All medications have side effects and the side effects from Strattera are quite significant. People should do their own research on anything they consider taking – even when it’s prescribed by a doctor. We’ll let the studies on Strattera dangers speak for themselves. It might be first in its class, but it’s still dangerous! Here’s just a sampling of studies from multiple countries:

Drug Warning, November 01, 2011Australia
Drug Class: Antidepressant,
Generic Name: Atomoxetine,
Brand Name: Strattera,

Age: Adults (18 and over), Children (under 18)
Side Effects: High Blood Pressure, Heart Problems,
Summary: The Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA) advised health professionals and patients of important safety information regarding the risk of increased blood pressure and/or heart rate with the use of atomoxetine. These effects could represent a risk for some patients.
Source: “Atomoxetine (Strattera) – risk of increased blood pressure and/or heart rate” TGA, November 2011, http://www.tga.gov.au/safety/alerts-medicine-atomoxetine-111102.htm

Drug Study, December 01, 2010United States
Drug Class: Mood Stabilizer, Antianxiety, Antidepressant, Antipsychotic, Stimulant,
Generic Name: Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Fluvoxamine, Venlafaxine, Desvenlafaxine, Sertraline, Escitalopram, Citalopram, Amitriptyline, Bupropion, Trazodone, Mirtazapine, Duloxetine, Amphetamines, Atomoxetine, Methylphenidate, Levetiracetam, Oxcarbazepine, Topiramate, Lamotrigine, Valproic Acid, Phenytoin, Carbamazepine, Aripiprazole, Ziprasidone, Risperidone, Quetiapine, Olanzapine, Paliperidone, Clozapine, Triazolam, Zolpidem, Eszopiclone, Diazepam, Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Midazolam, Lorazepam,
Brand Name: Prozac, Paxil, Seroxat, Luvox, Effexor, Pristiq, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, Elavil, Endep, Vanatrip, Wellbutrin, Zyban, Desyrel, Oleptro, Remeron, Cymbalta, Strattera, Ritalin, Concerta, Keppra, Trileptal, Topamax, Topiragen, Lamictal, Depakote, Depakene, Depacon, Epilim, Di-Phen, Dilantin, Phenytek, Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol, Abilify, Geodon, Risperdal, Seroquel, Zyprexa, Invega, Clozaril, Halcion, Ambien, Lunesta, Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, Versed, Ativan,

Age: Adults (18 and over), Children (under 18)
Side Effects: Violence, Homicidal Ideation, Homicidal Actions,
Summary: The authors of a study in PLoS One took the Food and Drug Administration’s Adverse Event Reporting System data, and extracted all “serious adverse event” reports for drugs with 200 or more cases received from 2004 through September 2009. They identified 484 drugs, which accounted for 780,169 serious adverse event reports of all kinds, including 1,937 cases meeting their violence criteria. Of the 484 drugs identified, 31 drugs were disproportionately associated with violence. These drugs, accounting for 79% of all the violence cases, included 11 antidepressants, 6 sedative/hypnotics and 3 drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The specific cases of violence included: homicide, physical assaults, cases indicating physical abuse, homicidal ideation, and cases described as violence-relates symptoms. The authors concluded, “These data provide new evidence that acts of violence towards others are a genuine and serious adverse drug event that is associated with a relatively small group of drugs.
Source: Thomas J. Moore, Joseph Glenmullen, Curt D. Furbert, “Prescription Drugs Associated with Reports of Violence Towards Others,” Public Library of Science ONE, Vol. 5, Iss. 12, Dec. 2010.

Drug Warning, March 05, 2009Ireland
Drug Class: Antidepressant,
Generic Name: Atomoxetine,
Brand Name: Strattera,

Age: Children (under 18)
Side Effects: Suicide Risk, Suicide Attempts, Suicide,
Summary: Irish Medicines Board reissued the following safety information to healthcare professionals about Atomoxetine (Strattera) in lieu of recent concerns about its increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior associated with its use. It reminds Healthcare professionals that when Atomoxetine is used, patients should be monitored for signs of depression and/or suicidal thoughts/behavior.
Source: “Medicines for the Management of ADHD (I) Atomoxetine (Strattera),” Irish Medicines Board, March 2009.

