Pharmacopsychiatry 2003; 36 - 35
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-825286

Pharmacologic properties of atomoxetine: a novel treatment for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

F Bymaster 1, J Witcher 1, D Michelson 1, RW Dittmann 2, 3
  • 1Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, USA
  • 2Psychosomatic Department, Children’s Hospital, University of Hamburg, Germany
  • 3Medical Department, Lilly Deutschland GmbH, Germany

The purpose of this presentation is to review the pharmacologic properties of atomoxetine, a new, non-stimulant medication recently approved in the United States for the treatment of ADHD. This presentation includes the chemical structure, proposed mechanism of action, and pharmacokinetics.

Atomoxetine is a highly specific, presynaptic inhibitor of the norepinephrine transporter and has little affinity for other neurotransmitter receptor or transporter sites. This specificity provides evidence for the proposed mechanism of action and offers an explanation for the lack of some adverse events associated with currently available treatments for ADHD. Atomoxetine is rapidly absorbed following oral administration and is metabolized by the genetically polymorphic CYP2D6 enzyme pathway.

Atomoxetine is a novel treatment for ADHD with unique pharmacologic properties that distinguish it from currently available treatments for ADHD.

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