Strattera (atomoxetine) is a brand-name oral capsule that’s prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As with other drugs, Strattera can cause side effects, such as nausea, decreased appetite, and drowsiness.
Strattera belongs to a drug class called selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. The drug is available in a generic version.
Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects of Strattera. For a general overview of the drug, including details about its uses, see this article.
Strattera can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Strattera in clinical trials:
- dry mouth
- decreased appetite
- dizziness
- nausea*
- constipation*
* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
Mild side effects can occur with Strattera use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Strattera’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects that have been reported with Strattera include:
- dry mouth
- decreased appetite
- dizziness
- erectile dysfunction
- insomnia
- fatigue
- increase in blood pressure
- increased heart rate
- drowsiness
- nausea*
- constipation*
- mild allergic reaction*
These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Strattera and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.
* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
In most cases, side effects from Strattera are mild. However, Strattera may also cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Strattera’s prescribing information.
If you develop serious side effects while taking Strattera, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:
- Mood changes. Symptoms can include:
- anger or aggression
- Liver problems. Symptoms can include:
- itching
- dark urine
- Heart problems, such as heart attack or stroke. Symptoms can include:
- changes in blood pressure
- fainting
- Urinary problems. Symptoms can include:
- Priapism (an erection that doesn’t go away). Symptoms can include:
- erection lasting 4 hours or more
- penile pain and discomfort
- Risk of suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents.*
- Severe allergic reaction.†
* Strattera has a
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking Strattera. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.
Strattera can be used in children ages 6 years and older with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In most cases, the possible side effects in children are similar to the possible side effects in adults. The most common side effects reported in children during Strattera’s clinical trials were:
- nausea
- vomiting
- fatigue
- decreased appetite
- abdominal pain
- drowsiness
- headache
In addition, it’s possible for Strattera to cause slower growth in children. This may affect your child’s height and weight, which can be lower than expected. Your child may have the highest risk of growth delays within the first year of treatment with Strattera.
Other side effects, such as decreased appetite, nausea, and vomiting may also affect their growth. Due to this risk, your child’s doctor will monitor their height and weight throughout treatment.
If you notice a decrease in your child’s appetite or body weight, talk with their doctor. They can recommend ways to manage your child’s body weight.
Strattera may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.
How do the side effects of Strattera compare with those seen with Adderall?
Strattera and Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine) are both used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, they work in different ways. While some side effects of these medications may be similar, others may be different. For example, both Strattera and Adderall can cause:
- constipation
- decreased appetite
- fatigue
- increase in blood pressure
- increased heart rate
- heart problems, such as heart attack or stroke
- allergic reaction
In clinical trials, Strattera caused side effects that weren’t reported with Adderall. These include drowsiness, liver problems, and urinary problems.
In clinical trials, Adderall also caused side effects that weren’t reported with Strattera. These include muscle twitching, seizure, or changes in vision.
For more information about Adderall’s side effects, see this article. If you have questions about the differences between Strattera and Adderall, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help recommend the best treatment option for you.
Does Strattera cause long-term side effects?
Most side effects of Strattera are short term. However, long-term side effects are also possible from taking this medication. Examples of long-term side effects that may result from Strattera can include:
- heart problems, such as heart attack or stroke
- liver problems
- mood changes
- slowed growth in children
If you’re concerned about long-term side effects occurring from taking Strattera, talk with your doctor.
How long do side effects of Strattera typically last?
It depends. Some side effects of Strattera may last longer than others. For example, nausea may improve the longer you take Strattera. This side effect is most common when you first start treatment and after dose changes. Other side effects, such as mood changes, may continue throughout your treatment.
If you’re experiencing side effects from Strattera, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help determine how long your specific side effects may last. They can also recommend ways to help manage these effects.
Can Strattera cause anger?
It’s possible. Although rare, anger is a reported side effect of Strattera. Specifically, Strattera can cause aggression or hostility. This side effect may be more common in people with existing mental health conditions, such as depression or bipolar disorder.
If you have concerns about Strattera causing anger, talk with your doctor. They can help determine whether Strattera is a good treatment option for you.
Learn more about some of the side effects that Strattera may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Strattera.
Risk of suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents
Strattera has a
If your child has been diagnosed with a mental health condition, such as depression or bipolar disorder, tell their doctor. These conditions may increase your child’s risk of suicidal thoughts.
It’s important to know the symptoms of mood changes, so you can tell your child’s doctor right away. Symptoms may include:
- anxiety
- panic attack
- difficulty sleeping
- aggression
- impulsivity
- restlessness
- mania
- agitation
- depression
What you can do
The risk of suicidal thoughts is most common at the start of Strattera treatment or after a dose increase. Your child’s doctor will monitor their symptoms throughout treatment, especially at the start or during a dose change.
You can help manage your child’s risk by monitoring their mood and behavior throughout treatment. If you notice any changes, be sure to tell their doctor right away. It’s important to keep your child’s follow-up appointments with their doctor. This helps ensure that the doctor can manage any side effects that your child may experience.
