What it is used for
- ADHD in school-age children, teenagers and adults, as part of a full treatment programme
- When stimulant medicines are not suitable or not tolerated
How it is used
- Capsules are swallowed whole with water, with or without food, exactly as your doctor prescribed; your doctor decides the dose
- Do not open the capsules, as the powder irritates the eyes; if it gets in, rinse with water straight away
- The oral solution is measured with the device supplied
- The full effect builds up gradually; do not stop it without asking your doctor
Possible side effects
- Reduced appetite, tummy pain, nausea or vomiting
- Headache, sleepiness or dizziness
- Faster heartbeat or raised blood pressure
- Mood changes or irritability
Who should not use it
- Taking, or having recently stopped, an MAOI antidepressant
- Narrow-angle glaucoma
- Severe heart or blood vessel disease, or phaeochromocytoma
- Allergy to atomoxetine or any ingredient in the product
Before and while using it
- Rarely it can cause suicidal thoughts in children and teenagers; get help straight away for mood changes or thoughts of self-harm
- Rarely, liver problems; contact your doctor straight away for yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or pain in the upper tummy
- Your doctor checks pulse, blood pressure, height and weight regularly
- Tell your doctor if you have heart problems, high blood pressure or fits
- It may cause sleepiness; take care when driving or using machines
Medicine interactions
- MAOI antidepressants: never take them together
- Fluoxetine, paroxetine and bupropion raise its level
- Medicines that raise blood pressure or heart rate, including salbutamol injections or high-dose salbutamol, and medicines that affect heart rhythm
- Tell your doctor about all your medicines
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Use it in pregnancy only if your doctor advises it; tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy
- Ask your doctor before using it while breastfeeding
How to store it
- Store at room temperature away from heat and moisture, out of the sight and reach of children.
Get medical help straight away if
- Your face, lips or tongue swell, or you find it hard to breathe.
- You get a severe rash, blistering or peeling skin.
- A side effect worries you or doesn’t go away: contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Questions about this medicine?
Talk to a doctor by video, or send your question by text.
Source: Standard international medicine references
This guide is general information and doesn’t replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Don’t start, stop or change a medicine without asking them, and always read the leaflet in the pack.