Strattera Dosage: Form, Strengths, How to Take & More

Strattera Forms & Strengths

Strattera is available in capsules ranging from 10 mg to 100 mg. The right dosage for patients taking this medication may differ between individuals. Your doctor will consider a dose for you or your child that is determined by diagnosis, age, weight, medical history, how well the first and following doses are working, and how well you can tolerate the medication.¹

Strattera is available in the following forms and strengths:¹

• 10 milligrams (mg) oral capsule
• 18 milligrams (mg) oral capsule
• 25 milligrams (mg) oral capsule
• 40 milligrams (mg) oral capsule
• 60 milligrams (mg) oral capsule
• 80 milligrams (mg) oral capsule
• 100 milligrams (mg) oral capsule

Take medications, like Strattera, as prescribed by your provider to get the most benefit to treat ADHD symptoms. Taking medications as prescribed can help avoid unintended effects that can potentially be harmful or deadly.

Strattera Dosage for Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Strattera is commonly used as an FDA-approved medication for treating ADHD in children, adolescents, and adults. Children and adults have different starting and target doses. No dose adjustment is needed for older adults. Significant ADHD symptom improvement in adults can be seen after two weeks of starting Strattera.^{1, 4}

Here is Strattera dosage information for treatment for adult ADHD:^{1, 4}

• Typical starting dosage: When starting Strattera in adults, the initial dose is 40 mg per day.
• Dosage increases: After taking the typical starting dose for 3 days, your provider may increase your dose to 80 mg per day. This 80 mg can either be taken once daily or divided twice daily.
• Maximum dosage:  After two to four weeks of being on the increased dose, your doctor may decide to increase to a recommended maximum dose of 100 mg per day.

Strattera Dosage for Children & Adolescents With ADHD

Strattera is also an FDA-approved treatment for ADHD in children and ADHD in adolescents that are age 6 and older. Dosing in children and adolescents is based on body weight and can be given once daily or in two divided doses, once in the morning and once in the late afternoon or early evening. It may take up to a week to start noticing improvements in ADHD symptoms.^{1, 5}

Here is Strattera dosage information for ADHD in children and adolescents:¹

• Typical starting dosage: For children and adolescents weighing 70 kg (about 154 pounds) or less, Strattera is started at 0.5 mg/kg. For children and adolescents weighing more than 154 pounds, Strattera is started at 40 mg per day.
• Dosage increases:  In children and adolescents weighing 154 pounds or less, after taking the starting dose for at least 3 days the provider may increase the dose. In children and adolescents weighing more than 154 pounds, the provider may increase the dose to 80 mg once daily or 40mg twice daily.
• Maximum dosage: In children and adolescents weighing 154 pounds or less, the maximum dose is 1.4 mg/kg or 100 mg, whichever is lower. The maximum dose for children and adults over 154 pounds is 100 mg.

Strattera Dosing Considerations

Initial and target doses should be half the normal dose in patients with moderate liver impairment or one-quarter of normal doses in severe liver impairment. Your prescriber will likely discontinue Strattera if you have jaundice or severe liver injury.

How to Take Strattera

Strattera is only supplied as an oral immediate-release (IR) capsule in the US. It can be taken with or without food. Its contents can irritate the eyes, so it should not be opened, crushed, or chewed. If a patient cannot swallow it and another medication cannot be chosen, a compounding pharmacy could prepare an alternative formulation (e.g. liquid).¹

What to Do if I Miss a Dose of Strattera?

Some patients may stop using Strattera once they start feeling better. Some patients may stop using Strattera when they experience side effects from the drug. Once your body gets used to Strattera, some initial effects will be less severe or may completely disappear.

It is important to continue the medication despite these effects. Abruptly discontinuing Strattera can disrupt the stabilization of brain chemicals and lead to additional or worsening ADHD symptoms. Regular communication with healthcare professionals is recommended to address concerns, fine-tune the dosage, and ensure the best treatment outcomes.¹

Strattera’s duration of action is up to 24 hours. A missed dose could result in the return of ADHD symptoms until the next dose is taken. If enough doses are missed, it could take more time to become effective again.^{1, 6, 7, 8}

Strattera Withdrawal

Withdrawal is very rarely observed clinically and the drug can be safely discontinued in this case.

Symptoms of withdrawal from Strattera include:¹

• Decreased heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Inability to regulate temperature.

Can You Overdose on Strattera?

Yes, you can overdose on Strattera. Patients have reported seizures due to Strattera overdose. The potential for severe liver injury may exist for some people taking Strattera. The medication should be discontinued in patients who develop jaundice (yellowish appearance of the skin and the whites of the eyes) or liver injury.^{1, 9}

Signs of an overdose on Strattera include:^{1, 9, 10, 11}

• Increased heart rate
• Increased blood pressure
• Headache
• Agitation
• Nausea/vomiting
• Rash
• Tremor
• Drowsiness/dizziness
• Seizure

What Should You Do If You Take Too Much Strattera?

If an overdose is suspected, call 1(800) 222-1222 for specific guidance from Poison Control.

Seek emergency medical attention for a potential Strattera overdose if:¹²

• Too much Strattera was taken on purpose
• Any overdose symptoms are present
• The person is unable to estimate the amount of Strattera taken (dose is unknown)
• The amount ingested is more than 100mg or more than 2 capsules at once

Questions to Ask Your Health Team About Strattera Dosage

In the case of an emergency, call 911. The toll-free Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222) connects you to your local poison center to speak with a poison expert immediately. This expert can advise you on first aid and may save you from visiting the emergency room if an overdose is suspected.

Questions to ask your care team about Strattera dosages include:

• Is it safe to take Strattera with my other medications?
• Will Strattera be covered by my insurance?
• Does my medical history indicate a need to adjust my dosage?
• How long will it take before my symptoms improve?
• Should I let my therapist know I am taking this medication?
• What should I do if I want to stop taking Strattera?
• What is the recommended starting dosage for Strattera?
• How often should I take the medication, and at what time of day?
• Are there any specific instructions for taking Strattera with or without food?
• How will my dosage be adjusted over time, if necessary?
• Are there any factors that may require a higher or lower dosage than usual?
• Are there any specific symptoms or side effects that may indicate the need for a dosage adjustment?
• How long should I stay on a particular dosage before evaluating its effectiveness?
• What should I do if I accidentally miss a dose of Strattera?
• Can I adjust my dosage on my own, or should I always consult with my healthcare provider first?
• Are there any lifestyle or dietary factors that may interact with the effectiveness of Strattera or its dosage?

In My Experience

In my experience, Strattera has been a good treatment option for my patients with ADHD. It’s important to talk to your provider about this topic and follow their guidance on treatment. Strattera is not in the stimulant class like other ADHD medications, so it is a good option to ask your provider if you cannot tolerate the side effects of ADHD stimulant medications (e.g. inability to sleep, loss of appetite), like Adderall and Ritalin.

It may take some time to find the most effective dose for your symptoms, so it is also important to be patient and communicate well with your prescriber. Your provider, psychiatrist, and pharmacist can be great resources to help you find the ADHD medication and dose that is the right fit for you.