Drug Warning, March 01, 2009United Kingdom
Drug Class: Antidepressant,
Generic Name: Atomoxetine,
Brand Name: Strattera,

Age: Children (under 18)
Side Effects: Mania, Psychosis,
Summary: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (UK) published in their Drug Safety Update newsletter new information about Atomoxetine (Strattera). They warned that Atomoxetine is associated with treatment-emergent psychotic or manic symptoms in children without a history of such disorders.
Source: Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Drug Safety Update newsletter, Vol. 2, March 8, 2009.

Drug Study, February 01, 2009United States
Drug Class: Stimulant,
Generic Name: Dextroamphetamine, Atomoxetine, Methylphenidate,
Brand Name: Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall, Strattera, Daytrana,

Age: Children (under 18)
Side Effects: Hallucinations, Mania, Psychosis,
Summary: Pediatrics published a study that found that upon reviewing spontaneous case reports of patients treated for ADHD with amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall), atomoxetine (Straterra), or methylphenidate (Ritalin/Concerta/Daytrana) indicated a likely causal association between each of these drugs and treatment-emergent onset of signs and symptoms of psychosis or mania, notably hallucinations, in some patients. The authors concluded, “Patients and physicians should be aware that psychosis or mania arising during drug treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder may represent adverse drug reactions.”
Source: Andrew D. Mosholder, MD, MPH, et al, “Hallucinations and Other Psychotic Symptoms Associated With the Use of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Drugs in Children,” Pediatrics, Vol. 123, No. 2, pp. 611-616, February 2009.

Drug Warning, November 20, 2008European Union
Drug Class: Antidepressant,
Generic Name: Atomoxetine,
Brand Name: Strattera,

Age: Children (under 18)
Side Effects: Hallucinations, Delusional Thinking, Sensory Disturbances, Mania, Psychosis, Agitation, Irritability,
Summary: Eli Lilly included in their Strattera label in Europe warnings that Strattera causes “hallucinations, delusional thinking, mania or agitation in children and adolescents without a prior history of psychotic illness or mania…”
Source: “Official warnings issued: The ADHD drug Strattera CAUSES psychosis, hallucinations, mania and agitation” TransWorldNews, November 20, 2008.

Drug Warning, July 01, 2008Canada
Drug Class: Antidepressant,
Generic Name: Atomoxetine,
Brand Name: Strattera,

Age: Children (under 18)
Side Effects: Self-Harm, Suicide Risk, Suicide Attempts, Suicide,
Summary: Health Canada’s Adverse Drug Reaction Newsletter issued a report entitled “Atomoxetine (Strattera) and Suicidal Behaviour: Update.” This report reviewed the recent activities involved with warning the public about the risk of self-harm and the necessity of monitoring suicidal behavior while on this drug. Further, “Health care professionals should remind patients, family members and caregivers to monitor moods, behaviors, thoughts and feelings when ADHD medications are used.”
Source: “Canadian Adverse Reaction Newsletter,” Health Canada, Vol. 18, Iss. 3, July 2008.

Drug Warning, February 21, 2007United States
Drug Class: Antidepressant, Stimulant,
Generic Name: Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine, Methylphenidate, Methamphetamine, Dextroamphetamine, Dexmethylphenidate, Atomoxetine,
Brand Name: Adderall, Concerta, Daytrana, Desoxyn, Dexedrine, Focalin, Metadate CD, Methylin, Ritalin, Ritalin SR, Ritalin LA, Strattera,

Age: Adults (18 and over), Children (under 18)
Side Effects: Mania, Psychosis, Stroke, Cerebrovascular Events, Heart Problems, Cardiac Events,
Summary: The FDA directed ADHD drug manufacturers to distribute “patient friendly” guides to consumers warning about serious psychiatric and cardiovascular problems, including stroke, heart attack, sudden death and psychotic reactions caused by ADHD drugs.
Source: “FDA Directs ADHD Drug Manufacturers to Notify Patients about Cardiovascular Adverse Events and Psychiatric Adverse Events,” FDA News, February 21, 2007.

Drug Warning, October 18, 2006Australia
Drug Class: Antidepressant, Stimulant,
Generic Name: Atomoxetine, Methylphenidate, Dexamphetamine,
Brand Name: Strattera, Ritalin,

Age: Children (under 18)
Side Effects: Headaches, Nausea, Vomiting, Depression, Sleepiness, Drowsiness, Fatigue, Agitation, Irritability, Insomnia, Disturbed Sleep, Heart Problems, Cardiac Events, Abnormally Tight Muscles,
Summary: The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) ordered manufacturers of Ritalin, Strattera and dexamphetamine to add stronger warnings to their information packaging after receiving 200 complaints about the drugs. The TGA had received 123 reports of adverse reactions involving Ritalin, including complaints that it caused headache, nausea, anorexia, somnolence (sleepiness) and depression; 23 reports about atomoxetine (Strattera), including aggression, and 60 reports about dexamphetamine, including seven of agitation, five of tachycardia (rapid heartbeat) and four reports each of hypertonia (abnormally tight muscles), hyperkinesia (muscle spasm) and insomnia.
Source: “ADHD drug risks for kids”, The Australian, Matthew Franklin, October 18, 2006.

Drug Warning, September 21, 2006Canada
Drug Class: Stimulant,
Generic Name: Methylphenidate, Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine, Atomoxetine, Dexmethylphenidate,
Brand Name: Adderall XR, Attenade, Biphentin, Concerta, Dexedrine, Ritalin, Ritalin SR, Strattera,

Age: Children (under 18)
Side Effects: Death, Sudden Death, Agitation, Irritability, Heart Problems, Cardiac Events, Stroke, Cerebrovascular Events, Hallucinations, Delusional Thinking, Sensory Disturbances,
Summary: Health Canada increased warnings on ADHD drugs due to the “potential for psychiatric adverse events” including agitation and hallucinations. This is in addition to earlier Canadian warnings of cardiovascular risks from ADHD Drugs including cardiac arrest, stroke and sudden death.
Source: “New Information Regarding Uncommon Psychiatric Adverse Events For All ADHD Drugs” Information Update, September 21, 2006.

Drug Warning, May 26, 2006Canada
Drug Class: Antidepressant, Stimulant,
Generic Name: Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine, Dextromethylphenidate, Methylphenidate, Dextroamphetamine, Atomoxetine,
Brand Name: Adderall XR, Attenade, Biphentin, Concerta, Dexedrine, Ritalin, Ritalin SR, Strattera,

Age: Adults (18 and over), Children (under 18)
Side Effects: Death, Sudden Death, Blood Pressure Changes, Heart Problems, Cardiac Events, Stroke, Cerebrovascular Events,
Summary: Health Canada issued new warnings of rare heart risks for all drugs prescribed for ADHD, including the risk of sudden death. The public advisory cautioned that the stimulants can increase heart rate and blood pressure and that this can result in “cardiac arrests, strokes or sudden deaths.” This warning applies to both adults and children.
Source: “New cautions regarding rare heart-related risks for all ADHD drugs,” Health Canada, 2006-35, May 26, 2006.

Drug Warning, April 25, 2006Russia
Drug Class: Antidepressant,
Generic Name: Atomoxetine,
Brand Name: Strattera,

Age: Adults (18 and over)
Side Effects: Suicide Risk, Suicide Attempts, Suicide,
Summary: Russia’s Ministry of Health and Social Development issued a ban on Strattera (atomoxetine) because of its ability to cause suicidal inclinations.
Source: R. U. Khabriev, “On suspending the state registration of Strattera medication,” Ministry of Health and social development of Russia Federation, #970-pr/06, April 25, 2006.

Drug Warning, February 16, 2006United Kingdom
Drug Class: Antidepressant,
Generic Name: Atomoxetine,
Brand Name: Strattera,

Age: Adults (18 and over)
Side Effects: Heart Problems, Cardiac Events, Convulsions, Seizures, Muscle Spasms, Liver Problems, Liver Failure, Liver Toxicity,
Summary: UK’s Department of Health’s Commission on Human Medicines issued a warning to health professionals that the antidepressant Strattera can cause seizures, a potentially dangerous lengthening of time between heartbeats, increase risk of suicidal behavior and can cause severe liver disorders.
Source: Gordon Duff, “Message from Professor G. Duff, Chairman, Commission on Human Medicines,” Commission on Human Medicines, CEM/CMO/2006/3, February 16, 2006.