ADHD Questions

Can you drink alcohol with Strattera (atomoxetine)?

December 6, 2022

Key Points

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Strattera is a non-stimulant medication used for ADHD treatment.

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Studies on Strattera and alcohol have not shown significant negative interactions when taken together.

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In fact, some clinicians recommend Strattera as a treatment for ADHD in patients who also have an alcohol use disorder.

What does the FDA say about Strattera and alcohol?

The current drug label for Strattera states that Strattera doesn’t affect how your body reacts to alcohol.

Some medications have clear interactions with alcohol, and you want to avoid drinking while taking these medications. Fortunately, Strattera isn’t one of these.

This doesn’t mean you necessarily should drink while on Strattera. But, for now, there’s no known interaction between Strattera and alcohol.

What is a drug label?

What do other experts say about alcohol and Strattera?

Some experts recommend against mixing Strattera and alcohol despite the lack of evidence. In general, drinking less is a good idea, particularly when treating mental illnesses.

NAMI recommends not drinking or using drugs when taking Strattera.

National Alliance on Mental Illness:

“Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs while you are taking this medication. They may decrease the benefits (e.g., worsen your condition) and increase adverse effects (e.g., sedation) of the medication.”

The manufacturer of Strattera has put out information stating that Strattera can be taken by people with an alcohol use disorder. This was based on a study looking specifically at ADHD in patients who were chronic drinkers. This study found that Strattera was safe and effective as an ADHD treatment.

Eli Lilly

Data from a recent clinical study showed Strattera(R) (atomoxetine HCl) improved symptoms of Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in patients with comorbid alcohol abuse disorder, suggesting ADHD can be treated safely and effectively with Strattera in patients with both disorders.

A study published in BMC Psychiatry similarly found that ADHD medications in general haven’t shown serious issues yet when combined with alcohol.

BMC Psychiatry

The numbers across all the papers studied remain too low to exclude uncommon effects. Also, studies of combined effects with novel psychoactive substances have not yet appeared in the literature. Nevertheless, no serious sequelae were identified from combining ADHD medication with alcohol/illicit substances from the pre-novel psychoactive substance era.

What do the studies say?

While combining alcohol and Strattera hasn’t been studied in depth, at least one trial has looked at Strattera in patients who are chronic drinkers.

They found that patients taking Strattera successfully reduced their ADHD symptoms.

There were no safety concerns found in the study. In fact, patients who were given Strattera had fewer heavy drinking days, though the jury is still out on whether Strattera can treat binge drinking in patients who have ADHD and an alcohol use disorder.

Key Takeaways

It is generally a good idea to drink less, particularly if you are facing mental health challenges.

However, regarding Strattera specifically, there’s not much evidence pointing to particular dangers for chronic drinkers.

In fact, Strattera is preferred by some clinicians for treating ADHD in patients who are chronic drinkers because it's not addictive.

Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any medication for ADHD.

Strattera is an SNRI commonly prescribed for ADHD. It comes in a capsule with doses ranging from 10mg to 100mg. It can increase the risk of suicidal ideation in children and adolescents. The side effects of Strattera include nausea, fatigue, constipation, decreased appetite, and sleep dysfunction.