Verified
I took it each morning before work. The first ten days brought nausea and a dry mouth, but that settled after I started having breakfast first. By week five, I was less likely to abandon reports halfway through.
7 Sep 2026
Strattera
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Active ingredient
Atomoxetine
Strattera is a non-stimulant medicine for ADHD containing atomoxetine. It is used in children aged six years and over, adolescents, and adults when symptoms impair daily functioning. By increasing noradrenaline signalling in the brain, it can improve attention and reduce impulsive or hyperactive behaviour.
Description
Strattera is a prescription capsule containing atomoxetine for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Atomoxetine is a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, often abbreviated as NRI. It is a non-stimulant ADHD treatment.
Composition
The dose is stated on the pack — follow the leaflet. Atomoxetine is a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, often abbreviated as NRI. It is a non-stimulant ADHD treatment, meaning it does not work through the same direct stimulant pathway as methylphenidate or amphetamine-based medicines.
ADHD affects concentration, organisation, impulse control, activity level, and the ability to complete routine tasks. Strattera is prescribed when these symptoms are persistent and cause meaningful impairment at school, work, home, or in relationships. The FDA prescribing information identifies atomoxetine as an ADHD treatment for children, adolescents, and adults. [1]
Swallow Strattera capsules whole with water. Do not open, crush, or chew them: atomoxetine powder may irritate the eyes if it escapes from the capsule.
Atomoxetine does not create an immediate noticeable stimulant effect. This matters for expectations. Its benefit builds with consistent daily treatment rather than being judged from a single dose.
Dosage and usage
The dose is stated on the pack — follow the leaflet. The daily number of capsules and any dose adjustment are determined by the prescriber, taking account of age, body weight in children and adolescents, treatment response, liver function, and interacting medicines.
Use follows a regular oral schedule:
- Swallow the prescribed capsules whole with water.
- Take the medicine at the same time each day.
- It may be taken with or without food.
- If nausea occurs, taking it after a meal may be more comfortable.
- Continue daily unless the prescriber changes the plan.
- If a dose is missed, take it when remembered unless it is close to the next scheduled dose; do not double the next dose.
Atomoxetine can be prescribed once daily or divided into morning and later-day dosing. A later dose may be chosen when symptoms return too early, while morning-only dosing may suit people who find later use affects sleep.
How it works
Noradrenaline is a neurotransmitter involved in alertness, attention, task persistence, and response control. Atomoxetine slows the reabsorption of noradrenaline by nerve cells, leaving more of it available between neurons. Over time, this can reduce distractibility, interrupting, impulsive decisions, and difficulty sustaining effort.
Strattera is not intended to sedate a person with ADHD. The goal is better regulation of attention and behaviour while the person remains themselves.
The non-stimulant mechanism can be useful for people who have not tolerated stimulant treatment, have troublesome rebound symptoms, or need stable day-long symptom coverage without a stimulant medicine. NICE guidance lists atomoxetine among evidence-based pharmacological options for ADHD when clinically appropriate. [2]
Indications
It is used in children aged six years and over, adolescents, and adults when ADHD symptoms impair daily functioning. Treatment goals focus on everyday functioning. Response is assessed over time.
Comparison
ADHD treatment should match symptom pattern, medical history, sleep, anxiety, cardiovascular status, and previous treatment response. Stimulants often act sooner, while atomoxetine needs a longer assessment period.
| Treatment approach | Main mechanism | Typical practical profile |
|---|---|---|
| Atomoxetine | Selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibition | Non-stimulant daily treatment; benefits may develop gradually |
| Methylphenidate | Increases dopamine and noradrenaline signalling | Stimulant option with a faster perceived effect for many people |
| Lisdexamfetamine | Prodrug stimulant affecting dopamine and noradrenaline | Longer-acting stimulant option, with appetite and sleep effects requiring attention |
Atomoxetine may be preferred when stimulant-related appetite suppression, insomnia, anxiety, misuse concerns, or cardiovascular considerations complicate treatment. Its main limitation is slower onset. A person who expects a same-day change may stop too early before an adequate trial has taken place.
