Your doctor should be able to guide you to the ADHD treatment that is right for you, along with the correct dose that controls your ADHD symptoms while causing minimal to no side effects. A doctor must issue a prescription every month for the medication to be dispensed by the pharmacy. The prescription for a non-stimulant ADHD medication such as Strattera can be called into the pharmacy for more than a 30-day supply at a time. One pro of taking Strattera to treat ADHD is it does not cause many of the common side effects seen with psychostimulants, such as insomnia, dependence, or withdrawal.

Do diet and nutrition influence ADHD or anxiety symptoms?

Atomoxetine has been demonstrated to be effective through to the end of 8- to 24-month treatment periods (69). Thereafter, response to treatment was maintained over the ensuing period, out to 24 months after the initiation of treatment (70). However, few placebo-controlled, long-term studies of efficacy have been reported.

• Once effective the non-stimulants are effective 24/7, unlike the stimulants with their limited daily duration of action.
• As a highly selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), atomoxetine highly binds to NE reuptake transporter on the presynaptic membrane of the nerve and inhibits NE reuptake (32).
• •Originally maximum dose was 4 mg day but doses up to 7 mg in adolescents are tolerated and effective.
• Strattera works by changing the way the brain absorbs a chemical called norepinephrine.
• For updated information about dosages, interactions, and precautions, see the Strattera drug monograph on WebMD.
• Strattera and Adderall are both medications used to treat ADHD, but they are fundamentally different.
• This non-stimulant ADHD medication can also cause high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and other serious heart problems in people with a history of heart disease.

Causes of Anxiety

Tricyclic antidepressants, including desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane) and imipramine (Tofranil), may also help improve ADHD symptoms in children and adults who don’t respond to stimulants. The time-release version of guanfacine (Intuniv) is FDA-approved for use in treating ADHD in children ages 6 to 17. Intuniv may help with emotional sensitivity, atomoxetine non stimulant hyperarousal, aggression, hyperactivity, and memory. Clonidine is an alpha-agonist medication commonly prescribed to help lower high blood pressure and relax blood vessels.

Strattera and Adderall are both medications used to treat ADHD, but they are fundamentally different. Adderall is a stimulant, and Strattera is a non-stimulant medication. For the best results, you should discuss different treatment options with your doctor, including your preferences and expectations.

List of nonstimulant drugs for ADHD

• ODD is the most common and the most noticeable psychiatric disorder that co-exists with ADHD (73, 89, 90).
• Shared symptoms of anxiety and ADHD include sleep-related symptoms, neurological factors, and cognitive impairments.
• It may be offered to adults, teenagers, and children over 5 with ADHD.
• In this section, we reviewed findings from trials comparing once- or twice-daily dosing and the effect of titration rate on therapeutic efficacy of atomoxetine therapy and provided a summary of the dosing studies.
• Do not share your Strattera prescription with anyone, even another person with ADHD.
• And know the signs that your child’s ADHD medication might need fine-tuning.
• It’s essential to know the different traits of anxiety and ADHD so that individuals can get the proper treatment.

In addition to therapy and counseling, medications are a generally safe and effective treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Like other antidepressant drugs, this non-stimulant ADHD medication has been linked to an increased risk of suicidal thinking and behaviors in children and adolescents. A recent study found that a viloxazine extended-release formulation reduced symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention in children and adolescents with ADHD.

Exploring Atomoxetine: A Non-Stimulant Treatment for ADHD

One or two missed doses are generally not a problem, but if medication is stopped for more than 2-3 days, it is prudent to restart at a lower dose to avoid marked sedation. Although there are no trials of atomoxetine longer than 3 years, practically speaking it can be used indefinitely. Once at a therapeutic dose, adjustments can be made to allow for growth, keeping the dose in the 1.2 to 1.4 mg/kg/day range. Atomoxetine may be prescribed in divided doses (bid) if needed to increase tolerability. Atomoxetine dosing is weight-based, with an initial target dose of 1.2 mg/kg/day and range up to 1.4 mg/kg/day.

Due to its dopamine-enhancing effects, an extended-release formulation was recently approved for treating dyskinesia in people with Parkinson’s disease. Viloxazine (Qelbree) is a serotonin and norepinephrine modulator recently approved by the FDA for treating ADHD in children ages 6 to 17. It’s currently being reviewed by the FDA for approval in treating ADHD in adults. These medications include a variety of norepinephrine- and dopamine-enhancing drugs. Some of these are designed specifically for ADHD, while others are off-label medications. Guanfacine, another type of non-stimulant, works by improving attention and also reducing blood pressure.

Unlike stimulant medications such as methylphenidate and amphetamines, which are also commonly prescribed for ADHD, atomoxetine is a non-stimulant. This makes it a viable option for individuals who may not respond well to stimulants or who experience undesirable side effects from them. Atomoxetine, the first non-stimulant drug to treat ADHD, is a selective NRI (28, 32, 35). It highly selectively binds to the presynaptic membrane NE reuptake transporter and inhibits NE reuptake, but has low affinity with other neurotransmitters (28, 31–34). There are few adverse reactions and high safety, which has been widely used at present (26, 35, 54, 111, 117). Moreover, psychosis including bipolar affective disorder (BPD) appear to be uncommon in atomoxetine-treated children with ADHD.

Although they are effective, said Price, they are fraught with adverse effects, including appetite suppression, insomnia, exacerbation of mood disorders, anxiety, tics, or misuse. Children and adults showed significantly larger improvement in inattentiveness and hyperactivity/impulsivity when taking viloxazine vs atomoxetine, with almost all patients preferring the former to the latter. Investigators studied patients who started out taking atomoxetine and, after a washout period, initiated treatment with viloxazine. Participants’ ADHD symptoms were assessed prior to initiation of each treatment and after 4 weeks. Suicidality – the FDA added the boxed warning on suicidality to atomoxetine. In one pooled analysis, the risk of suicidal ideation in patients treated with atomoxetine was 5/1,357 patients vs. none with placebo.

Is Strattera the only non-stimulant ADHD medication?

These medications range from those developed specifically for ADHD to antidepressants and other off-label prescriptions. Our content does not constitute a medical or psychological consultation. See a certified medical or mental health professional for diagnosis. Yes, challenges from untreated ADHD symptoms can make people feel inadequate and worthless.