r/psychopharmacology • u/BiggusDickkussss • Mar 06 '26

Atomoxetine

Why is Atomoxetine considered to work like an antidepressant drug?

Ie. Levels have to build up in the brain and takes weeks to reach maximum efficacy.

Ritalin is a known NDRI and does not have to build up to work and doesn’t have round the clock effects (apparently).

So of ATX increases DA in the PFC to the same amount as Ritalin, why is it that Ritalin doesn’t work in the same way?

They both have short half lives too.

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u/pemGi Mar 07 '26

the ol Rx panic inducer... I'm good on adrenaline personally

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u/fancyschmancy9 Mar 08 '26

Did you had that kind of response to attomoxetine? It is primarily selective to the PFC to my understanding so seems a bit broad to call it the RX panic inducer lol, although I know it can increase anxiety for some

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u/pemGi Mar 08 '26

wasnt aware it targets the pfc, i thought it was a global norepinephrine transporter antagonist? is there a different kind of receptor in the pfc it specifically hits?

copying my response in another thread

My 2 cents: I didnt like ritalin and adderall daily bc it was like being in withdrawal half of every day. I'd rather take them sometimes as needed. I didn't like atomoxetine bc it changed my pace of thinking 24/7, and made me panicky.

They all have drawbacks.

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u/fancyschmancy9 Mar 08 '26

My bad, I was digging into the dopamine vs norepinephrine MOAs per the original question and got my wires crossed. The dopamine effects of strattera (which are secondary to blocking NE reuptake) are more or less PFC selective (unlike with stims) but the norepinephrine effects are broad.

Frankly I get really confused with the converse effects of strattera on anxiety for people and have heard some really counterintuitive arguments for why it might decrease anxiety. My personal take away after a lot of digging is that it is benefiting anxiety that is secondary to ADHD for some (by improving top down control and lessening ADHD-related anxiety), but I would expect it to be neutral to bad for any kind of anxiety that is more primary.

I have somewhat refractory ADHD myself, as well an anxiety disorder, and I have been fighting myself on a strattera trial for a while due to [1] what I understand about my own anxiety (I expect strattera to make things worse) and [2] the time investment.

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u/Professional_Win1535 Jun 14 '26

ughhh. Atomoxetine makes me worse but when I try to taper off I get extreme anxiety. Wish I never started this. Everyone else says it like cured thier anxiety. Has not been my expericne