Medication is only one part of ADHD management. Structured routines, sleep planning, behavioural strategies, school or workplace adjustments, and psychological support can improve the value of pharmacological treatment.
Contraindications
This medication is not for you if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, or MAOI, within the previous 14 days. Examples include phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, and selegiline used for depression. Combining an MAOI with atomoxetine can cause dangerous changes in blood pressure and body temperature.
Strattera should also be avoided or carefully assessed in people with:
- Allergy to atomoxetine or capsule ingredients
- Narrow-angle glaucoma
- Phaeochromocytoma or a history of this adrenal tumour
- Severe heart or blood-vessel disease that could worsen with increased heart rate or blood pressure
- Serious liver impairment
- Previous severe liver injury linked to atomoxetine
- Current suicidal thoughts, severe agitation, mania, or psychosis
Atomoxetine can increase pulse and blood pressure. Baseline cardiovascular assessment and periodic monitoring matter for people with hypertension, congenital heart disease, palpitations, fainting history, or a family history of sudden cardiac death.
Fluoxetine, paroxetine, quinidine, and terbinafine can slow atomoxetine breakdown through CYP2D6 inhibition. This may raise atomoxetine exposure and increase adverse effects. The European Medicines Agency product information also highlights the need for caution with medicines that affect blood pressure, heart rhythm, or noradrenaline activity. [4]
Pregnancy and breastfeeding require an individual medical assessment. Atomoxetine should not be started or continued without considering maternal benefit, fetal exposure, and available treatment alternatives.
When this is not for you
Do not use Strattera if you have recently taken an MAOI, and seek medical advice before using it if you have serious heart, blood-pressure, liver, eye, or adrenal problems. Tell a clinician about suicidal thoughts, severe agitation, mania, psychosis, or medicines such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, quinidine, or terbinafine. Pregnancy and breastfeeding also need an individual medical assessment.
Side effects
Most side effects occur during the first weeks or after a dose increase. They may ease as the body adapts, though persistent or severe symptoms need clinical review.
Common effects in children and adolescents include:
- Reduced appetite
- Stomach pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sleepiness or fatigue
- Headache
- Irritability
Adults may experience nausea, dry mouth, reduced appetite, constipation, dizziness, insomnia, tiredness, sweating, erectile difficulties, or hesitation when passing urine. The FDA label reports nausea, dry mouth, reduced appetite, insomnia, and sexual side effects among the more frequent adverse reactions in adults. [3]
A reduced appetite can be easy to miss at first. In children, meal patterns and weight are usually followed during treatment. In adults, unplanned weight loss, persistent nausea, or low food intake should be raised during follow-up.
Serious reactions are uncommon but require prompt medical assessment. These include chest pain, fainting, a fast or irregular heartbeat, severe agitation, suicidal thoughts, jaundice, dark urine, persistent upper abdominal pain, prolonged painful erection, facial swelling, or breathing difficulty.
For nausea, a light breakfast or meal before the morning dose is often easier than taking the capsule on an empty stomach. Avoid forcing large meals if appetite is low; smaller planned meals can be more manageable.
Sleep changes can go in either direction. Some people become sleepy, while others find it harder to fall asleep. Moving the dose timing should only be done with prescriber advice, since the best timing depends on the individual pattern.
Common mistakes
- Stopping after several days: atomoxetine usually needs a sustained trial before benefit can be judged.
- Doubling a missed dose: this can increase nausea, dizziness, and cardiovascular effects without restoring missed benefit.
- Opening the capsule: the powder can irritate skin and eyes.
- Ignoring appetite changes: reduced food intake can affect energy, mood, and growth monitoring in younger patients.
- Starting fluoxetine or paroxetine without medication review: these medicines can raise atomoxetine levels.
- Assuming worsening mood is a normal adjustment: new suicidal thoughts, severe irritability, or unusual behavioural change need urgent assessment.
- Using someone else’s ADHD medicine: dosing and suitability are individual, especially where heart conditions, anxiety, or other medicines are involved.
