Drug Interactions: Atomoxetine & Antidepressants

Let’s begin by answering this question first:

25 year 25-year-old male with a history of ADHD and extensive substance abuse is stabilized on Atomoxetine 80 mg/day for ADHD. On further evaluation, he meets the criteria for major depressive disorder and agreed to a trial of antidepressant. He has not used illicit substances for 2 years now. Which of the following antidepressant will be your preferred choice?

This question is more directed toward drug-drug interactions and the role of Cytochrome P450:

Atomoxetine is metabolized by CYP2D6, so we should avoid medications inhibiting CYP2D6.

CYP2D6 inhibitors are classified into following three categories:

(A) Strong inhibitors: one that causes a > 5-fold increase in the plasma AUC values or more than 80% decrease in clearance.

  • Bupropion,
  • Fluoxetine and
  • Paroxetine

(B) Moderate inhibitors: one that causes a > 2-fold increase in the plasma AUC values or 50-80% decrease in clearance.

  • Sertraline,
  • Duloxetine

(C) Weak inhibitors: one that causes a > 1.25-fold but < 2-fold increase in the plasma AUC values or 20-50% decrease in clearance.

  • Cimetidine,
  • Amidoarone.

Based on this information, Sertraline is the best option available

Interaction Between Atomoxetine and Bupropion:

An open-label, non-randomized, two-period, sequential clinical trial was conducted (reference 3). They found:

  • the effect of bupropion on CYP2D6 activity was responsible for an increased systemic exposure to atomoxetine (5.1-fold) and also for a decreased exposure to its main metabolite 4-hydroxyatomoxetine-O-glucuronide (1.5-fold)
References:
  • Drug Interactions Flockhart Table ™ (Table)
  • Atomoxetine package insert. (PDF)
  • J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2016 Apr-Jun;19(2):198-207. (PubMed PMID: 27518170)

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