Intuniv may be administered for ADHD in children over the age of six. Adults should watch for adverse effects and take the drug in the exact dose suggested by their doctor.
Are there potential interaction issues for people taking Intuniv and any other drugs?
There are other hundreds more medicines that have been documented to have strong, moderate, or minor interactions with Intuniv. Antipsychotics, blood pressure drugs, sedatives, ketoconazole, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and enzyme metabolism medications are among them. Before starting Intuniv therapy, tell your doctor about any other medications you’re taking.
Are there any other medical conditions that would make someone ineligible for Intuniv therapy?
Before using Intuniv, tell your doctor if you have low blood pressure, fainting concerns, renal problems, heart problems, or liver problems.
What do I do if I miss a dose?
Take the missing Intuniv dose as soon as you recall, but skip it if it’s almost time for your next dose. To make up for missing doses, you should never take an extra dose of the drug.
What are Intuniv’s common side effects?
If you have serious adverse effects, tell your doctor right once and stop taking the drug. Low heart rate, low blood pressure, and fainting are just a few of the major negative effects. Side effects can be reported to the FDA by calling 1-800-FDA-1088 or going online.
Are there any possible psychiatric side effects that come from taking Intuniv?
Increased depressed symptoms have been reported when using Intuniv, but this is not a common adverse effect.
Is it safe for a woman who is pregnant, about to become pregnant, or nursing to take Intuniv?
Intuniv has not been subjected to any controlled human pregnancy research. It’s unclear whether the medicine can cause harm to a newborn if it’s passed through breast milk in modest amounts. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing, see your doctor before using Intuniv.
Can symptoms occur if Intuniv is discontinued?
Headaches, tremors, agitation, and anxiousness are some of the withdrawal symptoms of Intuniv. Maintaining touch with your doctor and seeking medical assistance if necessary after quitting the medicine can cause a sudden spike in blood pressure.
What should I do if I overdose on Intuniv?
If you overdose on Intuniv, get medical attention right away or call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222. Sleepiness, sluggishness, respiratory depression, bradycardia, and hypotension are all possible overdose symptoms.
Are there any disadvantages to Intuniv?
The cost of Intuniv is a significant disadvantage. Because it is not a stimulant, the medicine takes longer to take action, with some patients reporting changes after a month. Additionally, patients who stop using the medicine frequently complain of increasing tiredness.
DISCLAIMER: The material provided here is not intended to replace the advise of a properly certified and licensed physician or other healthcare provider.
This article only includes FDA-approved and available pharmaceuticals at the time of writing, therefore it is probable that it may not include all possible drug interactions or all FDA warnings or alerts. This page’s author expressly disclaims any support for this medicine or any specific treatment strategy. If you have any health concerns or are concerned about interactions, please consult your doctor or visit the FDA website for a complete list of cautions.
Is there a generic for Intuniv?
In the United States, Sandoz has released a generic version of INTUNIV extended-release tablets. 4 June 2015, Princeton, New Jersey Sandoz today announced the launch of guanfacine hydrochloride extended release tablets in the United States, a generic counterpart of Shire Pharmaceuticals’ INTUNIV.
Does Intuniv cause anger?
Have you considered using Intuniv to treat your child’s attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD)? Dr. William Dodson, a nonstimulant ADHD treatment expert, answers frequently asked questions.
Which ADHD symptoms does Intuniv help treat?
In school and at work, I use stimulants to help me perform better. Stimulants, on the other hand, don’t address some of the symptoms of ADHD that have a negative impact on patients’ lives: emotional sensitivity, an inner sensation of hyperarousal that makes people uncomfortable in their own skin, and social aggressiveness, particularly in children. Intuniv works well for these symptoms and has little adverse effects.
How effective is Intuniv at treating ADHD in children?
About 70% of people who use Intuniv for ADHD have significant advantages, and we don’t know who will respond well until they begin it. It is necessary to try the drug. It usually takes a week to see if it is effective. The advantages build up over time. For 20% of people, there will be no benefit and they will feel bad. Around 10% of people become irritable after the first dose. The irritability does not go away in my experience, thus I advise affected patients to discontinue taking it.
How has Intuniv worked for your patients with ADD?
I was first skeptical of Intuniv, a time-release form of the alpha-2 agonist guanfacine, but the positive results I’ve seen in my ADHD patients have convinced me otherwise. I provide it to people of various ages, not just the six to seventeen-year-olds for whom the FDA approved it. It’s virtually often used in conjunction with a stimulant.
What makes Intuniv different from other ADHD medications?
Intuniv’s time-release kinetics make all the difference. When immediate-release guanfacine or any other immediate-release stimulant, for that matter is released into the bloodstream quickly, the nervous system fights the effects of the medication or any other immediate-release stimulant, for that matter. You are aware of the “battle” as a side consequence. This reaction in the neurological system does not appear to be elicited by the extended, steady release of Intuniv.
Is there a difference between generic guanfacine and Intuniv? How do they compare?
The first patients I recommended Intuniv to had been using guanfacine for a long time. “I love this new prescription, but tell me, what is it really?” they said, with the exception of one person. I’ve been taking guanfacine for a while, and this isn’t it.”
What are common side effects of Intuniv?
- After abruptly discontinuing Intuniv, you may experience increased blood pressure and heart rate, as well as other withdrawal symptoms.
