Atomoxetine: toxicological aspects of a new treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Brazil
Gabriel Christian de Farias Morais, Shopnil Akash, Edilson Dantas da Silva Junior, Claudio Bruno Silva de Oliveira, João Firmino Rodrigues-Neto, Umberto Laino Fulco, Shahina Akter, Jonas Ivan Nobre Oliveira
Abstract
Atomoxetine is a drug widely used for the treatment of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with reduced risk of adverse motor reactions and chemical dependence. However, the pharmacokinetics characteristics as well as the toxicological risk of atomoxetine deserves further investigation to comprehensively analyze the therapeutic and safety aspects of this drug. This study aimed to predict the physicochemical profile and medicinal chemistry characteristics of atomoxetine, alongside its pharmacokinetic properties—namely absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion—as well as its toxicology (ADMET) potential through the utilization of web-based in silico tools. This research emphasizes predicted physicochemical, medicinal chemistry, and absorption parameters of atomoxetine that could influence the efficacy and safety of this drug for ADHD treatment. Additionally, atomoxetine also presents noteworthy predicted risks of hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, respiratory system toxicity, skin toxicity, and carcinogenicity. These findings underscore the necessity for further assessments of atomoxetine's safety profile, particularly considering different patient populations and durations of drug treatment. The data reported here from in silico predictions suggest that closer monitoring is warranted when atomoxetine is administered to patients with ADHD. Moreover, controlled studies detailing reliable protocols for personalized dosing, considering the multifactorial variability in metabolism efficiency and toxicological potential, would enable a more comprehensive assessment of atomoxetine's safety profile.
Keywords
Submitted date:
01/15/2024
Accepted date:
05/24/2024