An Introduction to Intuniv Dosing
The dosage of
Intuniv™ (
guanfacine ER) your child's healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- How your child responds to Intuniv
- Other medications your child may be taking
- Other medical conditions your child may have.
As is always the case, do not adjust this amount unless the healthcare provider specifically tells you to do so.
Dosage of Intuniv for ADHD
The usual starting dose of Intuniv is 1 mg, taken once daily. Your child's healthcare provider may gradually increase the amount in increments of no more than 1 mg per week, up to a maximum recommended amount of 4 mg per day.
If your child misses two or more Intuniv doses in a row, contact your child's healthcare provider before giving the child the medication again. The healthcare provider may recommend that your child restart at 1 mg and slowly increase the dose, as was done initially.
Children switching from short-acting guanfacine (Tenex®) should be started at the low dose, with gradual increases, just like everyone else. There is no accurate and safe way to convert a Tenex dosage into an Intuniv dosage.
When stopping Intuniv, it is usually recommended to gradually taper the dosage downward, by 1 mg every three to seven days. Stopping the drug abruptly could cause temporary
high blood pressure (
hypertension).
