Atomoxetine for the Treatment of Attention-Deficit Hiperactivity Disorder: Case Series of a Tertiary Care Portuguese Hospital Atomoxetina no Tratamento da Perturbaça?o da Hiperatividade - De?fice de Atença?o: Casuística de um Hospital Tercia?rio Português

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common pediatric neurobehavioral disorder, and use of pharmacological agents is often necessary in its therapeutic approach. Atomoxetine, a selective presynaptic noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, is a non-stimulant drug approved since 2002 for treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents.
The goal of this study was to evaluate the prescribing profile of atomoxetine, including main indications for prescrip-tion, comorbidities, dosage, efficacy and possible adverse events, in a tertiary hospital.
METHODS: A retrospective study of all patients diagnosed with ADHD who started treatment with atomoxetine within 24 months.
RESULTS: The sample consisted of 43 patients, of whom 39 completed at least 2 months of treatment with atomoxe-tine, achieving a therapeutic efficacy of 71.8% with a good safety profile (only 3 patients discontinued the drug due to adverse events).
CONCLUSION: The authors emphasize the safety and efficacy of atomoxetine in the treatment of ADHD in the stud-ied sample, especially after adverse effects or low efficacy of treatment with psychostimulants.