Intuniv

Generic Name: guanfacine (GWAHN fa seen)

Brand Names: Intuniv, Tenex

What is guanfacine?

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

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

Guanfacine is also used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children who are at least 6 years old.

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

What is the most important information I should know about guanfacine?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to guanfacine.

Before you take guanfacine, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, heart block, coronary artery disease or a history of stroke, low blood pressure, kidney or liver disease, or if you have recently had a heart attack.

Guanfacine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

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

To be sure this medication is helping your condition and not causing harmful effects, your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis. Your blood pressure and heart rate may also need to be checked. Do not miss any` follow-up visits to your doctor.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.

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

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking guanfacine?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to guanfacine.

To make sure you can safely take guanfacine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

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  heart disease or heart block;

  
  


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  coronary artery disease or a history of stroke;

  
  


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  low blood pressure;

  
  


• kidney disease;


• liver disease; or


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  if you have recently had a heart attack.

  
  

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether guanfacine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take guanfacine?

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.

If you take Intuniv to treat ADHD, take your dose in the morning.

If you take Tenex to treat hypertension, you may need to take your dose at bedtime if guanfacine causes severe drowsiness. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Do not crush, chew, or break an Intuniv extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. Breaking the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

If there are any changes in the brand, strength, or type of guanfacine you use, your dosage needs may change. Always check your refills to make sure you have received the correct brand and type of medicine prescribed by your doctor. Ask the pharmacist if you have any questions about the medicine you receive at the pharmacy.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition and not causing harmful effects, your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis. Your blood pressure and heart rate may also need to be checked. Do not miss any follow-up visits to your doctor.

Do not stop taking this medication without first talking to your doctor. If you stop taking guanfacine suddenly, your condition may become worse and you could have unpleasant symptoms.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel fine. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss more than 2 doses in a row.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, dizziness, slow heart rate, or feeling like you might pass out.

What should I avoid while taking guanfacine?

Avoid taking guanfacine with a high-fat meal.

Guanfacine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather while you are taking guanfacine.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of guanfacine.

Guanfacine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

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  fast or slow heart rate;

  
  


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  pounding heartbeats, chest tightness;

  
  


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  numbness or tingling; or

  
  


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  feeling like you might pass out.

  
  

Less serious side effects may include:

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  drowsiness, dizziness, tired feeling;

  
  


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  dry mouth;

  
  


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  constipation;

  
  


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  stomach pain;

  
  


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  weight gain;

  
  


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  headache; or

  
  


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  feeling irritable.

  
  

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.

What other drugs will affect guanfacine?

Before you take guanfacine, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, anxiety, or psychiatric disorders). They can add to sleepiness caused by guanfacine.

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially any other blood pressure medications, or:

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  bosentan (Tracleer);

  
  


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  conivaptan (Vaprisol);

  
  


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  dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol);

  
  


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  diclofenac (Arthrotec, Cataflam, Voltaren, Flector Patch, Solareze);

  
  


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  St. John's wort;

  
  


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  imatinib (Gleevec);

  
  


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  isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis);

  
  


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  valproic acid (Depakene, Stavzor);

  
  


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  an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), dalfopristin/quinupristin (Synercid), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate), or telithromycin (Ketek);

  
  


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  antifungal medication such as clotrimazole (Mycelex Troche), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or voriconazole (Vfend);

  
  


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  an antidepressant such as nefazodone;

  
  


• 
  

  a barbiturate such as butabarbital (Butisol), secobarbital (Seconal), pentobarbital (Nembutal), or phenobarbital (Solfoton);

  
  


• 
  

  a calcium channel blocker such as diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others;

  
  


• 
  

  HIV or AIDS medicine such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), etravirine (Intelence), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), saquinavir (Invirase), or ritonavir (Norvir); or

  
  


• 
  

  seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), felbamate (Felbatol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenytoin (Dilantin), or primidone (Mysoline).

  
  

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with guanfacine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More Intuniv resources

• Intuniv Side Effects (in more detail)
• Intuniv Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Intuniv Drug Interactions
• Intuniv Support Group
• 48 Reviews for Intuniv - Add your own review/rating

• Intuniv Consumer Overview


• Intuniv Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Intuniv Extended-Release Tablets MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Intuniv Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Guanfacine Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Guanfacine Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Guanfacine Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• Guanfacine MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Tenex Prescribing Information (FDA)

Compare Intuniv with other medications

• ADHD

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about guanfacine.

See also: Intuniv side effects (in more detail)