| Medication: | Generic Strattera | Generic Strattera |
| Dosage: | 10 mg, 18 mg, 25 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg | 60 mg, 40 mg, 25 mg |
| Generic Strattera Price: | from $0.70 per pill | from $2.33 per pill |
| How to Get Strattera | Visit CanadianPharmacyMed | Visit HealthPharmacyHome |
- 1. What is Strattera and when should it be used?
- 2. What should be taken into account outside of treatment with Strattera?
- 3. What are the precautions to observe when taking Strattera?
- 4. Effect of Strattera on the ability to drive and the ability to use machines
- 5. Can Strattera be taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
- 6. How to use Strattera?
What is Strattera and when should it be used?
Strattera generic is a medicine intended to treat Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children from the age of 6 and in adolescents.
Strattera is also intended for the treatment of Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults up to the age of 50 who have suffered from ADHD since childhood and who do not respond sufficiently to other drugs against this disease (e.g. methylphenidate) or who cannot take them due to psychiatric illnesses or associated drug addiction.
Strattera should be used as part of a therapeutic program that also includes psychological, educational and social measures.
The symptoms of ADHD are in particular the following: rapidly decreasing attention, dizziness, inability to listen, not finishing tasks, not following instructions, getting distracted easily, being impulsive, restless, nervous, talking excessively, starting to run at poorly chosen times, annoying others or interrupting them and being able to concentrate with difficulty. Learning is hindered. All these symptoms can lead to difficulties in the social environment, at school and at work. It may happen that those affected do not have all these symptoms. Many people only have them from time to time, but in ADHD patients they disrupt daily activities and manifest themselves in more than one environment (i.e. at home, at school, at work). ADHD can continue into adulthood.
Drug treatment is not necessary for all patients with ADHD and the decision to use the drug should be based on a very careful assessment of the severity and duration of the symptoms depending on the patient's age.
Strattera can only be used with a doctor's prescription.
What should be taken into account outside of treatment with Strattera?
Treatment with Strattera should be carried out and monitored by a doctor who has experience in the treatment of ADHD. In addition to drug treatment, the entire course of treatment should also include psychological, pedagogical and social measures. The diagnosis must have been made on the basis of recognized criteria.
When should Strattera not be used?
Strattera should not be used
- – in case of known hypersensitivity to atomoxetine or to any of the excipients.
- – in case of coexistence of severe depression and/or pronounced anxiety disorders, when there is a risk of suicidal behavior.
- – if you have taken certain medications during the last two weeks intended for the treatment of depression or other mental problems, which are called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs, such as tranylcypromine), because if you take Strattera and an MAOI at the same time, serious complications, perhaps even fatal, can occur (see "What are the precautions to observe when taking Strattera?»).
- – if you have an eye disease named "angle-closure glaucoma".
- – if you suffer or have suffered from a pheochromocytoma (rare tumor of the adrenal gland).
- – if you suffer from a serious cardiovascular disease (e.g. severe hypertension, heart failure, obliterating arterial disease, angina pectoris (chest tightness, pain in the heart area), congenital heart defect, heart muscle disease, myocardial infarction, life-threatening heart rhythm disturbances).
- – if you suffer from a serious blood vessel disease in the brain (e.g. aneurysm or stroke).
- – in children under 6 years of age, because the safety and effectiveness of Strattera have not been demonstrated in this age group.
What are the precautions to observe when taking Strattera?
In some cases, special caution and medical supervision are indicated. Tell your doctor if you, or your child, suffer or have suffered from any of the following diseases or conditions:
- – in case of liver disease or signs of jaundice, treatment should be discontinued and not resumed later.
- – in case of high blood pressure or rapid pulse. Strattera can increase blood pressure and/or speed up the pulse and should therefore be administered with caution to people with high blood pressure. Your doctor will measure your blood pressure and heart rate at each dose change or whenever he decides that these measurements are necessary.
- – in case of heart problems or cerebrovascular problems.
- – in case of low blood pressure. In people who have low blood pressure, Strattera can cause dizziness or syncope. It should therefore be used with caution in people with low blood pressure.
- – in the event of the occurrence of seizures or an increase in the frequency of seizures in patients who are already prone to attacks. In these patients, treatment with Strattera should be discontinued.
