Clinical utility of guanfacine extended release in the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents

Figures & data

Table 1 Drug summary and patient adherence

Drug name	Guanfacine XR; Intuniv^®
Manufacturer	Shire
Chemical structure	N-(diaminomethylidene)-2-(2,6-dichlorophenyl) acetamide monohydrochloride
Indication	ADHD in children and adolescents (6–17 years old) in the US or children (6–12 years old) in Canada. Approved as monotherapy or in combination with stimulant ADHD medication
Route of administration	Oral
Dose range	1–7 mg QD
Mechanism of action	Central acting selective α2A adrenergic receptor agonist
Common adverse effects (% frequency)	Somnolence (45%), headache (26%), fatigue (15%), upper abdominal pain (11%), hypotension (10%), and vomiting (9%)^Citation81
Patient adherence issues	Compensatory increase in heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure following termination of treatment
Common reasons for discontinuation	Somnolence, syncopal events, and fatigue

Abbreviations: XR, extended release; ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; QD, one a day.

FDAIntuniv (Guanfacine Extended-Release); Pediatric Post-Marketing Adverse Event ReviewSilver SpringCenter for Drug Evaluation and Research2011

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