The effects of atomoxetine on weight, height, and body mass index in Turkish children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Background: We aimed to examine the long-term effects of atomoxetine on height, weight, and body mass index in Turkish children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods: Participants (6–18 years, 146 boys, 52 girls) with ADHD who used atomoxetine for at least 1 year were included in a retrospective study. Weight, height, and BMI z scores were converted to age- and gender- corrected z scores at baseline and last follow-up.

Results: Atomoxetine treatment was associated with a notional reduction in height and weight standard deviation scores (SDS). There were no differences in BMI-SDS before and after atomoxetine treatment. Results of multiple linear regression analysis assess the possible contribution of the different treatment-related factors, age starting treatment, and duration of treatment predicted final height. And also, only the duration of treatment predicted final weight, not final height and BMI.

Conclusions: We conclude that atomoxetine shows a negative effect on height and weight in children. This study demonstrated that these findings obtained at the end of the study might be helpful in assessing the growth parameters that may facilitate the course of the ADHD.