Benefits Of Taking Strattera At Night & Most Common Side Effects

Strattera is a brand name for the drug Atomoxetine. It is a medicine primarily used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children above six and adults. It is considered a non-stimulant drug that helps with various issues like attention disorder, impulsive behaviours and hyperactivity. Furthermore, there are also some benefits of taking Strattera at night, which we will discuss in this article. Keep reading to know how Strattera can benefit you at night, its side effects, and some tips to keep in mind when taking Strattera. 

What Are The Benefits Of Taking Strattera At Night?

Strattera or Atomoxetine can be taken with or without the food. Medical professionals recommend taking the medicine once or twice a day, once in the morning and the evening.

Here are some benefits of taking Strattera at night that you may experience:

• Qualitative Sleep – Many patients who took Strattera at night experienced deep and qualitative sleep. In some cases, some individuals also had weird dreams at night. 
• Mood Betterment – Strattera improves your sleep quality; consequently, you may experience an increase in your mood throughout the day.
• Longer Sleep – Strattera helps you sleep faster and longer. Within a few hours of taking Strattera, you may begin feeling sleepy and get a longer sleep, probably for eight hours straight. Falling asleep faster is found more commonly in children. 
• May Increase Dopamine Levels At Night – Strattera is also known to increase dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex area of the brain. Along with that, many people also experienced increased concentration at night. 

Some other benefits of taking Strattera include the following:

• Reduces ADHD Symptoms – As mentioned above, Strattera mainly treats ADHD. Within one month of taking the medicine, you may notice a significant reduction in your ADHD symptoms. 
• Help With Anxiety or Depression – Strattera is also known to treat Anxiety and depression. It is worth noting that the Food And Drug Administration does not approve Strattera to treat mental disorders like anxiety. But, it is considered as an off-label use to treat anxiety or depression. 
• May Help Quit Smoking – A few studies have stated that taking Strattera can help reduce smoking behaviour in some individuals. However, more scientific studies are required on the subject in order to come to a concrete conclusion if Strattera helps smoking addiction or not.

What Are The Side Effects Of Taking Strattera?

Here are some of the most common side effects that you may experience when taking Strattera. 

• Changes in Sleep Pattern – Aside from improving your sleep quality, Strattera can also disrupt your sleep patterns. You may experience fatigue, insomnia, drowsiness and other sleep-related problems. 
• Headache – Headache is another common side effect people experience while on Strattera. Generally, it can result in anyone, but more commonly found in children. 
• Loss Of Appetite – During the clinical trial of Strattera, it was found that around 16% of children and adults experienced loss of appetite. It may lead to other problems like weight loss and nutrient deficiency.
• Nausea – Nausea is one of the common side effects which is mostly noticed in adults and rarely in children. However, children are more likely to experience vomiting when on Strattera. 
• Mood Changes – Another side effect you may experience while being on Strattera is mood swings, which are more common in children and may show mood changes like increased aggression. 
• Dry Mouth – Dry mouth, feeling thirsty, and difficulty in swallowing food are some common side effects of taking Strattera.

There are also some rare, but serious side effects of taking Strattera, for example, heart problems, liver damage, suicidal thoughts or actions. In that case, immediate medical help is required. 

Who Should Not Take Strattera?

Besides the benefits of taking Strattera at night, it’s also good to know who should avoid it.

If you are allergic to Strattera or have severe blood vessel or heart problems, avoid the medicine and discuss the same with your doctor. Anyone suffering from health problems like narrow-angle glaucoma or Pheochromocytoma should also stay away from Strattera. 

There are also some health conditions that you should discuss with your doctor before begin taking Strattera, including: 

• Family health history of heart problems
• High or low blood pressure
• Liver problems
• Any mental disorder 

Things To Keep In Mind When Taking Strattera

Here are a few things to keep in mind in order to minimise the risk of complications when taking Strattera. 

• Always swallow Strattera as a whole capsule. Do not try to crush, chew or open the capsule. It will reduce the effectiveness of the medicine and may also result in some side effects. 
• Strattera can make you feel drowsy or tired. Thus, do not perform risky activities like driving or operating a machine. It’s recommended to monitor yourself and know how Strattera is affecting you. 
• After taking Strattera, do not take over-the-counter medications without consulting your doctor. 
• Do not touch your eyes after handling the Strattera capsule, as it can irritate them. However, if it comes into contact with your eyes by mistake, wash them immediately. Also, talk to your doctor about any precautions you need to maintain afterwards.
• Always take Strattera as your doctor has prescribed. 
• Daily dosage of Strattera should not exceed 100 mg a day as it can result in an overdose or may cause serious side effects. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many hours does Strattera work for?

Strattera’s effects can last for more than 24 hours. 

2. Can Strattera work immediately?

According to health experts, Strattera can take between 4-6 weeks to show its full effects on an individual.

3. What are the side effects of Strattera for someone without ADHD?

If you take Strattera without ADHD, you will likely experience various side effects like increased anger, excessive thirst, loss of appetite, nausea, etc. However, which side effects may take place depends from person to person.

4. Which Foods to Avoid While Taking Strattera?

Avoid beverages, alcohol and any non-prescription medicines while taking Strattera. They may reduce the medicine’s effectiveness and cause other side effects. You should also talk to your doctor about which foods you should avoid when taking Strattera. 

Conclusion

Strattera is an effective medication to treat the symptoms of ADHD. Besides that, there are also many benefits of taking Strattera at night, including qualitative sleep and overall improvement in mood. The medicine should never be consumed without prescription.

However, Strattera also has some side effects like dry mouth, low appetite, headache, mood swings, nausea, etc., that you must be aware of. Most side effects usually resolve on their own, but if any of them persist, seek immediate medical help.

Also, remember to inform your doctor in advance if you are already suffering from any disease, especially if it’s a heart-related problem.