Atomoxetine is a medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
It is a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and is believed to work by increasing norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the brain.
Atomoxetine is approved for use in children, adolescents, and adults. Its primary advantage over the standard stimulant treatments for ADHD is that it has little known abuse potential.
While it has been shown to significantly reduce inattentive and hyperactive symptoms, the responses were lower than the response to stimulants.
Its efficacy may be less than that of stimulant medications, there is some evidence that it may be used in combination with stimulants. Doctors may prescribe non-stimulants including atomoxetine when a person has bothersome side effects from stimulants; when a stimulant was not effective; in combination with a stimulant to increase effectiveness; or when there is concern about the abuse potential of psychostimulants in a patient with a history of drug use disorder.
Unlike α2 adrenoceptor agonists such as guanfacine and clonidine, atomoxetine’s use can be abruptly stopped without significant discontinuation effects being seen. The initial therapeutic effects of atomoxetine usually take 1 to 4 weeks to become apparent.
A further 2 to 4 weeks may be required for the full therapeutic effects to be seen. Incrementally increasing response may occur up to 1 year or longer. The maximum recommended total daily dose in children and adolescents over 70 kg and adults is 100mg.
There has been some suggestion that atomoxetine might be a helpful adjunct in people with major depression, particularly in cases with concomitant ADHD.
