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Intuniv
Intuniv is a medicine that helps relieve the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. This non-stimulant drug is actually a long-acting version of guanfacine, a blood pressure medication. The product comes in the form of an extended-release tablet and is taken once a day. Side effects may include fatigue, drowsiness, and headache.
Intuniv™ (guanfacine ER) is a prescription medication approved for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. It can be used alone or in combination with long-acting oral stimulant medications to treat ADHD. Unlike many other ADHD treatments, this medication is not a stimulant and is not a controlled substance.
(Click Intuniv Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
Intuniv is made by Shire Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Intuniv is a long-acting form of guanfacine, a medication that has been used for decades to treat high blood pressure. It belongs to a class of drugs known as alpha-2a adrenergic receptor agonists. At this time, it is unknown exactly how Intuniv works to treat ADHD.
In short-term studies (lasting up to nine weeks), this medication was shown to be superior to a placebo (a "sugar pill" with no active ingredients) for treating ADHD symptoms. Long-term, placebo-controlled studies have not yet been performed with Intuniv.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD