Guanfacine

Generic name: Guanfacine
Drug class: Antiadrenergic agents , Antineoplastic Agents

Usage of Guanfacine

Guanfacine is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It is sometimes given with other blood pressure medications.

The Intuniv brand of guanfacine is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Guanfacine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Guanfacine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Guanfacine may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

anxiety, nervousness;

hallucinations (especially in children);

severe drowsiness;

slow heartbeats; or

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

If you stop taking guanfacine, tell your doctor if you have headaches, confusion, rapid heartbeats, tremors, increased blood pressure, or if you feel nervous or agitated. If left untreated, these symptoms could lead to very high blood pressure, vision problems, or seizures.

Common side effects of guanfacine may include:

dizziness, drowsiness;

low blood pressure, slow heartbeats;

feeling tired or irritable;

trouble sleeping;

dry mouth; or

stomach pain, nausea, constipation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Guanfacine

You should not use guanfacine if you are allergic to it.

Intuniv is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 years old. Guanfacine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 12 years old.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

heart problems, coronary artery disease (clogged arteries);

a heart rhythm disorder;

a heart attack or stroke;

high or low blood pressure;

liver disease; or

kidney disease.

It is not known whether guanfacine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It may not be safe to breastfeed a baby while you are using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risks.

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How to use Guanfacine

Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:

Initial dose: 1 mg orally once a day at bedtime; may increase to 2 mg once a day if satisfactory result not achieved after 3 to 4 weeks.Comments: Adverse reactions increase significantly with doses above 3 mg/day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Attention Deficit Disorder:

6 YEARS TO LESS THAN 18 YEARS:Initial dose: 1 mg orally once a day, either in the morning or evening, at approximately the same time each day; may adjust in increments of no more than 1 mg/week.Recommended target dose: 0.05 to 0.12 mg/kg/day (total daily dose between 1 and 7 mg) once a day, depending on clinical response and tolerabilityMaximum dose: 6 to 12 years: Doses above 4 mg/day have not been evaluated; 13 to 17 years: Doses above 7 mg/day have not been evaluated.Comments: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may require treatment for an extended period of time; healthcare providers should periodically reevaluate treatment and adjust dose as needed.Use: Treatment of ADHD as monotherapy and as adjunctive therapy to stimulant medications.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Hypertension:

12 YEARS OR OLDER:Initial dose: 1 mg orally once a day at bedtime; may increase to 2 mg once a day if satisfactory result not achieved after 3 to 4 weeks.Comments: Adverse reactions increase significantly with doses above 3 mg/day.

Warnings

Use only as directed. Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.

What other drugs will affect Guanfacine

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Using guanfacine with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines. Some may affect guanfacine, especially:

ketoconazole;

a barbiturate, such as phenobarbital;

blood pressure medications;

medicine to treat mental illness; or

a sedative, such as Valium or Xanax.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect guanfacine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

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