title: Children and adolescent exposures to atomoxetine hydrochloride reported to a poison control center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atomoxetine hydrochloride, a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor was FDA approved for patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Little is known about adverse drug reactions of atomoxetine following an overdose among children. The objective of our study was to evaluate the type of atomoxetine adverse drug reactions in relation to dose.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated children exposed to atomoxetine reported to a poison center from January-December 2004.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-four cases met all inclusion criteria. Twenty-one patients had an adverse drug reaction (15 at dosage range 0.52-6.25 mg/kg): agitation, headache, erythema, rash, elevated blood pressure and heart rate, nausea, emesis, and lethargy. In 51 patients, weights were known: group 1 (n = 43) received higher than maximum recommended doses >1.4 mg/kg and group 2 (n = 8) received < or = 1.4 mg/kg. There were no differences in adverse drug reactions in group 1 versus 2. Eight patients were admitted to a healthcare facility and all were discharged without any sequelae. Hypertension occurred in 3 of 9 patients for whom blood pressure was recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the doses reported, adverse drug reactions did not correlate with atomoxetine dose. Hypertension may occur in some patients following atomoxetine overdose.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Ohio State University and Children's Research Institute, Columbus 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Sasko D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Stojanovski
authors.forename: Renee F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: S David
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Marcel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Casavant
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Milap C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nahata
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D011039:Poison Control Centers; D011437:Propylamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D011437:Propylamines; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride