Atomoxetine and Albuterol Oral Inhalation: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · AI content regenerated Jul 11, 2026 · Source data updated Jul 2, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Atomoxetine
Albuterol Oral Inhalation
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
You're taking Strattera (atomoxetine) for attention issues and albuterol (your rescue inhaler) for breathing. Both of these can nudge your heart rate and blood pressure up. When they're used together, that effect can be stronger, so your heart may beat faster or feel like it's pounding, and your blood pressure may rise, especially when you first start.
This doesn't mean you can't use both. It just means your care team may want to check your blood pressure and pulse more often. Please keep taking both as prescribed, and let your doctor or pharmacist know if you feel a racing heart, dizziness, or chest discomfort.
Effect: Coadministration may increase albuterol exposure and potentiate its cardiovascular effects (increased heart rate and blood pressure), particularly on initiation.
- Direction: Additive/potentiated sympathomimetic PD effect; increased albuterol exposure. Neither agent's therapeutic effect is reduced.
- Evidence: Probable. Derived from PD studies using IV albuterol (not an approved route) with atomoxetine 60 mg BID.
- Onset: Unspecified; effects most pronounced initially.
- Mechanism: Not established.
- Management: Increase frequency of blood pressure and heart rate monitoring; adjust atomoxetine dose as clinically appropriate.
What happens
Increased albuterol exposure and an increase in heart rate and blood pressure
Interaction Deep Dive
Taking atomoxetine together with albuterol can raise albuterol levels, which heightens the potential for elevated heart rate and blood pressure. Pharmacodynamic studies of this drug interaction showed that when albuterol 600 mcg was administered intravenously over a 2 hour period (a route for which albuterol has no approval), it produced rises in heart rate and blood pressure; concurrent use with the other atomoxetine product (60 mg twice daily across 5 days) amplified these responses, most notably at the outset. Monitor blood pressure and heart rate more often and modify the atomoxetine dose as clinically warranted1.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Unknown
How to manage this interaction
This is a manageable combination that your care team can tailor to you.
- Keep taking both as prescribed unless your prescriber tells you otherwise.
- Expect your team to check your blood pressure and heart rate more often, especially when you first combine them.
- Your atomoxetine dose may be adjusted and individualized by your care team based on how your heart rate and blood pressure respond.
- Tell your pharmacist or prescriber if you notice a fast or pounding heartbeat, dizziness, headache, or chest discomfort.
Bring a list of all your medicines to your next visit so they can keep an eye on this.
Management is individual — confirm any change with your pharmacist or prescriber.
Literature reports
1 report — tap to read
a) In pharmacodynamic studies of drug interactions, albuterol 600 mcg administered intravenously over 2 hours (albuterol has no approval for intravenous administration) produced elevations in heart rate and blood pressure; these effects were amplified when it was given together with the other atomoxetine product (60 mg twice daily for 5 days), especially at the outset 1.
Common questions
Can I take Atomoxetine and Albuterol Oral Inhalation together?
Using atomoxetine (Strattera) with albuterol can raise your heart rate and blood pressure more than either alone, so your care team may monitor these more closely and adjust your atomoxetine dose. Keep taking both as prescribed and report a racing heartbeat, dizziness, or chest discomfort. Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Atomoxetine and Albuterol Oral Inhalation interaction?
It is rated major. Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "unspecified". The timing of this interaction is not well characterized.
How is the Atomoxetine and Albuterol Oral Inhalation interaction managed?
This is a manageable combination that your care team can tailor to you. Keep taking both as prescribed unless your prescriber tells you otherwise. Expect your team to check your blood pressure and heart rate more often, especially when you first combine them. Your atomoxetine dose may be adjusted and individualized by your care team based on how your heart rate and blood pressure respond. Tell you… Management is individual — always follow your own care team's guidance.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "probable". Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
From our Q&A
Real reader questions about these medications, each personally answered by our pharmacist:
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Atomoxetine or Albuterol Oral Inhalation need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there a safer alternative to one of these medications for me?
References (1)
- Product Information: ATONCY™ oral solution, atomoxetine oral solution. Validus Pharmaceuticals LLC (Per FDA), Parsippany, NJ, 2026. DailyMed
Keep reading about Atomoxetine
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