Intuniv

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

Usage of Intuniv

Intuniv reduces nerve impulses in your heart and blood vessels. Intuniv works by relaxing blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow.

Intuniv is a prescription medicine used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children who are at least 6 years old.

Intuniv is a long acting tablet that is taken once daily, normally in the morning, at approximately the same time each day.

The Tenex brand of guanfacine is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It is sometimes given with other blood pressure medications.

Intuniv side effects

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

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 Intuniv, 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 Intuniv side effects 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 Intuniv

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

Intuniv is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 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 Intuniv will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

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

Relate drugs

How to use Intuniv

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 tolerability Maximum 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.

Warnings

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during excercise and in hot weather. Avoid drinking alcohol.

Tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy. They can add to sleepiness caused by Intuniv.

What other drugs will affect Intuniv

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 Intuniv 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 Intuniv, 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 interact with guanfacine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

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