ADHD Questions
ADHD Treatment Questions
Does Strattera cause panic attacks?
Charles Li MD
December 9, 2022
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There were cases of panic attacks in clinical trials for Strattera.
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Fortunately, they were rare. In fact, many patients saw improvements in their anxiety.
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If you do experience panic attacks on Strattera, be sure to tell your clinician.
Were there panic attacks in Strattera’s clinical trials?
Panic attacks occurred during clinical trials for Strattera. However, they were relatively rare.
Study Quote
The following symptoms have been reported with STRATTERA: anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, akathisia (psychomotor restlessness), hypomania and mania. Although a causal link between the emergence of such symptoms and the em...
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Doctors and scientists base their understanding of a drug’s side effects by running clinical trials.
During a trial, researchers evaluate whether a drug is safe and effective. Doctors closely monitor patients to see whether potential side effects develop.
While Strattera was generally safe, it did have some side effects.
Out of 541 patients tested, 61 withdrew from the clinical trial because of side effects. These were the most common ones:
As you can see in the data above, panic attacks and anxiety were not among the top side effects in Strattera clinical trials though they did occur.
Does Strattera cause anxiety?
The data so far shows that Strattera works quite well in patients with anxiety disorders.
One clinical trial in adults with social anxiety found that patients on Strattera actually had improved their social anxiety symptoms after treatment.
A small clinical trial found that Strattera could help reduce anxiety symptoms in those with ADHD.
According to the FDA, Strattera does not seem to worsen anxiety in patients.
STRATTERA did not worsen anxiety in either pediatric or adult patients, and may be used in patients with ADHD and comorbid anxiety disorders.
Risk of suicidal ideation on Strattera
There is one rare but concerning side effect to keep in mind when thinking about Strattera and anxiety.
Strattera has a black box warning for the risk of suicidal ideation, otherwise known as the development of suicidal thoughts.
This is a rare but serious potential side effect of Strattera.
This was concerning enough for the FDA to place a black box warning on Strattera, the most serious warning label required by the FDA.
This applies specifically to children and adolescents who take Strattera.