Write down the time the capsule was taken and one short note about sleep, appetite, and focus. A two-week record gives a prescriber far better information than trying to remember every day at an appointment.
What doctors say
In clinical practice, clinicians usually explain that Strattera is a consistency medicine. It needs time. Treatment response is assessed through everyday function, not only through a person saying they feel more alert.
A doctor may ask whether schoolwork is being completed, whether impulsive spending has reduced, whether meetings are easier to follow, or whether driving attention has improved. These questions are more useful than judging treatment by energy level alone.
For children, feedback from caregivers and teachers can reveal changes that are not obvious during a short appointment. For adults, a brief weekly note about sleep, appetite, mood, work output, and missed tasks can show whether the medicine is helping.
In the UAE, ADHD treatment should be reviewed by a clinician familiar with MOHAP-regulated prescribing practice and the patient’s full medical history.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Strattera take to work?
Strattera does not usually provide the immediate effect some people associate with stimulant ADHD medicines. Improvement may begin after the first few weeks, while a fuller assessment often takes several more weeks of consistent use. The Cochrane Review published in 2017 found atomoxetine improved ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents compared with placebo, though side effects and treatment discontinuation can occur. [5]
Can Strattera be taken with food?
Strattera can be taken with or without food. Taking it after food may reduce nausea or stomach discomfort for some people. FDA prescribing information revised in 2022 permits administration with or without meals, so the most suitable routine is the one that supports regular use and tolerability.
Does Strattera affect sleep?
It can. Some people feel tired or sleepy, while others develop insomnia or difficulty settling at night. NICE guidance from 2018 recognises sleep as an important factor when monitoring ADHD medicine, since timing and side effects can alter daily functioning even when attention improves.
Can adults use Strattera for ADHD?
Yes. Atomoxetine is used for ADHD in adults as well as younger people, provided the diagnosis and treatment plan have been clinically assessed. The WHO’s ICD-11, released in 2019, recognises ADHD as a neurodevelopmental disorder that can persist into adulthood.
Can Strattera be used with antidepressants?
Some combinations require close management. Fluoxetine and paroxetine can increase atomoxetine exposure by inhibiting CYP2D6, while MAOI antidepressants must not be combined with atomoxetine or used within 14 days of it. The EMA product information for atomoxetine, published in 2017, advises assessment of medicines that affect noradrenaline, blood pressure, or heart rhythm.
What should be monitored during Strattera treatment?
Monitoring may include blood pressure, pulse, appetite, body weight, sleep, mood, and changes in attention or impulsivity. Children and adolescents may also need growth monitoring over time. MOHAP-aligned clinical care in 2026 centres treatment review on both symptom control and tolerability.
Do you offer anonymous delivery?
Your order will be securely packed and shipped within 24 hours. This is exactly what your package will look like (images of an actual item sent). It has the size and look of a regular private letter (9.4x4.3x0.3 in. or 24x11x0.7 cm) and its contents cannot be seen.
Strattera: Reviews and Experiences
3.6
Based on 4 reviews
Verified
My mother noticed I argued less over homework and finished tasks with fewer reminders. I felt sleepy after school for the first week, then it became less noticeable. I did not feel a sudden change, just more control over time.
1 Sep 2026
Verified
The concentration part improved a little, but my sleep got worse when I took it late in the day. The dose timing was reviewed and that helped. I also had to plan lunch because my appetite was lower.
16 Aug 2026
Verified
It was not the right fit for me at first because I felt more anxious and nauseated. I contacted my prescriber instead of increasing it myself. We discussed whether the symptoms were temporary and made a different plan.
9 Aug 2026
Sources
- FDA (2022). Strattera (atomoxetine) capsules, for oral use: Prescribing Information.
- NICE (2018). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management (NG87).
- FDA (2022). Strattera (atomoxetine) capsules, for oral use: Prescribing Information — Adverse Reactions.
- EMA (2017). Strattera: EPAR Product Information.
- Cochrane (2017). Atomoxetine for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents.
