adjustment is recommended for drugs metabolized by CYP2D6.
Methylphenidate --Coadministration of methylphenidate with STRATTERA did not increase cardiovascular effects beyond those seen with methylphenidate alone.
Midazolam --Coadministration of STRATTERA (60 mg BID for 12 days) with midazolam, a model compound for CYP3A4 metabolized drugs, (single dose of 5 mg), resulted in 15% increase in AUC of midazolam. No dose adjustment is recommended for drugs metabolized by CYP3A.
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Precautions
In pediatric placebo-controlled trials, STRATTERA-treated subjects experienced a mean increase in heart rate of about 6 beats/minute compared with placebo subjects. At the final study visit before drug discontinuation, 3.6% (12/335) of STRATTERA-treated subjects had heart rate increases of at least 25 beats/minute and a heart rate of at least 110 beats/minute, compared with 0.5% (1/204) of placebo subjects. No pediatric subject had a heart rate increase of at least 25 beats/minute and a heart rate of at least 110 beats/minute on more than one occasion. Tachycardia was identified as an adverse event for 1.5% (5/340) of these pediatric subjects compared with 0.5% (1/207) of placebo subjects. The mean heart rate increase in extensive metabolizer (EM) patients was 6.7 beats/minute, and in poor metabolizer (PM) patients 10.4 beats/minute.
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Routine laboratory tests are not required.
CYP2D6 metabolism --Poor metabolizers (PMs) of CYP2D6 have a 10-fold higher AUC and a 5-fold higher peak concentration to a given dose of STRATTERA compared with extensive metabolizers (EMs). Approximately 7% of a Caucasian population are PMs. Laboratory tests are available to identify CYP2D6 PMs. The blood levels in PMs are similar to those attained by taking strong inhibitors of CYP2D6. The higher blood levels in PMs lead to a higher rate of some adverse effects of STRATTERA. (Eli Lilly admits a higher rate of adverse reaction if you are a poor metabolizer)
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CYP2D6 inhibitors --Atomoxetine is primarily metabolized by the CYP2D6 pathway to 4-hydroxyatomoxetine. In EMs, selective inhibitors of CYP2D6 increase atomoxetine steady-state plasma concentrations to exposures similar to those observed in PMs. Dosage adjustment of STRATTERA may be necessary when coadministered with CYP2D6 inhibitors, e.g., paroxetine, fluoxetine, and quinidine. In EM individuals treated with paroxetine or fluoxetine, the AUC of atomoxetine is approximately 6- to 8-fold and C ss,max is about 3- to 4-fold greater than atomoxetine alone.
Reasons for discontinuation of treatment due to adverse events in child and adolescent clinical trials --In acute child and adolescent placebo-controlled trials, 3.5% (15/427) of atomoxetine subjects and 1.4% (4/294) placebo subjects discontinued for adverse events. For all studies, (including open-label and long-term studies), 5% of extensive metabolizer (EM) patients and 7% of poor metabolizer (PM) patients discontinued because of an adverse event. Among STRATTERA-treated patients, aggression (0.5%, N=2); irritability (0.5%, N=2); somnolence (0.5%, N=2); and vomiting (0.5%, N=2) were the reasons for discontinuation reported by more than 1 patient.
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The following adverse events occurred in at least 2% of PM patients and were either twice as frequent or statistically significantly more frequent in PM patients compared with EM patients: decreased appetite (23% of PMs, 16% of EMs); insomnia (13% of PMs, 7% of EMs); sedation (4% of PMs, 2% of EMs); depression (6% of PMs, 2% of EMs); tremor (4% of PMs, 1% of EMs); early morning awakening (3% of PMs, 1% of EMs); pruritus (2% of PMs, 1% of EMs); mydriasis (2% of PMs, 1% of EMs).
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STRATTERA may be taken with or without food.
The safety of single doses over 120 mg and total daily doses above 150 mg have not been systematically evaluated.
Dosing adjustment for hepatically impaired patients --For those ADHD patients who have hepatic insufficiency (HI), dosage adjustment is recommended as follows: For patients with moderate HI (Child-Pugh Class B), initial and target doses should be reduced to 50% of the normal dose (for patients without HI). For patients with severe HI (Child-Pugh Class C), initial dose and target doses should be reduced to 25% of normal.
Dosing adjustment for use with a strong CYP2D6 inhibitor --In children and adolescents up to 70 kg body weight administered strong CYP2D6 inhibitors, e.g., paroxetine, fluoxetine, and quinidine, STRATTERA should be initiated at 0.5 mg/kg/day and only increased to the usual target dose of 1.2 mg/kg/day if symptoms fail to improve after 4 weeks and the initial dose is well tolerated.
In children and adolescents over 70 kg body weight and adults administered strong CYP2D6 inhibitors, e.g., paroxetine, fluoxetine, and quinidine, STRATTERA should be initiated at 40 mg/day and only increased to the usual target dose of 80 mg/day if symptoms fail to improve after 4 weeks and the initial dose is well tolerated.