The medicines listed on this website are only there to give you knowledge. Just because they are on the list doesn’t mean that anyone will be given them; in the end, treatment decisions are up to the healthcare workers. The medicines on this list are not all of them. Doctors may recommend other drugs, even ones that don’t contain stimulants, depending on the patient’s specific health needs and circumstances.
A combination of stimulant medications and behavioral treatment is often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, medical practitioners may sometimes offer non-stimulant medications for ADHD, such as Intuniv.
Intuniv (Genafacine) is an FDA-approved, non-stimulant medicine for ADHD in children and adolescents. It may also be administered off-label to adults, despite the fact that it is not FDA-approved [1*] for this population.
Intuniv may be taken in conjunction with stimulants; however, persons who do not benefit from or cannot handle stimulants may use Intuniv alone as a monotherapy.
Learn about the benefits of using Intuniv for ADHD, as well as the adverse effects, dose, and other details, below.
What is Intuniv Medication?
Guanfacine is licensed for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children aged 6 to 12 and teenagers up to the age of 17. However, it is routinely administered off-label for patients of all ages, including adults. It is not a restricted drug and has a lesser risk of addiction or dependency.
Intuniv is a medicine that targets alpha-2A adrenergic receptors. It improves blood circulation, lowers heart rate and blood pressure, and relaxes the body’s blood vessels. Guanfacine is used off-label to treat PTSD [2*], anxiety [3*], and tic disorders [4*]. Doctors give Tenex [5*] to hypertensive [6*] individuals to lower blood pressure.
How Does Intuniv Help with ADHD?
Intuniv, unlike stimulants such as Adderall, has a unique impact on the brain. It works on the prefrontal cortex, a brain region that affects attention span and impulsivity, as well as lowering blood pressure. This medication also addresses social aggressiveness, emotional sensitivity, hyperarousal, and rejection sensitivity aspects of ADHD. Intruniv, an alpha-agonist, treats deficits that stimulants do not fully address by lowering adrenaline levels to those of people who do not have ADHD.
In June 2019 [7*], it received approval in Japan for treating ADHD in adults. This double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment found that Gunafacine extended-release pills significantly improved adult ADHD symptoms while posing no serious safety concerns.
Intuniv dosage
The dose of this drug varies according to the patient. Typically, it begins with 1 mg per day and gradually escalates to 3 mg as required. The suggested amount is often no more than 4-5 milligrams. These are merely typical amounts; do not change your dose if it varies from the one prescribed by your doctor.
Intuniv Side Effects
Intuniv, like any other medicine, may produce negative effects. The most common examples are as follows:
Other major Intuniv side effects might include the following:
Guanfacine Withdrawal Symptoms
Tremors, agitation, anxiety, and headaches are common withdrawal effects of Intuniv. When you stop using the medicine suddenly, your blood pressure may swiftly increase. So, stay in contact with your doctor and, if necessary, seek medical attention.
Precautions For Use
Your doctor is the best person to choose which medicine is best for you. However, take the following precautions while using this medication:
What is the best ADHD medication for adults?
There are various ADHD drugs available. Intuniv is often prescribed by doctors for ADHD when stimulants fail to function. However, other regularly used medicines include amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall), methylphenidate (Ritalin), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), dexamfetamine (Dexedrine), and atomoxetine (Strattera).