What is Generic Strattera?

Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine) is used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children 6 years and older and adolescents. Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine) works by acting on brain chemicals called amines which are involved in controlling behaviour.

Before taking Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine)

Do not take Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine) if you have any of the following conditions:

• certain heart diseases such as moderate to severe hypertension, abnormal or dangerously fast heart beat, thickening and hardening of the walls of the arteries due to cholesterol deposits
• an uncontrolled overactive thyroid gland which causes increased appetite, weight loss, intolerance to heat, increased sweating, tremors, and rapid heart rate
• a tumour of the adrenal gland, which sits near the kidney. The symptoms are bouts of anxiety and headaches, palpitations, dizziness, a feeling of weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dilated pupils and blurring vision, stomach pains, and raised blood pressure.

Do not take Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine) if you are taking medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) for the treatment of depression or have been taking a MAOI within the last 14 days. Check with your physician or pharmacist if you are unsure as to whether or not you are taking a MAOI.

If you do take Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine) while you are taking a MAOI, you may experience shaking (tremor), shivering, muscle stiffness, fever, rapid pulse, rapid breathing or confusion.

Do not take Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine) if you have high pressure in the eye (glaucoma), or have a family history of glaucoma.

If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your physician.

Tell your physician if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.

Tell your physician if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:

• high blood pressure
• low blood pressure
• fast heart beat
• heart disease
• conditions affecting blood flow in the brain, such as stroke
• liver disease
• kidney disease
• an overactive thyroid gland
• enlargement or disease of the prostate
• difficulty passing urine
• seizures, fits or convulsions.

Tell your physician if you or your child have or have had:

• thoughts or talk of death or suicide
• thoughts or talk of self-harm or harm to others
• any recent attempts at self-harm.

You may wish to see a paediatric psychiatrist for further assessment and supervision of your child.

Tell your physician if you:

• are involved in strenuous exercise or activities
• are using a group of medicines called stimulants
• have a family history of sudden/cardiac death.

Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine) generally should not be used in children, adolescents or adults with known structural heart abnormalities. If you have been diagnosed with structural heart abnormalities, you should only take Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine) under the supervision of a cardiologist.

Tell your physician if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding. Your physician can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.

Safety and effectiveness in elderly patients older than 65 years and children younger than 6 years have not been established.

Taking other medicines with Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine)

Tell your physician or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines may be affected by Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine) or may affect how it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines or you may need to take different medicines.

These include:

• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), medicines used to treat some types of depression. You should stop taking MAOIs at least two weeks before starting Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine)
• certain medicines used to treat depression such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, desipramine, imipramine, venlafaxine and mirtazapine
• certain medicines used to treat irregular heart beat such as quinidine
• medicines used to treat low blood pressure or to raise blood pressure (pressor agents)
• medicines containing the decongestants pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine
• asthma reliever medicines such as salbutamol, when taken orally as a syrup or as an injection
• certain medicines taken for anxiety such as diazepam or to treat epilepsy such as phenytoin.

Your physician and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine).

How to take Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine)

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.

Your physician will tell you how much Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine) you need to take each day.

Your physician may increase or decrease your dose depending on your condition and any other illness that you may have.

Swallow the capsules whole with a full glass of water.

Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine) can be taken with or without food.

Generic Strattera (Atomoxetine) is usually taken one or two times a day (early morning and late afternoon/early evening). If you find that you are sleepy during the day or have trouble sleeping at night, talk to your physician about the best time to take your medicine.

Take your medicine at about the same time each day. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.

It does not matter if you take this medicine before or after food.

Continue taking your medicine for as long as your physician tells you.

This medicine helps to control your condition, but does not cure it. It is important to keep taking your medicine even if you feel well.

If you miss a dose, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally. Do not take more than your total daily dose in a 24 hour period.

Delivery Time: 7-14 Days