Strattera is the brand name for the drug atomoxetine, which is the only non-stimulant that is approved by the FDA for treatment of ADHD. Atomexetine is a member of the class of drugs known as selective Norepinepherine Reuptake Inhibitors (NRIs). NRI’s are designed to regulate stress levels by blocking the norepinepherine (noradrenaline) and epinephrine (adrenaline).

While it is used to help chemical imbalances, Stratterra is designed to raise norepinephrine levels in the brain and to let synapses soak in the norepinephrine for longer than it usually should by inhibiting the way that the norepinephrine transfer deepens in the neurons. By having more norepinephrine in the brain, it increases the amounts of dopamine. For some patients, Stratterat may work better for ADD/ADHD treatment than types of antidepressants because of it’s mechanisms of doing this in your prefrontal and frontal cortices.

In 2002, the drug was patended and was sold in oral doses from 5mg-100mg. Health care physicians prescribed Strattera to over 3.3 million patients between 2002 and 2008, 2 million of these patients were between ages 6-18. As of 2005, the FDA came to the conclusion that Strattera had caused a high increase of suicidal thoughts in young people, which was the drug’s most common of patients.

Trials were ran in 2005 which included 1,357 children who took the atomextine and then a control group of 851 people took a placebo. None of the children experienced suicidal thoughts in the control group, although 5 of the Strattera users did, and 1 had even attempted suicide.

After the research was done, the FDA had issued Strattera a black box warning on their product labeling, which is the most serious warning given by the FDA. Their product label has also included a warning since 2004 of that the drug was also possible to cause liver damage.

Possible side effects of Strattera include, but are not limited to:

  • numbness
  • chest pain
  • urinating less than usual or not at all
  • shortness of breath
  • irregular heartbeats
  • faintness or feeling like you may pass out
  • increased blood pressure
  • blurred vision
  • unusual thoughts or behavior
  • pain in the upper stomach
  • nausea
  • seeing things that are not there (hallucinating)
  • confusion
  • anxiety
  • buzzing in the ears

If you have been experiencing adverse side effects after using Strattera, you may be at risk for developing serious adverse effects and you might be eligible to file a legal claim against the product manufacturers. Get the legal help you need today, you may be able to gain compensation for the pain and suffering Strattera may have caused.