- – in case of development of psychic problems, in particular suicidal behavior (suicide attempt and suicidal thoughts).
- – in case of a history of severe depression and/or pronounced anxiety disorders.
- – if your child is not experiencing weight gain/age-related growth or development, a lower dose may be necessary.
- – in case of occurrence or family history of a certain heart disease (prolongation of the QT time interval).
In patients under the age of 18, there is a high risk of side effects such as suicidal behavior (suicide attempt and suicidal thoughts), hostility (mainly aggressiveness, oppositional behavior and anger) and emotional lability. Inform your doctor if, after starting treatment or after adjusting the dose, any of the symptoms or behaviors mentioned above occur or worsen. You should also know that, as with other drugs that affect the psyche, we cannot exclude the possibility of rare serious psychiatric side effects. In addition, the long-term effects of Strattera on growth, maturation as well as on mental development and behavioral evolution in this age group have not yet been demonstrated.
Interactions with other drugs
Many medications taken at the same time as Strattera can increase or decrease the action of Strattera, or trigger or decrease the appearance of adverse reactions. Please tell your doctor immediately about all the medicines you are taking so that he can decide if you can combine Strattera with these other medicines or if some of these medicines may need to be changed.
Among these medicines, we find, for example, medicines against depression (antidepressants), certain medicines to treat asthma (both in spray, in tablets or in injection), medicines that increase blood pressure, medicines against high blood pressure, certain medicines against psychoses (e.g. neuroleptics), medicines to treat heart rhythm disturbances, certain medicines to treat a weakness of the heart muscle (heart failure), antibiotics, anesthetics, medicines against malaria, medicines against heartburn, diuretics, mucosal decongestants (e.g. nasal drops) or powerful painkillers.
Effect of Strattera on the ability to drive and the ability to use machines
Taking Strattera may cause a feeling of tiredness or drowsiness. That is why caution is required when driving a vehicle and when using machines as long as you do not know how you or your child react to Strattera.
Excipients
Atomoxetine contains less than 1 mmol (23 mg) of sodium per capsule, i.e. it is essentially "sodium-free".
Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you, or your child, suffer from other diseases, are allergic or are already taking other medicines or are already taking or using other medicines for internal or external use (even self-medication)!
Can Strattera be taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
If you are pregnant or want to become pregnant, please talk to your doctor. Strattera should not be used during pregnancy unless your doctor has explicitly prescribed it for you.
It is not known whether the active substance of Strattera passes into breast milk. Therefore, generic Strattera should not be taken during breastfeeding.
How to use Strattera?
Investigations before the start of treatment
Before the start of treatment, the doctor will examine whether you have cardiovascular disease.
In children and adolescents, the doctor will additionally measure weight and height before the start of treatment and during treatment.
General instructions for dosage
It is important that you take Strattera exactly as directed by your doctor. If in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Strattera is usually taken once or twice a day (in the morning and in the late afternoon or early evening) with a little liquid. Strattera can be taken with or without meals.
Take Strattera every day at the same time, this will make it easier to take it regularly.
At the beginning of treatment with Strattera, it may take several weeks before the drug develops its full effect.
Strattera can be administered to children from the age of 6, adolescents and adults up to the age of 50. In general, a course of treatment lasts no more than a year.
After a year, your doctor will have to examine whether there is a need to continue the treatment.
Special instructions for dosing
It is up to your doctor to decide on the initial dosage. We usually start with a low dose that we maintain for at least 7 days. The doctor will then increase the dose according to your response or your child's response to the treatment. The doctor decides on the optimal daily dose.
In patients who have liver problems, the attending physician will adjust the dosage to the clinical symptoms.
What if you forgot to take a dose?
The missed dose should be taken as soon as possible. However, it is necessary to take the maximum total daily dose over a period of 24 hours.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you forgot to take.
What to do if you have inadvertently taken too many capsules?
If you have inadvertently taken more cheap generic Strattera than the prescribed amount, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately and tell them how many capsules of what dosage you have ingested.
The most likely symptoms that can occur are: gastrointestinal problems, drowsiness, dizziness, tremors and unusual behavior as well as inner and outer restlessness and hyperactivity.
Do not change the prescribed dosage on your own. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you think that the effectiveness of the medicine is too low or, on the contrary, too strong.
