This article describes possible interactions with atomoxetine oral capsule. Interactions can cause a drug to have a different effect on the body than expected. Interactions can occur due to medications, alcohol, or certain health conditions.
Boxed warning: Risk of suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents
Atomoxetine has a boxed warning for the risk of suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
See the end of this article for more information about this warning.
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Other drugs and atomoxetine
The drugs in the list below may interact with atomoxetine oral capsule. This article doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with atomoxetine.
Drug classes or drugs that may interact with atomoxetine oral capsule include:
- anticoagulants:
- drug examples: rivaroxaban (Xarelto), edoxaban (Savaysa)
- what might happen: can increase the risk of bleeding
- antidepressants:
- drug examples: citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac)
- what might happen: can cause long QT syndrome (changes in the heart’s electrical signals, which can lead to serious and life threatening heart rhythm problems)
- antivirals:
- certain antiarrhythmic drugs:
- drug examples: dronedarone (Multaq), amiodarone (Pacerone)
- what might happen: can cause long QT syndrome
- certain antibiotics:
- certain antifungal drugs:
- drug examples: ketoconazole, levoketoconazole (Recorlev)
- what might happen: can cause long QT syndrome
- certain nausea medications:
- drug examples: dolasetron (Anzemet), ondansetron
- what might happen: can cause long QT syndrome
- certain antipsychotic drugs:
- drug examples: pimozide, quetiapine (Seroquel)
- what might happen: can cause long QT syndrome
- small molecule inhibitor drugs:
- drug examples: ceritinib (Zykadia), crizotinib (Xalkori)
- what might happen: can cause long QT syndrome
- blood pressure drugs:
- drug examples: dopamine, dobutamine
- what might happen: can increase heart rate and blood pressure
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs):*
- drug examples: selegiline (Emsam, Zelapar), phenelzine (Nardil)
- what might happen: can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome (high levels of serotonin in your body, which may be serious and life threatening)
* See the “When to avoid atomoxetine” section for more details about this interaction.
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Other interactions and atomoxetine
Interactions can occur with foods, supplements, vaccines, and some lab tests. Below you can learn whether atomoxetine oral capsule has these interactions.
The information below doesn’t include all other possible interactions with atomoxetine.
Atomoxetine and food
Atomoxetine oral capsule isn’t known to interact with foods. In general, this means there are no foods to avoid while taking amoxetine. But this doesn’t mean interactions with foods can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what foods you should avoid while taking atomoxetine oral capsule.
Atomoxetine and supplements
Before taking atomoxetine oral capsule, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs you take, as well as vitamins and supplements. Doing so may help you avoid interactions.
Atomoxetine oral capsule may interact with quinine. This supplement is often used for leg cramps.
Taking atomoxetine and quinine may lead to long QT syndrome, which can cause life threatening heart problems.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Atomoxetine interactions with vitamins
Atomoxetine oral capsule isn’t known to interact with any vitamins. But this doesn’t mean interactions with vitamins can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
Because of this, ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking atomoxetine oral capsule.
Atomoxetine interactions with herbs
Atomoxetine oral capsule isn’t known to interact with any herbs. But this doesn’t mean interactions with herbs can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
Because of this, ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking atomoxetine oral capsule.
Atomoxetine and vaccines
Atomoxetine oral capsule isn’t known to interact with any vaccines. But this doesn’t mean interactions with vaccines can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before receiving any vaccines while taking atomoxetine oral capsule.
Atomoxetine and lab tests
Atomoxetine oral capsule isn’t known to interact with lab tests. But this doesn’t mean interactions with lab tests can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before having any tests while taking atomoxetine oral capsule.
Atomoxetine and cannabis or CBD
Atomoxetine oral capsule isn’t known to interact with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But this doesn’t mean interactions can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
As with any drug or supplement, tell your doctor before taking cannabis with atomoxetine.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Health factors and atomoxetine warnings
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may increase the risk of interactions with atomoxetine oral capsule. Keep in mind that interactions could lead to side effects or affect how well the drug works. Before taking atomoxetine, tell your doctor about your health history. They’ll discuss any atomoxetine warnings and determine whether atomoxetine is right for you.
