Vayarin vs. Strattera
Are Vayarin and Strattera the Same Thing?
Vayarin (lipirinen) and Strattera (atomoxetine) are used to treat different aspects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Vayarin is used to manage certain lipid imbalances associated with ADHD.
Strattera is used to treat symptoms associated with ADHD.
Vayarin and Strattera belong to different drug classes. Vayarin is a medical food and Strattera is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.
Side effects of Vayarin and Strattera that are similar include itching, nausea, and trouble sleeping (insomnia).
Side effects of Vayarin that are different from Strattera include abdominal pain, dry skin, tics, hyperactivity, tantrums, and headache.
Side effects of Strattera that are different from Vayarin include dry mouth, cough, decreased appetite, upset stomach, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, irritability, constipation, skin rash, increased menstrual cramps, and sexual side effects including impotence, loss of interest in sex, or trouble having an orgasm.
Vayarin may interact with anticholinergic and cholinergic medications.
Strattera may also interact with albuterol, amiodarone, bupropion, celecoxib, cimetidine, doxorubicin, methadone, metoclopramide, quinidine, ritonavir, ranitidine, terbinafine, antidepressants, antihistamines, and sleep medicines.
What Are Possible Side Effects of Vayarin?
Side effects of Vayarin include:
What Are Possible Side Effects of Strattera?
Common side effects of Strattera include:
- trouble sleeping (insomnia),
- dry mouth,
- cough,
- decreased appetite,
- upset stomach,
- nausea or vomiting,
- dizziness,
- drowsiness,
- irritability,
- constipation,
- skin rash,
- itching,
- increased menstrual cramps, and
- sexual side effects including
- impotence,
- loss of interest in sex, or
- trouble having an orgasm.
What Is Vayarin?
Vayarin (lipirinen) is a medical food used to manage certain lipid imbalances associated with ADHD.
What Is Strattera?
Strattera is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor medicine. It is used for the treatment of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Strattera may help increase attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in patients with ADHD.
Strattera should be used as a part of a total treatment program for ADHD that may include counseling or other therapies.
Strattera has not been studied in children less than 6 years old.
What Drugs Interact With Vayarin?
Vayarin may interact with anticholinergic and cholinergic medications. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
What Drugs Interact With Strattera?
Tell your doctor about all the medicines that you or your child takes including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Strattera and some medicines may interact with each other and cause serious side effects. Your doctor will decide whether Strattera can be taken with other medicines.
Especially tell your doctor if you or your child takes:
- asthma medicines
- anti-depression medicines including MAOIs
- blood pressure medicines
- cold or allergy medicines that contain decongestants
Know the medicines that you or your child takes. Keep a list of your medicines with you to show your doctor and pharmacist.
Do not start any new medicine while taking Strattera without talking to your doctor first.
How Should Vayarin Be Taken?
The usual dose of Vayarin is 2 capsules daily or as directed by a physician.
How Should Strattera Be Taken?
- Take Strattera exactly as prescribed. Strattera comes in different dose strength capsules. Your doctor may adjust the dose until it is right for you or your child.
- Do not chew, crush, or open the capsules. Swallow Strattera capsules whole with water or other liquids. Tell your doctor if you or your child cannot swallow Strattera whole. A different medicine may need to be prescribed.
- Avoid touching a broken Strattera capsule. Wash hands and surfaces that touched an open Strattera capsule. If any of the powder gets in your eyes or your child's eyes, rinse them with water right away and call your doctor.
- Strattera can be taken with or without food.
- Strattera is usually taken once or twice a day. Take Strattera at the same time each day to help you remember. If you miss a dose of Strattera, take it as soon as you remember that day. If you miss a day of Strattera, do not double your dose the next day. Just skip the day you missed.
- From time to time, your doctor may stop Strattera treatment for a while to check ADHD symptoms.
- Your doctor may do regular checks of the blood, heart, and blood pressure while taking Strattera. Children should have their height and weight checked often while taking Strattera. Strattera treatment may be stopped if a problem is found during these check-ups.
- If you or your child takes too much Strattera or overdoses, call your doctor or poison control center right away, or get emergency treatment.
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