Health World News and Features

New York (Reuters Health) – Pooled data from 13 trials indicate that the drug Strattera, known technically as atomoxetine, continues to work well for teens with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder ADHD over at least two years, with no surprise side effects.

In comments to Reuters Health, Dr. Timothy Wilens from Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, said: “Given that atomoxetine is relatively new to the market, our longer term findings in adolescents are reassuring in that the medication continues to be effective without evidence of tolerance and is well tolerated without any unforeseen side effects emerging with chronic use.

Wilens and colleagues note in the Journal of Pediatrics that young children with ADHD are often treated with the stimulant drug Ritalin, but atomoxetine, a nonstimulant, has appeal for use in order children and adolescents with ADHD; it is dosed once daily, limited abuse potential, and has a long duration of action.

The researchers report on 601 subjects 12 to 18 years of age treated with atomoxetine in clinical trials. Of these, 219 completed at least two years of treatment.

According to the authors, atomoxetine produced “significant improvement” in ADHD symptoms over the first three months of treatment, and symptoms remained improved up to two years without the need up the dose of the drug.

During the two-year period, 99 subjects (16.5 percent) stopped taking atomoxetine due to lack of effectiveness and 31 (5.2 percent) discontinued treatment due to side effects.

January 15, 2007, Philippine Star