Taking Intuniv could make it difficult for you or your teen to drive, operate machinery, or perform other potentially dangerous duties. Talk to your doctor if side effects are bothersome or do not go away. The majority of people who use this drug don’t have any of these negative effects.
Any cardiac problems or a family history of heart and blood pressure disorders should be reported to your doctor. While taking Intuniv, patients with structural cardiac abnormalities, renal failure, and significant heart problems may have difficulties. During treatment, doctors should keep a watchful eye on these vital signs. If you or your kid develop warning signals like chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting while taking Intuniv, call your doctor right once.
This is not an exhaustive list of possible adverse effects. Discuss any health changes you find that aren’t stated above with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does Intuniv cause weight gain?
- The pill must be completely taken. Intuniv is a pill that cannot be crushed, chewed, or broken, unlike some other ADHD drugs.
- It isn’t a regulated substance. Intuniv, like other non-stimulants for ADHD such as Strattera and Kapvay, is not a restricted medication, making refills easier for parents.
- It has a mild appetite suppressant effect. Intuniv has the advantage of not suppressing appetite as much as other ADHD drugs, notably stimulants like Adderall, Concerta, or Vyvanse. This makes it a viable option for youngsters who struggle to gain weight when on a stimulant.
Does insurance cover Intuniv?
The medicine Intuniv (Guanfacine ER) is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (ADHD). The most popular type of Intuniv is covered by 68 percent of insurance plans for a $60.00-$80.00 co-pay; however, some drugstore coupons or cash pricing may be lower.
Is guanfacine ER the same as Intuniv?
Guanfacine ER, marketed as Intuniv, was licensed by the FDA in 2009 for the treatment of ADHD in children aged 6 to 17.
Clinical trials in children and adolescents have proven that Intuniv is effective. Intuniv was found to reduce scores on the ADHD Rating Scale-IV by an average of 17 to 21 points in these studies, compared to 9 to 12 points for a placebo. Scores for hyperactive, impulsive, and inattentive tendencies are included on the scale.
Despite the fact that guanfacine instant release (Tenex) acts in the same way as guanfacine ER in the body, there is less evidence to support Tenex’s usage in the treatment of ADHD. Tenex users had much greater rates of treatment cessation than those using Intuniv for ADHD, according to one study.
Despite this, some doctors will prescribe Tenex to patients with ADHD. Off-label drug use is what it’s called.
About off-label drug use
Off-label drug usage refers to the use of a medicine that has been approved by the FDA for one use but is not approved for another. A doctor, on the other hand, can still use the medicine for that purpose. Because the FDA regulates medication testing and approval, but not how doctors utilize drugs to treat their patients, this is the case. As a result, your doctor can prescribe a medicine in whatever way they see fit for your treatment. Learn more about using prescription drugs off-label.
You should feel free to ask your doctor any questions you may have if he or she prescribes a medicine for an off-label usage. You have the right to participate in any decisions concerning your care. You could ask the following questions:
Is Intuniv good for anxiety?
D. looked to have a DESR profile. There has been little psychopharmacological study on this aspect of ADHD. Depending on the child, DESR symptoms can respond to stimulants in a variety of ways. To address emotional dysregulation symptoms, additional interventions and drugs may be required. It’s noteworthy to note that while long-acting methylphenidate reduced D.’s hyperactivity and inattention, he had rebound later in the day. His anxiety and impulsivity, which were not addressed by the stimulant alone, may have exacerbated or overlapped with the rebound. Adding guanfacine to his evening routine in relatively moderate dosages seems to help with some of his DESR symptoms, including impulsivity, anxiety, and initial sleeplessness.
Recent neuroscience research has helped us better grasp the biological foundations of ADHD (Arnsten 2009). The relevance of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in ADHD is becoming more widely recognized. The PFC is important for attentional management, as well as mood and behavior regulation; these regulatory activities are often referred to as executive functions. Animal studies imply that catecholamine activities in the PFC are important in the treatment of ADHD (Arnsten 2009). Medications that increase alpha-2 receptor stimulation improve PFC function; however, guanfacine acts directly on post-synaptic alpha-2A receptors in the PFC, whereas methylphenidate increases endogenous norepinephrine and dopamine and indirectly improves PFC function through alpha-2A and D1 receptor actions. (Arnsten et al., 2009).
Is guanfacine generic for intuniv?
Intuniv (generic name: guanfacine) is a non-stimulant ADHD medicine that is used once daily to treat children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD). Intuniv is often prescribed off-label for use by people of all ages, despite the fact that it was only investigated and authorized for use in children and adolescents.
Intuniv is typically used to augment a carefully calibrated stimulant medicine. It can also be used as a monotherapy by those who do not benefit from stimulant medicines, cannot handle stimulant medications, or do not want to take stimulant medications.
Intuniv is a central alpha2A-adrenergic receptor agonist that is thought to treat important areas of impairment and ADHD symptoms that are not addressed by stimulant drugs, such as emotional sensitivity, hyperarousal, rejection sensitivity, and social aggression. By decreasing the adrenaline side of the nervous system to the level of a person who does not have ADHD, alpha agonists treat the deficits that stimulants do not effectively treat.
Children under the age of six have not been studied with Intuniv. Intuniv does not provide a significant risk of abuse or addiction. It isn’t a regulated substance.
Read the medication guide provided with your tablets before starting or refilling an Intuniv prescription, as it may have been updated with new information.