These health conditions or other factors might interact with atomoxetine oral capsule:
* See the “When to avoid atomoxetine” section below for more details about this interaction.
† Atomoxetine has a boxed warning for the risk of suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For more details, see the “Boxed warning for atomoxetine” section below.
Alcohol and atomoxetine
Atomoxetine oral capsule is not known to have interactions with alcohol.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it while taking atomoxetine oral capsule.
Questions about atomoxetine and interactions
Here you’ll find answers to some common questions about atomoxetine and possible interactions.
Are there atomoxetine interactions with caffeine?
No, atomoxetine oral capsule isn’t known to interact with caffeine. But caffeine can increase your blood pressure, especially if you consume a lot of it. Atomoxetine can also increase blood pressure as a side effect. So consuming caffeine and taking atomoxetine together could raise your blood pressure further.
If you have questions about atomoxetine interactions with caffeine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Are there atomoxetine interactions with cold medications?
Yes, atomoxetine oral capsule can interact with certain cold medications, including decongestants. Pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine are examples of decongestants. Taking decongestants with atomoxetine can cause increases in heart rate and blood pressure.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about cold medications that are safe to use with atomoxetine.
When to avoid atomoxetine
Certain health conditions or other factors could increase some risks with atomoxetine oral capsule. Because of this, doctors may not prescribe atomoxetine in these cases. These health conditions or other factors are called contraindications.
Here’s a list of contraindications for atomoxetine oral capsule:
- MAOIs. If you take an MAOI, taking atomoxetine oral capsule may cause serotonin syndrome. This is a serious side effect that can be life threatening.
- Narrow-angle glaucoma. If you have narrow-angle glaucoma, taking atomoxetine oral capsule may cause worsening eye pressure. Narrow-angle glaucoma is a type of eye condition that increases the pressure in your eye.
- Pheochromocytoma. If you have pheochromocytoma (a type of tumor in your adrenal glands), taking atomoxetine oral capsule may cause serious side effects. These include increases in blood pressure and heart rate.
- Severe heart and blood vessel disease. If you have severe heart and blood vessel disease, taking atomoxetine oral capsule may cause serious side effects. These include increases in blood pressure and heart rate.
- Past allergic reaction to atomoxetine. If you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to atomoxetine oral capsule, taking it again may cause a life threatening allergic reaction.
Before you start taking atomoxetine, tell your doctor if anything listed above relates to you. They can recommend whether you should take atomoxetine.
Preventing atomoxetine interactions
You may be able to help avoid certain interactions with atomoxetine oral capsule. Before taking this drug, you may want to discuss possible interactions with your doctor and pharmacist.
Things to consider include:
- Other medications, as well as vitamins and supplements. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you fill out a medication list.
- What to do if you’re prescribed a new drug while taking atomoxetine oral capsule.
Taking atomoxetine exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
What to ask your doctor
If you have questions about atomoxetine and possible interactions, talk with your doctor.
Questions you may want to ask your doctor include:
- Should I tell you if I start taking another medication or supplement during my atomoxetine treatment?
- Do other drugs that could treat my condition have similar interactions?
- Could I still take atomoxetine even if it interacts with a health condition I have?
Boxed warning for atomoxetine
Atomoxetine has a boxed warning for the risk of suicidal thoughts in children and adolescents. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.
There were no reports of suicide during studies of atomoxetine. But in rare cases, suicidal thoughts occurred in children or adolescents.
Warning signs and symptoms of suicidal thoughts in a person include:
Suicidal thoughts may be more common when first starting treatment and after dosage increases. Certain factors can also increase the risk of suicidal thoughts with atomoxetine. These include having bipolar disorder and past suicidal thoughts or actions.
Due to this risk, doctors will monitor you for new or worsening mental health symptoms when you start atomoxetine treatment. Friends and family members can also monitor for any new or concerning symptoms.
To learn more about this warning, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Suicide prevention
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
