When the ADHD medication Strattera was launched in 2003, it was marketed as a safer alternative to stimulant drugs Ritalin and Adderall.
After all, Strattera is the world's first non-stimulant medication for ADHD.
Instead of containing amphetamines, Strattera is chemically similar to a class of drugs known as tricyclic antidepressants, which is commonly used for treating bipolar illness.
This means that Strattera won't pose the same substance abuse risk that the first generation of ADHD medications does.
But just because it cannot be used recreationally, it doesn't mean that this drug is completely free of dangerous side effects.
The following Strattera side effects and risks have been reported by studies and patient anecdotes.
Do take a moment to read these risks if your child is taking Strattera or if you are thinking of giving this drug to help your child with ADHD.
Mood swings Extreme wood swings are among the immediate side effects of this drug.
Strattera's manufacturer suggests that the drug may have only triggered an underlying mood disorder instead of causing it.
However, 11% of children who experienced mood destabilization after taking Strattera do not have a health history or family history of mood disorders.
Mania and violence In severe cases, Strattera can cause mania - a state of wild energy characterized by insomnia, racing thoughts, or inappropriate behavior - shortly after taking the drug.
One study recounts how an 11-year-old boy took off his clothes, wrote all over his body using a pen, then went into a screaming rage and threatened to harm his family members using a sword.
He was immediately hospitalized, along with two other children who experienced mania after taking Strattera.
Three other teens experienced violent behavior and were placed in juvenile detention.
Liver damage Although the first 2,000,000 children on Strattera had no liver problems, there were two who experienced severe liver injury after taking the drug.
The good news is that they recovered normal liver function once they discontinued Strattera.
The most obvious sign of liver damage is jaundice - yellowing of eye whites or of the skin.
Other symptoms include dark urine, pain in the upper right abdomen, itching, and unexplained flu-like symptoms.
Discontinue medication immediately and take your child to the hospital if you notice these side effects.
Suicidal thoughts and suicide Perhaps the most worrisome side effect of Strattera is suicidal thoughts - clinical trials show that the drug doubles the risk of suicidal behavior and thinking among children and teens.
The problem is that suicidal thoughts are not as easy to detect as the other side effects.
In cases where parents had no idea what was going on in their child's mind, the child ended up committing suicide.
Because of these reported deaths, Strattera now contains a black box warning about possible suicidal ideation among those who take this drug.
After all, Strattera is the world's first non-stimulant medication for ADHD.
Instead of containing amphetamines, Strattera is chemically similar to a class of drugs known as tricyclic antidepressants, which is commonly used for treating bipolar illness.
This means that Strattera won't pose the same substance abuse risk that the first generation of ADHD medications does.
But just because it cannot be used recreationally, it doesn't mean that this drug is completely free of dangerous side effects.
The following Strattera side effects and risks have been reported by studies and patient anecdotes.
Do take a moment to read these risks if your child is taking Strattera or if you are thinking of giving this drug to help your child with ADHD.
Mood swings Extreme wood swings are among the immediate side effects of this drug.
Strattera's manufacturer suggests that the drug may have only triggered an underlying mood disorder instead of causing it.
However, 11% of children who experienced mood destabilization after taking Strattera do not have a health history or family history of mood disorders.
Mania and violence In severe cases, Strattera can cause mania - a state of wild energy characterized by insomnia, racing thoughts, or inappropriate behavior - shortly after taking the drug.
One study recounts how an 11-year-old boy took off his clothes, wrote all over his body using a pen, then went into a screaming rage and threatened to harm his family members using a sword.
He was immediately hospitalized, along with two other children who experienced mania after taking Strattera.
Three other teens experienced violent behavior and were placed in juvenile detention.
Liver damage Although the first 2,000,000 children on Strattera had no liver problems, there were two who experienced severe liver injury after taking the drug.
The good news is that they recovered normal liver function once they discontinued Strattera.
The most obvious sign of liver damage is jaundice - yellowing of eye whites or of the skin.
Other symptoms include dark urine, pain in the upper right abdomen, itching, and unexplained flu-like symptoms.
Discontinue medication immediately and take your child to the hospital if you notice these side effects.
Suicidal thoughts and suicide Perhaps the most worrisome side effect of Strattera is suicidal thoughts - clinical trials show that the drug doubles the risk of suicidal behavior and thinking among children and teens.
The problem is that suicidal thoughts are not as easy to detect as the other side effects.
In cases where parents had no idea what was going on in their child's mind, the child ended up committing suicide.
Because of these reported deaths, Strattera now contains a black box warning about possible suicidal ideation among those who take this drug.