New therapy for attention deficit disorder
From next month, a non-stimulant drug licensed for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) will be available in the UK.
Strattera (atomoxetine hydrochloride) is a selective inhibitor of the
presynaptic noradrenaline transporter and is licensed for the treatment
of ADHD in children aged six years and older, adolescents and adults.
It has been available in the US since 2002.
Eli Lilly, the company launching the drug, says that atomoxetine is the
first non-stimulant treatment for ADHD to be available in the UK that
provides comparable efficacy to methylphenidate (Ritalin) in relieving
core ADHD symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Furthermore, atomoxetine has been shown to provide 24-hour symptom relief.
The company adds that there is no evidence that atomoxetine has the potential
to be abused and is not an amphetamine derivative or a Controlled Drug. Six randomised,
double-blind clinical trials involving over 4,000 children and adolescents have
shown that is superior to placebo in reducing ADHD symptoms, as did two randomised,
double-blind studies in adults.
Atomoxetine should be initiated at approximately 0.5mg per kg per day for children
and adolescents weighing up to 70kg, and at 40mg for those who weigh more than
70kg and adults. The initial dose should be maintained for a minimum of seven
days before upward dose titration. The recommended maintenance dose is 1.2mg
per kg per day for those under 70kg and 80mg for adults and those weighing over
70kg.
Atomoxetine should not be used in combination with monoamine oxidase inhibitors,
or for two weeks before or after MAOI therapy.
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