Constipation
It’s possible to experience constipation from taking Strattera. This was a common side effect that adults reported in the drug’s clinical trials. While constipation also occurred in children taking Strattera, it wasn’t as common.
What you can do
If you experience severe or bothersome constipation during your treatment with Strattera, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can recommend ways to manage this side effect. For example, they may recommend taking an over-the-counter laxative, such as MiraLAX (polyethylene glycol 3350).
Nausea
It’s possible to experience nausea during treatment with Strattera. In clinical trials, nausea was one of the most common side effects reported in children and adults.
What you can do
In some cases, taking Strattera with food may help reduce nausea that you experience. If you have nausea that’s severe or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can recommend ways to manage this side effect.
Allergic reaction
As with most drugs, Strattera can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s clinical trials.
Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:
What you can do
For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Strattera. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Suicide prevention
If you know someone at immediate risk of self-harm, suicide, or hurting another person:
- Ask the tough question: “Are you considering suicide?”
- Listen to the person without judgment.
- Call 911 or the local emergency number, or text TALK to 741741 to communicate with a trained crisis counselor.
- Stay with the person until professional help arrives.
- Try to remove any weapons, medications, or other potentially harmful objects if it’s safe to do so.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 988. During a crisis, people who are hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.
Tell your doctor about any medical conditions that you have before taking Strattera. They can help determine whether Strattera is a safe treatment option for you.
Boxed warning: Risk of suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents
This drug has a
Other precautions
Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Strattera. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:
Narrow-angle glaucoma. If you have an eye condition called narrow-angle glaucoma, tell your doctor before taking Strattera. This medication may worsen the symptoms of this condition. Due to this risk, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Strattera if you have narrow-angle glaucoma.
Mental health conditions. Strattera may cause mood changes. It may also worsen symptoms of certain conditions, such as bipolar disorder or depression. If you have a condition that affects your mood, tell your doctor before starting treatment. They can help determine whether Strattera is safe for you.
Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Strattera or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Strattera. Ask them about other medications that may be better options for you.
Heart problems. If you have a condition affecting your heart rate or blood pressure, tell your doctor before you start taking Strattera. This drug can cause high blood pressure and a rapid heart rate. If you have a heart problem, these side effects may make your condition worse. Due to this risk, your doctor may not prescribe Strattera if you have a severe heart problem. However, they can recommend other treatments for your condition.
Pheochromocytoma. A pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor that develops in the adrenal glands. Similar to Strattera, it can cause high blood pressure and a rapid heart rate. If you have this type of tumor, Strattera could make these side effects more severe. Talk with your doctor before starting treatment with this drug. They’ll likely not prescribe Strattera if you have a pheochromocytoma. However, they can recommend a different treatment option for you.
Drug metabolism problems. Your body uses a specific liver enzyme, CYP2D6, to break down Strattera. If your body doesn’t metabolize this enzyme well, Strattera can build up in your body. This is sometimes referred to as having “poor CYP2D6 metabolism” and may increase your risk of side effects. If you have this condition, tell your doctor before you start taking Strattera. They may prescribe you a lower dose of this drug.
Liver problems. Strattera is processed by your liver. If you have liver damage or reduced liver function, Strattera can build up in your body. This can increase your risk of side effects from the drug. Before you start taking Strattera, tell your doctor about any liver problems that you have. In some cases, they may prescribe a lower dose of this drug.
Alcohol with Strattera
There aren’t any known interactions between alcohol and Strattera. However, drinking alcohol while taking this medication may increase your risk of certain side effects. For example, both alcohol and Strattera can cause:
- nausea
- liver problems
- dizziness
- fatigue
- drowsiness
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor. They can explain how much alcohol, if any, may be safe for you to consume during treatment.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Strattera
It’s not known whether Strattera is safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
At this time, there isn’t enough information to determine whether there are risks to taking Strattera during pregnancy. Animal studies reported pregnancy loss and low birth weight. However, animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in humans.
A pregnancy registry is available for people who take Strattera during pregnancy. Pregnancy registries help determine whether a drug is safe to take during pregnancy and what side effects it may cause. If you’d like to sign up for The National Pregnancy Registry for ADHD Medications, talk with your doctor. For more information, call 866-961-2388 or visit the webpage.
At this time, it’s not known whether Strattera passes into breast milk or how it may affect a child who is breastfed. In animal studies, Strattera passed into the milk of lactating animals. For this reason, it’s possible that the drug may also pass into human breast milk. However, animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in humans.
If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking Strattera. They can advise whether the medication is safe for you. In addition, tell your doctor if you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. They can discuss safe ways to feed your child during treatment.
In most cases, side effects from Strattera are mild. However, serious side effects are also possible.
If you’d like to learn more about Strattera, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects of taking the drug.
Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:
- More information about Strattera. For details about other aspects of Strattera, refer to this article.
- Drug comparison. To learn how Strattera compares with Vyvanse, read this article.
- A look at attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For details about ADHD, see our ADHD hub.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.